One of the most complex CUAS strategies is in how to adequately defeat a drone swarm. Traditional methods including interceptor and HFM are difficult to deploy against swarms due to the costs involved, the rise in EM shielding and the precision targeting.
Using advanced 3D printing techniques including stereolithography and direct metal laser sintering, Roark have produced a multi product line of programmable air burst munitions (ABM) that have payloads of streamer strings fitted with vinyl ribbons that tangle in drone rotors and steel balls which are efficient CUAS for fixed wing drones.
The Roark ABM systems are deployable via a number of methodologies:
The Roark ABM ammunition is able to defeat a wide range of current and emerging air threats, day or night and in all weather conditions.
It offers cannon based air defence systems an excellent chance to defeat fast, small and highly agile targets whilst staying effective against conventional air targets. By increasing the effective range and hit probability, it acts as a force multiplier. The following most demanding modern aerial targets can successfully be engaged:
- Standoff missiles and munitions
- Cruise missiles
- Anti-ship missiles
- Mortar rounds
- Artillery rockets
- Loitering ammunition
- Battlefield UAS (ISR UAS, FPV UAS)
- Anti-radiation missiles
- Hypersonic missiles
The Roark ABM ammunition is fully qualified and has been fielded by more than 12 armed forces. Its operating principle has been successfully implemented in two calibres (35mm x 228 and 30mm x173) and numerous platforms.
The Roark ABM ammunition family has evolved to include dedicated C-RAM, C-UAS and anti-missile ammunitions using optimized payload configurations.
Concept
The Roark ABM principle uses a programmable time fuze in eachround to eject its sub-projectile payload just ahead of the target. The programming of the time of flight for each round is performed inductively at the muzzle of the barrel using ballistic data from the fire control unit.
As the round leaves the muzzle its exact speed is measured just before programming using inductive coils. The muzzle velocity of each round is used to correct the ejection time that is programmed into the round. This compensation allows very accurate placement of the sub-projectiles in front ofthe target, forcing the target to fly into a cloud of tungstensub-projectiles. The high number of sub-projectiles per round maximises the hit probability
The high kinetic energy, the optimized shape and the hardness of the sub-projectiles offer excellent penetration performance in steel, aluminium or composite structures. The spin-stabilized sub-projectiles form a defined cone allowing repeatable and verifiable sub-projectile saturation levels to be reached
for any chosen stand-off distance in front of the target. This allows detailed hit and kill performance prediction and optimisation.
Configuration
The baseline 35 mm x 228 Roark ABM round design can carry a 500g tungsten sub-projectile payload. It can be delivered using a classic or hardened cartridge case with or without belt link groove.
The effective range is up to 4,500m. The round incorporates numerous mechanical and digital safety features. The round is inherently safe with a very low explosive content (opening charge less than 1g). No chemical battery is used. The round requires no special treatment or maintenance.
For Air Defence against classic targets a 152 projectile count ABM is recommended.
For Air Defence against fast moving swarm targets a 600+ projectile count ABM is recommended.