Mission
To increase the safety and survivability of munitions, weapon platforms, and personnel through the exchange, among the Defense Department, other government agencies, allied countries, and industry, of technical information to make weapons systems insensitive to heat, shock, and impact. This includes all non-nuclear energetic devices including bombs, missiles, torpedoes, mines, pyrotechnic devices, demolition charges, and other devices that use energetic materials.
The former ADPA recognized the need to increase the visibility of the insensitive munitions community and established a new section for Insensitive Munitions. In 1997, Insensitive Munitions merged with Energetic Materials to expand the role of promoting the exchange of technical information in all aspects of insensitive munitions and energetic materials among U.S. and friendly governments, industrial, and academic personnel. The Division intends to concentrate on all aspects of munitions life cycles, from research, development, and production through deployment and demilitarization. In this regard, the new section of the Munitions Technology Division is now operating in close coordination with NATO Insensitive Munitions Information Center in Brussels, Belgium.
To provide for the exchange of technical information related to insensitive munitions and energetic materials; to provide a means whereby participants from the U.S. government, allied countries, industry, and academia can openly exchange ideas; to provide a forum where policy and procedural issues relate to insensitive munitions and energetic materials may be addressed. Topics routinely discussed include: the development, production, and usage of high explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics; the evolution of policies and practices involving insensitive munitions and energetic materials; the evaluation and testing of materials/munitions via: safety and hazards analysis, chemical characterization, physical testing, compatibility tests, and aging data.
In 1997, Insensitive Munitions merged with Energetic Materials to expand the exchange of technical information relating to insensitive munitions and energetic materials among the U.S. government, allied countries, industry, and academia. It is the intent of this division to focus on insensitive munitions and energetic materials and their applications as they proceed from research through deployment.
In this regard, the Division co-sponsors an annual symposium with the NATO Insensitive Munitions Information Center (NIMIC), Brussels, Belgium. The alliance provides a global view of challenges and accomplishments within the insensitive munitions community.
Chair
Gary Wittmer
Alliant Techsystems, Inc.
600 Second Street
N.E. Hopkins, MN 55343
Phone: (612) 931-5598
FAX: (612) 931-6512
Deputy Chair
Peter Lee
NIMIC
NATO HQ
Brussels B-1110, Belgium
Secretary
Dr. Kim Christianson
Raytheon Missile Systems
1151 E. Hermans Road Building 805, Mailstation B3
Tucson, AZ 85706
Phone: (520) 794-1683
FAX: (520) 794-8625
Program Chair
Paul C. Braithwaite (Co-Chair)
Thiokol Propulsion
Technical Papers (Chair)
Kenneth J. Graham
Atlantic Research Corporation
Technical Papers (Co-Chair)
Susan T. Peters
NSWC Indian Head Code 6210C
Technical Advisors
Executive Board
Government Liaisons
Michael Dauth mdauth@ndia.org
Director of Operations, NDIA