Vehicle landmine protection validation testing

JD REINECKEA, IM SNYMANA, R AHMEDA, FJ BEETGEB A CSIR Defence, Peace, Safety and Security, PO Box 395, , 0001 Email: [email protected] – www.csir.co.za B Armscor, Acquisition, Landward Systems, Erasmusrand, Pretoria, Email: [email protected]

Introduction Test measurement and evaluation (TME) equipment • Most military vehicle acquisition programmes require that any products • The pass/fail criteria are based on the human response inside the For troop mobility offered must have their landmine protection level independently verified vehicle. in accordance with an internationally-accepted test standard. • Anthropomorphic test devices (ATDs) are used to measure the human • Currently, two open test standards for vehicle landmine protection are response. and safety in combat being applied by South Africa • Currently, the Robert Denton 50th Percentile Hybrid III ATD is used as • The South African RSA-MIL-STD-37 Issue 3 a test standard. situations, protection • NATO test standard AEP-55 Volume 2 Edition 1, which is based • Armscor developed a surrogate leg. This device, which weighs on STANAG 4569 threat requirements. approximately 75 kg, enables all seats in a vehicle to be occupied. It against landmines • South Africa was the first to issue an open test standard in 2000 and it provides additional information with respect to the loading of the crew has subsequently been updated three times. The NATO test standard compartment and structure. was only issued in September 2006. • The CSIR has developed robust data acquisition systems that are placed in combat zones is inside the test vehicle and can survive most of the loads. Most NATO Test standards countries position their data acquisition units outside of the vehicle and key. CSIR researchers • RSA-MIL-STD-37 Issue 3 can thus measure at higher sampling rates. • wheeled landmine protection validation • the threat to be tested against is specified as well as details are measuring blast concerning equipment, methodology, reparability, data processing and the report format impact to determine • specifies three levels of test platforms • specifies one threat level. better and safer mine • AEP-55 Volume 2 Edition 1 (based on STANAG 4569) • wheeled and tracked landmine protection • provides a framework (i.e. a minimal set of common requirements resistant vehicles. tests) • specifies a representative vehicle • specifies four threat levels.

National authority team • The CSIR’s landward sciences area and Armscor are the South African National Test Authority with respect to vehicle validation testing. • The CSIR is responsible for the execution of independent validation tests and as such is the custodian of the test standard as well as the equipment required to execute validation tests. • Armscor is responsible for the verification of the test item and compliance to the test standard and test instruction.

Test methodology Robert Denton 50th % Hybrid III ATDs as positioned during a test • The first step is the verification of the test item and its suitability for blast testing: • the test item is physically inspected • the supplier communicates the protection levels offered. • The next step is the drafting and approval of the test instruction by the test team. • Prior to the test all the surrogate charges are manufactured and checked. • All the test equipment and facilities are prepared and the human response equipment is drop tested. • For AEP-55 Volume 2 tests, soil pits are filled with new soil and compacted. • For RSA-MIL-STD-37 tests, the Detonics, Ballistics and Explosives Labo- ratory (DBEL) soil is consistent and only a Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) test is executed. • On the day of the test the supplier must ensure that all documentation related to the test item is supplied along with an independently-verified mass certificate and Certificate of Conformance for the test item. • For the test all the equipment is installed by the CSIR and is verified by Armscor in accordance with the test instruction and detailed check list. • Once the test set up is approved, a booster test using approximately 200 g of explosive is executed. • Should any critical measurement not be functioning, the test is delayed until it is resolved. Surrogate legs and ATDs positioned in vehicle • After the booster test, the main test is executed with the specified surrogate charge. • Once the test area is declared safe, only the test team is allowed IMPACT forward and the required test data are downloaded and analysed on • South African National Defence Force (SANDF) the range. • this research is directly applied to the development and testing of • The test team then proceeds with a full damage inspection of the test vehicle landmine protection technology for the SANDF item. • this research will directly impact on the safety of deployed soldiers • On completion of the damage assessment, the test item will be either and enable mobility in hostile and dangerous environments removed or repaired by the supplier at the range. • this research is being applied to the SANDF acquisition projects. • After the required repairs, the test item will be inspected and verified as • Local industry safe to continue by the test team, if further tests are to be conducted. • as a national authority, the CSIR is able to independently test • After all the tests, the test data are again reviewed and all critical local products, thus enabling the local suppliers to compete parameters are compared to other data that have been measured internationally to verify the results and ensure that there are no anomalies between • in addition to validation testing, the CSIR also provides the facility measurement equipment used. for local industry to execute development tests. • The second last step is the compilation, review and finalisation of the • CSIR test report. • the creation and maintenance of this capability has required that a • After the report is approved, the RSA-MIL-STD-37 officer in Armscor will number of young scientists be appointed in the landward sciences request Armscor QA to issue validation test certificates for the test item area if it passes. • strong international involvement results in these young scientists being exposed to international review and mentoring, greatly Load criteria accelerating their development as scientists • The most important (and the most controversial aspect of validation • the ongoing research and tests enable the area to continually testing) are the specified load criteria. improve and grow the research and test capabilities through • The final evaluation of all protection systems is simply the loads on the acquisition of additional equipment and the development of the human occupant. required techniques and methods • Load criteria are obtained from injury criteria. • the international involvement has led to the acceptance of the CSIR • Injury criteria are developed from various sources including post-mortem as a foremost research institute, executing relevant and applicable human surrogate (PMHS) testing. research. • Most of the data used for landmine (and IED) protection standards are based on work executed in the motor industry.

CPO-0074