M829A1 120mm, APFSDS-T (2024)

M829 120mm, APFSDS-T

The 120mm, M829 series, depleted uranium armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot-tracer (APFSDS-T) is the primary anti-armor 120mm smooth bore, M256 cannon, tank ammunition in service with the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks. This second generation kinetic energy projectile is capable of penetrating the frontal slope of all fielded armor systems and it's high technology penetrator and sabot design provides a munition which is accurate at all combat ranges.

It's primary function is the destruction of threat tanks and armor fighting vehicles. Target penetration is affected strictly by the high kinetic energy of the DU core when it impacts. Like other DU munitions, these are identifiable by their black color with white markings on the projectile (pointed) end. M829 series ammunition is loaded and fired in the normal manner. This ammunition will not be fired over the heads of friendly troops unless troops are protected by adequate cover as they may be struck by the discarded sabot.

The 120mm M829 Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot-Tracer(APFSDS-T), cartridge is a US developed kinetic energy (KE) armor defeating round. It consists of a fin stabilized subprojectile with a six bladed aluminum fin, a tracer assembly attached to the rear of the fin and a depleted uranium (DU) penetrator with a ballistic tip to reduce drag. The propulsion system uses an obturating case base with combustible wall. This growth potential round features a modern technology high length to diameter (L/D), depleted uranium penetrator, and lightweight sabot. The cartridge weight is 41.1 lbs. The major components of the M829 are:

• M829 Projectile
• Combustible Cartridge Case w/Case Base & Seal Assembly
• M125 Primer
• Propellant (JA-2)
• M13 Tracer

When the final series of Tripartite Trials - Growth Potential firings were scheduled for December 1977, the Ballistic Research Laboratories embarked on a program to further exploit the capabilities of the 105tmn M68 Gun. Their review of Picatinny Arsenal studies convinced them that the original 24mm geometry, modified to increase the L/O from 15.5 to 18.0, could be a functional, superior item. This basic design later evolved into the penetrator for the 105mm XM833 and the 12Omm XM829. Testing of the tungsten version of the XM829, in this case the 90% alloy, fired in the July 1979 Germany trials, demonstrated that despite occasional core failure at high temperature, impressive penetration performance was obtainable.

The US 120-mm. program to transfer the technology for the German-design cannon and ammunition neared completion and initial production started in 1984. The U.S. development of the XM829 Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot Tracer cartridge finished the full-scale engineering development phase and the program resolved major technical issues and completed the test phase of the Technology Transfer, Fabrication and Test program in that year. The Army continued its successful transfer of the cannon technology during fiscal year 1984 with Watervliet Arsenal fabricating 31 complete XM256 cannons and 56 spare tubes. Although the U.S.-made XM827 kinetic energy rounds with depleted uranium cores successfully passed accuracy and armor penetration tests, the Army decided not to produce them but to concentrate on the XM829 round. Program managers continued development of the XM829 cartridge with a successful test in Panama of straight wall cartridge cases and a DTII test at Aberdeen Proving Ground. As a result of these tests the contractor made improvements in the round and received approval for producing 8,500.

The M829 is no longer in production. It was replaced by the M829A1 and more recently by the M829A2.

M829A1

The M829A1 (nicknamed the "Silver Bullet" by Operation Desert Storm tank crews) is widely regarded as the most effective tank-fired (M1 Abrams 120mm main gun) anti-armor weapon in the world, and overwhelmed Iraqi armor during Operation Desert Storm. The M829A1 is a depleted-uranium long-rod kinetic energy penetrator round capable of defeating heavily armored vehicles.

A Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratory study, released in August 1990, characterized particulate levels with both complete and partial penetration of the armor after hard impact. Researchers tested both the M829A1 and XM900E1 rounds and two non-DU rounds, the M865 and DM13. The purpose of the non-DU round firings was to evaluate DU resuspension during hard impact tests. The sample results were questioned when the percent aerosolized was initially estimated to be only 0.2 percent to 0.5 percent for the M829A1 and 0.02 percent to 0.04 percent for the XM900E1, values approximately two orders of magnitude below the expected values. One of the first studies Battelle performed with the XM774 produced a value of 70 percent, which is frequently cited in the popular press. This study stated it was highly unlikely more than 10 percent of the DU by weight aerosolized on impact. Duplicating other study results indicating a high percentage of the respirable dust from hard-impact testing was soluble in the lungs, this study indicated 57 to 76 percent of the respirable dust fraction was class "Y" material and 24 to 43 percent was class "D" material. (Class "D" materials have dissolution half-times of less than 10 days; class "W" materials have dissolution half-times of 10 to 100 days; and class "Y" materials have dissolution half-times greater than 100 days.) The resuspension tests indicated most of the resuspended dust was non-respirable, consistent with the theory the enclosure's filtering system removed most of the respirable dust.

M829A2

As the executing arm of the Project Manager for Tank Main Armament Systems (PM-TMAS), TACOM-ARDEC recently fielded the M829A2, which enhances the round through increased velocity and improved terminal effects. The improved performance was attained by implementing new composite material technology and a new propellant with a higher loading density. The Cartridge, 120mm APFSDS-T M829A2 is the current production armor defeat cartridge for the 120mm gun tanks M1A1 and M1A2. It is a technology improvement over the M829A1, the "Silver Bullet" of Desert Storm fame. The A2's performance gains, while classified, result from several novel features. These include the use of new manufacturing process to improve the structural quality of the depleted uranium penetrator, the use of a carbon-epoxy composite for the sabot (a world-wide first in a projectile this large) and a special manufacturing process which partially cuts the propellant charge to allow it to behave ballistically like a granularpropellant bed, while loading like a stick charge. Combined, these features increase the muzzle velocity of the M829A2 approximately 100m/sec greater than the M829A1, while operating at slightly lower pressure. PRIMEX is the sole producer of this advanced technology penetrator coupled with a state-of-the-art composite sabot and propulsion system. The M829A2 APFSDS-T KE munition is compatible with all standard NATO smoothbore 120mm tank cannons.

M829E3

The M829E3 is the Army's next generation 120mm Armor-piercing Tank round. Itreplaces the M829A1 and the M829A2 projectiles. These rounds are widely regarded as the most effectivetank-fired anti-armor weapons in the world. The E3 round will provide the army greater armor penetration capability than its two predecessors and also with improved accuracy. The M829E3 120mm Cartridge is an Armor piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot - Tracer. This Advanced Kinetic Energy Round that defeats advanced threat armor, with improved accuracy at greater range. This new 120mm KE round for the M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams fleet features a combustible cartridge, overall length is less than 986mm, Depleted Uranium Penetrator. Weight is less than 56 Lbs. and it uses RPD 380 propellant. The System Contractor is Alliant Techsystem, Inc.

M829E4 APFSDS-T

The M829E4 (type-classified as the M829A4) is the fifth-generation kinetic-energy anti-tank (AT) round. This new round provides heavy armor defeat capability at extended ranges. It uses a depleted-uranium penetrator and anti-armor design advancements to defeat threat targets equipped with AERA and APS. The M829E4 120 mm cartridge is a line-of-sight kinetic energy cartridge designed for the Abrams main battle tank.

The cartridge incorporates an advanced design, long-rod penetrator and an exclusive composite sabot that facilitates the most efficient transfer of energy to maximize the rod’s penetrating power. The use of a unique propellant blend maintains a consistent muzzle velocity across operational temperatures ranging from extreme cold to extreme hot. Additionally, the advanced combustible cartridge case incorporates a relocated skive joint placement that improves armor crew safety during handling.

Armored Brigade Combat Teams equipped with the M829E4 120 mm cartridge will have the ability to defeat current and projected threat main battle tanks equipped with third generation explosive reactive armor and active protection systems. The Army intends the M829E4 to provide enhanced lethality beyond its predecessor, the M829A3, and will enhance the Joint Forces Commander’s capability to conduct decisive operations during Unified Land Operations.

The M829E4 120 mm cartridge is a line-of-sight kinetic energy cartridge designed for the Abrams main battle tank. It is the materiel solution for the Abrams’ lethality capability gap against threat vehicles equipped with 3rd Generation Explosive Reactive Armor. The M829E4 cartridge is an Armor-Piercing, Fin-Stabilized, Discarding Sabot, with Tracer cartridge consisting of a depleted uranium long-rod penetrator with a three-petal composite sabot.

The flight projectile includes a low-drag fin with a tracer, windshield, and tip assembly. The propulsion system of the M829E4 cartridge is a combustible cartridge case similar to that of the currently fielded suite of Abrams’ 120 mm tank cartridges. The M829E4 has comparable characteristics to its predecessor, the M829A3, in length, weight, and center of gravity.

The visible difference between the two cartridges is the Ammunition Data Link (ADL) interface rings on the base of the M829E4. The rings serve as the interface between the Abrams’ fire control system and the M829E4. The ADL enables the Abrams’ fire control system to send information to the M829E4.

ATEC conducted DOT&E-approved live fire tests to support a lethality assessment from June 16 – 25, 2014. Due to the IBSFs observed during Phase 2 of IT&E, the Army ceased live fire testing. The potential for an IBSF during a live fire test presented an unacceptable risk to the live fire facility. The Army resumed live fire testing when the risk to the live fire test facility related to IBSFs is mitigated and production-representative rounds were available.

Results of the formal failure investigation led the Army to produce two configurations (Configuration A and Configuration B) M829E4 cartridges to correct IBSFs. Configuration A incorporated four production process changes. Configuration B incorporated two design configuration changes and the four Configuration A production process changes.

During Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E), in-bore structural failures (IBSFs) occurred in the ambient zone temperature range (60-86 degrees Fahrenheit). The Army produced subsequent M829E4 cartridges that incorporated design configuration and production process changes to correct the IBSFs. During Phase 2 of IT&E, 100 M829E4 cartridges with the design configuration and production process changes were fired. IBSFs continued to occur. Preliminary testing indicated the M829E4 cartridge demonstratedan overall reliability of 94 percent as a result of IBSFs. The reliability requirement is 98 percent.

The M829E4 cartridge reliability was assessed by firing the cartridge within three temperature zone conditions: cold (-25 to 19 degrees Fahrenheit), ambient (60 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit), and hot (120 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit). - In ambient zone temperatures, the cartridge demonstrated 91.6 percent reliability. In cold zone temperatures, the cartridge demonstrated 94.6 percent reliability, and in hot zone temperatures, the cartridge demonstrated 97.2 percent reliability. Overall reliability is 94 percent. The program manager again stopped testing and conducted another formal failure investigation.

The Army conducted testing (Verification #1) at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, involving Configuration A and B cartridges on October 27, 2014. Thirty events employing Configuration A cartridges. All 30 Configuration A cartridges fired successfully. Twenty-six events employing Configuration B cartridges. Two of the 26 Configuration B cartridges experienced IBSF, and 24 cartridges fired successfully.

The failure analysis identified reliability problems with the production process of the cartridge. The program implemented production process changes to address reliability deficiencies and conducted additional testing to verify the effectiveness of the changes. On June 30, 2014, the Program Executive Officer Ammunition approved the M829E4 cartridge for Milestone C with prrovisions. The Milestone Decision Authority authorized 910 M829E4 cartridges for low-rate initial production (LRIP) on June 30, 2014.

In FY15, the Army implemented changes to the M829A4 cartridge production processes, after multiple test-fix-test iterations to address in-bore structural failures observed in early testing. In February 2015, the Army conducted Verification #2 testing at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, in order to validate that the newly configured cartridge met reliability requirements. In May 2015, the Army completed the seven remaining live fire test events, representing various engagement scenarios against threat target surrogates.

Orbital ATK, Inc. announced 20 July 2015 that the M829E4 Advanced Kinetic Energy 120mm tactical tank cartridge has passed First Article Acceptance Testing and was entering into production. A full material release decision is expected prior to government fiscal year 2016. Orbital ATK’s current M829E4 production contract included this first year’s production and exercisable options for two follow-on production years with a total value of $80 million. An additional five-year, production contract is expected to fulfill Army inventory requirements. Ammunition contracts are awarded through the U.S. Army Maneuver Ammunition Systems through its role as the Single Manager for Conventional Ammunition, the organization responsible for the procurement of ammunition for all U.S. Armed Services.

In October 2015, the Army type-classified the M829E4 cartridge as the M829A4, establishing the cartridge’s acceptability for Army use and enabling the Program Office to begin official planning for production and fielding of the cartridge.