Defence Science Journal, Vol. 60, No. 2, March 2010, pp.

159-163
Ó 2010, DESIDOC

REVIEW PAPER

Smart Munitions
C.P. Mahajan and Vaishnavi C. Motghare
Armament Research and Development Establishment, Pune-411 021
E-mail: cpmlata@yahoo.com, vaishnavimotghare@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
In modern land warfare, munitions are considered as highly effective means of the defence against an
invading force, especially armoured fighting vehicles. In recent decades, new technologies have transformed
the dumb land munitions, into sophisticated smart munitions that can be used for offensive purposes. The
evolution in the munitions technology was marked by the introduction of sensored smart munitions. Armament
Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) has achieved a technological breakthrough by developing
world class sensor-based influence land munitions Adrushy MK-I and subsequently Adrushy MK-II. Successful
development of these smart influence munitions has made India proud and at par with the world market.
Keywords: Smart munitions, sensored munitions, influence land munition

1. INTRODUCTION of the defence against an invading force, especially armoured

Munitions are intended to protect troops, military fighting vehicles. Technological leaps have enabled the
bases, key installations, to delay the advance of enemy land munitions designers to transform traditionally used
troops, to deny them access to certain areas and resources, dumb land munitions into technologically advanced land
and to burden them with injured soldiers. Munitions, in munitions called smart munitions that can be used for
general cover a larger range of weapons, but here the offensive purposes. These include remotely delivery systems
focus is primarily on land munitions. Land munitions are and munitions with low metal content, electronic sensors,
basically explosive devices that are designed to explode self-destruct (SD)/self neutralising (SN) mechanisms and
when triggered by pressure, a tripwire or by influence. remote-controlled activation and actuation.
These devices are typically found on or just below the
surface of the ground. The purpose of munitions when 2. CATEGORIES OF MUNITIONS
used by armed forces is to disable any person or vehicle Munitions are classified according to their delivery/
that comes into contact with it by an explosion or through laying method, the position they assume below the ground,
fragments released at high speeds. In modern land warfare, their method of actuation, their use, technology involved,
land munitions are considered as highly effective means and desired functionality. When classified by delivery
method, these are referred to as: (a) aircraft-laid munitions,
(b) Vehicle-based system-laid munitions, or (c) mechanically-
laid munitions. When classified according to the position
they assume with respect to the ground, these are either:
(a) underground munitions, (b) claymore munitions, or (c)
drifting munitions. When classified by their method of
actuation, these are divided into three types: (a) contact,
(b) influence, and (c) controlled. When classified by use,
they are referred to as: (a) service munitions and (b) exercise
and training munitions. When classified according to the
technology involved and desired functionality, these are
referred to as: (a) dumb, (b) smart and (c) precision munitions.
Smart munitions refer to a number of next-generation
land munitions designs being developed around the world
with the state-of-the-art-technology. Munitions are said
to be smart in context with following:
• Sensor technology: Detects targets at a distance or
Figure 1. Land munitions. in proximity. Sensored munitions are equipped with
Received 03 September 2009

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Infrared

Sound/ Acoustic

Magnetic Field

Seismic vibration Ground Pressure

Figure 2. Target emissions used by sensored land munitions.

numerous sensors like infrared, seismic, audio, magnetic,

Figure 3. Adrushy MK-I.
and even electromagnetic that gives the munition a
target-selection capability in its proximity. sophisticated munition, self-neutralisation has been
• Discrimination capability: Distinguishes between targets incorporated with reusable feature. Flexibility has been
types and non-targets. This capability would allow provided for selection of the self-neutralisation period
the munitions to attack a roller or plough/ trawl and depending o the tactical requirement of the munition field.
tank before it could breach the munitions field. In This munition is safe to handle and also during laying,
addition, munitions could be programmed to only attack as it consists of electro-mechanical safety device with 1 h
the specific targets, while allowing others to pass. arming delay. This munition is both waterproof and shockproof.
• Surface munitions counter counter measures: Survival This munition is indomitable with capability of armour
against breaching techniques by incorporation of penetration–90 mm causing ‘K’ kill.
intelligent algorithms and combination of sensors. Technologies established during the development of
the store are passive magnetic sensor–to provide full-
• Control of Munitions: Through SD and SN features:
width attack capability; smart fuze–with field-settable SN
SN is for sophisticated and high value munitions.
period up to 160 days; and tank trawl discrimination capability,
This allows recovery and re-use; SD is used forfor safety and arming device (elctromechanical timer), anti-
those difficult to detect or clear and used for offensive tilt device, armour penetration up to 90 mm through shaped-
purposes. charge warhead. It has undergone users trial successfully
• Engage targets at greater distances–Therefore less and 5500 numbers were productionised. Munitions were
munitions required. used during operation Parakram in 2002 successfully and
• Remote delivery system: Deploy large numbers of commendation from Army HQ.
scatterable munitions from the air, which automatically
activate as these hit the ground 3.2 Adrushy MK-II
• Remote communication: SN and SD periods are set Another good example of the sensored smart munition
remotely. It also allows the remote activation/ actuation is antitank Adrushy MK-II. Technology breakthrough has
of the munitions. been achieved by developing active sensor based on the
smart fuze which is brain of the Adrushy munition MK-
3. DEVELOPMENTS AT ARDE
3.1 Adrushy MK-I
Adrushy MK-I is first indigenously developed anti-
tank influence munition, which is India’s answer to the
increasing threat caused by the MBTs of the nineties.
With the introduction of this munition with shaped-charge
and magnetic-cum-seismic influence fuze, a new dimension
has been given to the munition warfare. This is simple
in handling and is user-friendly. This munition provides
full-width attack capability against the moving tanks unlike
the conventional pressure-actuated munitions, hence more
lethal. This munition consists of a magnetic sensor to
detect the vehicle in the proximity. To make the munition
more difficult to breach by the magnetic signature duplicator,
seismic-cum-magnetic mode of operation is provided. Tank-
trawl discrimination has been incorporated. Being a Figure 4. Adrushy MK-II.

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 MAHAJAN & MOTGHARE: SMART MUNITIONS

Figure 5. Functioning under tank.

II for the first time in India. This has added feather in the
cap of India Army. The productionisation of these munitions
will make us self-reliant and will save foreign currency to
the extent of more than 100 crore.
This munition discriminates the tank-trawl/ plough,
track and wheeled vehicles, also has survival capability
against blast of CLMC (V) and 100 per cent performance
against tanks. The state-of-the-art fuze has been developed
consisting of active sensor and microcontroller-based signal
processor. The active sensor consists of a set of transmitter
and receiver coils, initially in balanced condition. When
tank passes over it, the balance gets disturbed and in turn
generates voltage across the receiver coil. This signal
forms the signature of the target. The signature collection
was done through the field trials. The software has been
developed for analysing the signature and for taking appropriate
decision for firing the munition. This makes the fuze smart.
Successful development of this smart influence Adrushy
munition MK-II by ARDE has made India proud and at Figure 6. Remote delivery of submunitions.
par with the world market.
Technologies established during the development of
the store are: (a) active sensor based on induction balance
principle, and (b) smart fuze microcontroller-based software
to determine the exact instant of firing under tank, to
provide discrimination between track and wheeled vehicles,
and survival against CLMC(V). Users trial work done
successfully and inducted into Services. Order quantity
of 20,000 has been placed by the Army.

4. ANTITANK SCATTERABLE MUNITIONS

Remote delivery systems deploy large number of scatterable
munitions from the air, which automatically activate as
these hit the ground. Even these smart munitions are
indispensable weapons of war. Under this category of
antitank remotely delivered sub-munitions for 122 mm rocket
and Pinaka rocket have been developed and are under
evaluation phase. This sub-munition consists of miniature
passive magnetic sensor for detection of the vehicle which
provides full-width attack capabilities. Electronic timer
generates the set SD period. As per Geneva protocol, a
self-deactivation facility has also been provided as a backup.
Vertical landing is ensured with the help of pyrocutter
device and 6 legs arrangement. Handling and operational
safety has been provided through safety arming device. Figure 7. Submunitions.

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of potential threat armour targets and to cause loss of

5. INDIAN SCENARIO mobility or firepower after perforation. There are concerns
Very few countries have successfully developed such about the hit point distribution and WAM’s ability to
types (Adrushy (MK-I & II), scatterable) of munitions function properly under windy conditions. This munition
and are part of their Army’s inventory. Similar type of has been developed by US army and is in service with
munitions have been developed by France (HPDF1 and US Force.
HPDF2), Austria (ATM 200E), Sweden (FFV028), and Italy
(SBMV1, BAT/7, VS-HCT). Basically, three types of 6.3 Spider
technologies which have been used worldwide for influence Is an advanced, man-in-the-loop, area-denial munition.
munitions are: (a) passive magnetic sensor, (b) active sensor, It protects the war fighter by laying down either a lethal
and (c) seismic sensor. ARDE has also established all or non-lethal field of fire, yet puts complete command and
these technologies and munitions developed and is at par control in the hands of the soldier. Spider offers remotely-
with those available in the world market. controlled force protection while enhancing the operational
and tactical flexibility of forces in the field. Not only is
6. GLOBAL SCENARIO FOR FUTURISTIC SMART a soldier in complete control of the munitions at all the
MUNITIONS times, the soldier can also select to engage the enemy
6.1 Self-healing Munitions Field with individual munitions rather than the entire system
The most recent, and perhaps the most interesting and can choose lethal or non-lethal options. The man-in-
evolution in munitions technology is the autonomous, or the-loop feature requires the soldier to determine whether
self healing munitions (SHM). The SHM, currently under a target is friendly or hostile, visually or using sensor
development by the US Defence Advanced Research Projects input, before activating the response element. This type
Agency (DARPA) consists of a number of sensored smart of munitions is under development by US Force.
munitions that communicate with one another via radio
frequencies. In addition to possessing a standoff attack 6.4 Modular Pack Munitions System
capability, these munitions, through their internal Modular pack munitions system (MOPMS) is a human-
communications network, are capable of reacting to enemy portable system used by the soldier for dispersing a total
breaching efforts also. of 21 antitank and other land munitions. This system has
been developed by US Army. The system was specially
6.2 Wide Area Munitions created to employ a short-term (temporary) protective,
The wide area munitions (WAM) (e.g., M93 Hornet) tactical, or nuisance munitions field. The unit weights ~75
is a smart autonomous top-attack antitank/anti-vehicle kg so can easily be put in place (even in battle conditions)
munitions, designed to defeat armoured combat vehicles by four men, and can later be activated by wired remote
from a stand-off distance. The WAM utilizes acoustic and or wireless radio control. Though the system can be activated
a seismic sensors in its ground platform to detect, track, by wire, it is most commonly and most safely activated
and classify potential targets and then launches infrared by a hand-held remote control unit (RCU). This RCU allows
detecting sub-munitions over the top of the selected target. a single operator to control upto 15 groups of MOPMS
Once the sublet detects the target, it fires an explosively by a click. The radio units use coded frequencies to stop
formed penetrator (EFP) to defeat the target. The WAM electronic countermeasures against the system. After activation,
consists of three major subsystems a communications the system discharges four munitions. The anti-tank munitions
module, a ground platform module, and a smart submunitions/ are magnetically activated, so can be triggered without
warhead module. Once deployed, the WAM uprights itself direct contact, while the other munitions automatically
and autonomously searches for a target vehicle. In addition, disperse four trip wires by default. All munitions self-
the WAM has a command destruct capability for easy destruct after 4 h, but a timer can be reset up to three
battlefield cleanup. Then WAM’s explosively formed penetrator times for a total of 16 h. In addition, all land munitions
has demonstrated the ability to perforate substantial areas can be set to detonate on command by remote control if
needed.

7. OPPORTUNITIES IN SMART LAND MUNITION

TECHNOLOGY
The application of new, high-end computer chips,
and sophisticated electronics will be creating an electronic
battlefield, filled with small, powerful new munitions which
are intelligent, mobile, communicate with each other through
network and plan strategy. Futuristic munitions will call
for incorporation of following features:
• Munition mobility
Figure 8. Hornets. • Munition-to-munition communication network

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Influence Land Munition Wide area munition

(Adrushy-Mk II)
with active sensor Remotely controlled
munitions
Influence Land Munition
(Adrushy-MkI)
Side attack Munitions
Scatterable Land Munitions

Current Technology Futuristic Technology

Figure 10. Evolution of smart land munitions.

REFERENCES
Figure 9. Modular pack munition system. 1. ARDE Closing Report No.1011, September 1996.
2. ARDE Closing Report No.1166, May 2006.
• Miniature warhead with ‘K’ kills capabilities.
3. ARDE Closing Report No.1176, April 2007.
This future munitions field concept will assure a robust
4. Heyman, C. Trends in land mine warefare. Jane’s Special
obstacle to disrupt enemy vehicles and will prevent a
Report, August 1995.
successful breach of an antitank munitions field
5. Nardulli, G. & Marangi, C. Trends in landmine warfare
Smart land munitions are a part of defensive and
and land mine detection. http://www.ba.infn.it/~nardulli/
offensive strategy of every Nation as these provide
castiglioncello.html
protective cover to Nation’s border and strategic
6. Jane’s munitions and munitions clearance 2005-2006.
location against enemy. Therefore, it is required to give
http://www .jmmc.janes.com
prime importance and top-most priority to the development
7. Finkenzeller, K. RFID handbook: Fundamentals and
of smart munitions.
applications in contactless smart cards and identification,
To venture into the development of futuristic smart
Ed. 2. Wiley, New York, 2003.
munitions, development of core expertise in the following
8. http://10.2.114.1/tech_white_board/smart_weapons.htm
technologies is needed:
• Miniaturisation of the magnetic sensors Contributors
• Development of the acoustic and seismic sensors
• Development of the miniature warhead with ‘K‘ kill Ms C.P. Mahajan obtained her MSc
• Development of remote control system for the munitions (Electronics) and MTech (Modelling and
• MMIC-based RF transceiver system Simulation) from DIAT, Girinagar, Pune.
• Development of MEMs-based sensored munition She joined DRDO as Scientist ‘B’ and
• Power harvesting system for passive wireless is working in Armament Research and
communication system Development Establishment (ARDE), Pune
• Development of the MML(mechanical munitions layer) on landmunitions (Adrudhy Mk-I &
Adrushy Mk-II). Her core areas of expertise
compatible safety arming mechanism
are: armament electronics for landmunitions.
• Individual impulse-based munitions mobility with self- Presently, she is working as Scientist ‘F’ and Head, Electronics
righting Technology Division, ARDE.
• Low power munition-to-munition communication (resistant
to enemy countermeasures methods) that can determine Ms Vaishnavi C. Motghare obtained
each munition location her BE (Electronics) from VNIT, Nagpur
• Non-GPS-based geolocation and MTech (Electrical Engineering) from
• Healing algorithms/ behaviors that are robust against IIT, Bombay in 2008. She joined DRDO
a variety of enemy breaching tactics and autonomously as Scientist ‘B’ and is working in ARDE
on fuze technology and armament
identify and respond to an enemy attack within few
electronics. Her core areas of expertise
seconds are: RF design, wireless protocol design,
• Compact multi-hopping system and digital signal processing required in the armament electronics
domain.

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