Delivery Systems

Course structure

What you will learn

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• explain the operational features and principles of a wide variety of ammunition launch methods, including light and heavy guns, cannons, mortars and small arms, underpinned by a detailed knowledge of their sub-systems and design methodologies;
• analyse the external ballistics phenomena related to various classes of munitions, especially related to low-drag designs, gyroscopic and fin-stabilisation techniques and trajectory modelling methods;
• appraise and assess the performance of guided weapons and torpedoes, based upon a knowledge of their detailed sub-system design features and associated trade-offs.

Skills

• perform detailed calculations related to the performance (i.e. range and velocity) of complete guided weapon and torpedo designs using informed aerodynamic, propulsion and mass data;
• calculate detailed design information for appropriate spin rates and stability criteria for various projectiles.

Core content

• Guns, cannons and mortars; build-up, charge systems, cartridge case design, external ballistics;
• Torpedoes; underwater ballistics, underwater propulsion, guidance and control;
• Air Stores: air carriage and release, sub-munition dispensing;
• Detection: IR and optical sensing, radar systems;
• Guided weapon design: Propulsion, aerodynamics, control, guidance.

Upgrade to a professional qualification

When taken as a Short Course for Credit, 10 credit points can be put towards the Explosives Ordnance Engineering MSc.

Find out more about short course credit points.

Who should attend

Students must have successfully completed both the Introduction to Explosives Engineering and Munitions and Target Response in order to take this as a Short Course for Credit .

There are no prerequisites if taken as a Standalone Short Course.

Speakers

Dr Aimee Helliker

Dr Derek Bray

Concessions

A limited number of MOD sponsored places are available.

Location and travel

Cranfield Defence and Security (CDS) is a Cranfield School based at the Ministry of Defence establishment on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire borders.

Shrivenham itself lies in the picturesque Vale of the White Horse, close to the M4 motorway which links London and South Wales. It is 7 miles from Swindon, the nearest town, which lies off the M4 at the hub of Britain’s motorway network.

Bath, Cheltenham, Bristol and Oxford are all within an hour’s drive and London less than two hours away by car.

All visitors must be pre-booked in at reception by the person they are visiting on the campus.

For further location and travel details