OPTIMIZATION OF THE USAGE OF 35 MM ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN BARRELS IN TERMS OF RELIABILITY AND ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY

Abstract

The scientific basis for optimizing the use of work resources of 35 mm anti-aircraft gun barrels, enabling their durability to be increased by 25÷100% while improving operational efficiency indicators are presented in this paper. The development of a new approach to assessing the durability and effectiveness of these barrels results from current solutions and capabilities of navigation and targeting systems, new generation projectiles (programmable ammunition with sub-projectiles) and real-time muzzle velocity measurement applications (while main-taining or even increasing the current muzzle velocity and rate of fire). This increases the probability of hitting floating, coastal and flying targets (especially UAVs and RAM). It has been shown that the durability and operational assessment of this class of guns (including economic efficiency) is not determined only by indicators based on the rate of fire, muzzle velocity or second burst of fire. What is now more important is the ability to reduce the rate of barrel destructive processes, resulting from the possibility of shortening the length of firing series. It has been shown that with short series, the barrels wear and the intensity of damage to the reload mechanisms are significantly reduced. The phenomenon of barrel overheating is also limited, and thus operational indicators are improved (average time to failure, continuous operation time, ammunition usage), which significantly reduces the cost of operating the guns.