1. Tactical Missile Recycling at the ANMC
MRC BRIEFING
AMCOM
Wes Thompson
by:

2. Army Tactical Missile Systems
Class 1.1 Propellants
Clean Burning/Detonable
HELLFIRE
TOW
CHAPARRAL
Class 1.3 Propellants
Smoky/Nondetonable
HAWK
MLRS
PATRIOT

3. Recycling is the Alternative to OB/OD

4. What is a Missile Recycling Capability?
• >98% of TOW missile components are recyclable
- Missile Warheads Guidance & Control Packages
- Rocket Motor Propellants Airframe Components
- Rocket Motor Cases - Shipping Containers
Warhead
Explosive
S&A
System
Actuator
Gyro
Batteries
Electro
Optics
Launch Motor
Igniter
Flight Motor
Electronics
• Major MRC Modules
- Missile Disassembly Energetics Processing
- Rocket Motor Denozzling Slurry Explosive Manufacturing
- Propellant Removal Hardware Decontamination
- Warhead Explosive Removal Material Handling & Shredding Equipment
- Energetics Size Reduction
Environmental Compliance: “Recycling is the Future, and the Future is Now”

5. ANMC – MRC Module Locations
Building 381
Missile Disassembly Processes N
EPM Site
Ingredient Extraction & Recovery
Building 65
Slurry Explosives Manufacturing

6. Existing vacant building accommodate MRC modules
ANMC – MRC Building 381
Existing vacant building
has been upgraded to
accommodate MRC modules
Work cells for
Missile Disassembly
Propellant & Warhead
Separations
Hardware Recovery

7. ANMC - Building 381

8. MRC Disassembly Module
Disassembly of TOW Missile
Major Hardware Components
Disassembles missile into major subsystem components
Segregates rocket motors, warheads, and inert hardware components for recycling operations

9. MRC Disassembly Module

10. MRC Disassembly Module
Air Frame Components from TOW Disassembly
Electronic Units from TOW Disassembly
Launch Tubes from TOW Disassembly
> 98% of TOW Missile Components are Recovered for Recycling

11. MRC Denozzling Module Launch Motor Denozzling Flight Motor Denozzling
TOW Launch Motor
TOW Flight Motor
Launch Motor with Nozzle Removed
Flight Motor with Nozzle Removed
Removes aft closure (nozzle) from forward motor section
Provides access to rocket motor propellants
Damage free recovery of motor hardware

12. MRC Denozzling Module TOW Launch Motor Denozzling Machine
TOW Launch Motor Denozzling Bay
TOW Launch Motor Denozzling Machine
Launch Motor Components

13. TOW Flight Motor Denozzling Bay TOW Flight Motor Denozzling Machine
MRC Denozzling Module
TOW Flight Motor Denozzling Bay
TOW Flight Motor Denozzling Machine

14. MRC Propellant Removal Modules Squib & Retaining Nut Removal Machine
Vertical Milling Machine
Provides low cost/high rate method for efficient propellant removal
Recovers cartridge loaded and case bonded propellants for recycling

15. MRC Propellant Removal Module
TOW Squib & Retaining Nut Removal Machine
TOW Squib & Retaining Nut Removal Machine
TOW Double Base Cartridge-Loaded Grain

16. MRC Propellant Removal Module
TOW Igniter Assembly Removal Machine
TOW Igniter Assembly Removal Machine
Squib and Igniter Assembly Components

17. MRC Propellant Removal Modules
Motor Case Holding Fixture
Cutting Head
Typical Propellant Chips
Vertical Milling Machine

18. MRC Propellant Removal Module

19. MRC Warhead Explosive Removal Module
Warhead Billet Splitting Machine
Warhead Billet Removal Machine
Removes entire explosive warhead billet from outer casing
Separates warhead explosive from shaped charge liner

20. MRC Warhead Explosive Removal Module Warhead Billet Removal
Machine

21. MRC Warhead Explosive Removal Module
Warhead Billet
Splitting Machine

22. MRC Warhead Explosive Removal Module
LX-14 Split
from Cone
Warhead Billet in Contact with Knives
Aluminum Warhead
Casing Recovered
Shaped-Charge Copper
Cone Recovered

23. MRC Energetics Size Reduction Module
Before Size Reduction
Energetics Size Reduction
After Size Reduction
Reduces the size of recovered bulk energetic materials
Provides granulated feedstock for energetic material recycling

24. MRC Energetics Size Reduction Module

25. Energetics Processing Module (EPM)
Redstone Pilot Plant
Energetics Processing Module (EPM)
EPM extracts, separates, and recovers propellant and warhead oxidizers
Located at Redstone
Arsenal
Pilot plant provides technical basis for full-scale engineering development

26. Oxidizers Recovered from Propellants and Warheads
Recovered RDX
Recovered HMX
Recovered AP

27. MRC Energetics Processing Module On-going EPM Construction
Extraction Vessel
On-going EPM Construction
Vertical EPM Tower
Recovers high value, energetic oxidizers (HMX, RDX, & AP)
from propellant and warhead feedstocks
Recovers and recycles liquid ammonia processing solvent
within a closed-loop system

28. MRC Energetics Processing Module
Installation of the EPM Ammonia Charging Hopper

29. MRC Slurry Explosive Manufacturing Module Mining Explosive Product
Slurry Mixer
Mining Explosive Product
Incorporates ~20% of a low value energetic material into
a commercial Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) mining
explosive

30. MRC Slurry Explosive Manufacturing Module

31. Slurry Explosive Manufacturing
ANMC – Building 65
Slurry Explosive Manufacturing
Planned MRC Slurry Explosive Manufacturing Site

32. MRC Hardware Decontamination Module
Flashing furnace decontaminates missile hardware components
Decontaminates non-combustible metal to 5X cleanliness
Limited to 5 pounds of net explosive weight (NEW)

33. MRC Material Handling and Shredding Equipment Module
Provides for material transport and shredding of inert missile components

34. MRC STATUS AT THE ANMC
• Installation of the following modules at the ANMC was completed 30 September 02
- Missile Disassembly Workstations (QTY:3) Warhead Billet Splitting Machines (QTY: 4)
- Launch Motor Denozzling Machines (QTY:4) Squib Removal Machines (QTY: 4)
- Flight Motor Denozzling Machines (QTY:4) - Igniter Assembly Removal Machines (QTY: 4)
- Warhead Billet Removal Machines (QTY: 4)
• Installation of the remaining MRC modules will occur during FY 04-05
- Vertical Milling Machine (QTY: 2) - Hardware Decontamination Module (QTY:1)
- Energetics Size Reduction Machines (QTY: 2) - Energetics Processing Module (QTY: 1)
- Slurry Explosive Manufacturing (QTY: 1)
During this current LRIP phase, 5,000 TOW missiles are scheduled to be processed by 30 SEP 03
THE FULLY INTEGRATED ANMC MRC WILL HAVE A CAPABILITY TO RECYCLE >15,000 TOW MISSILES PER YEAR

35. Thank you for the opportunity to tell you about our team capabilities
US Army Aviation and Missile Command
Research, Development, and Engineering Center
Redstone Arsenal
POC: Dr. William Melvin
Technical Program Manager for R3 Technologies
Phone: DSN
500 Wynn Drive, Bldg 300, Suite 314
Huntsville, AL 35816
POC: Wesley Thompson
Director of Engineering Services
Phone