1. Basic Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO)
Point of Contact:
Richard Magrogan
HERO Program Manager, E3 Assessment and Evaluation Branch (Q52)
(540)
Distribution Statement D:
Distribution authorized to DoD and DoD contractors only.
Approved by NSWCDD Q52 Branch Head William T. Lenzi (Working Papers)

2. Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance
HERO
Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance
Potential for ordnance containing electrically initiated devices to be adversely affected by electromagnetic radiation
HERO stands for Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance. 2

3. ELECTRICALLY INITIATED DEVICES (EIDs)
HERO Risk C A U S E E F F E C T E L E C T R O M A G N E T I C I N A D V E R T E N T A C T U A T I O N O F
ELECTRICALLY INITIATED DEVICES (EIDs) E M I S S I O N S R O C K E T M O T O R I G N I T O R / D U D D E T O N A T O R
This slide illustrates the causes of HERO and its effect on ordnance.
Causes can be the emissions from radar and communication systems.
Effects can be the inadvertent activation or dudding of ordnance items. 3

4. Electroexplosive Device (EED)
Missile
EED
Insulation
Main
Charge
Connector
Primary
Leads
Case
Bridgewire
Booster
Closure
Disc
This slide shows that ordnance items such as missiles may have many electrically initiated devices. These devices are what make the ordnance susceptible to radio frequency (rf) energy.
Examples:
Detonators
Motor Igniters
Battery Squibs
Piston Actuators
Explosive Bolts 4

5. HERO
This video shows a 60 mm mortar round being radiated by the horn antenna on the left. The energy from the horn antenna causes an electrical current to develop on the bridgewire of the fuze which in turn sets off the round. 5

6. Stockpile-to-Safe-Separation Sequence (S4)
Navy S4
Army S4
This slide illustrates that we are concerned about ordnance during its entire life cycle. The susceptibility of the ordnance can change based on which S4 that item is currently in. Generally, most items are more susceptible during assembly/disassembly operations. 6

7. HERO Ordnance Classifications
HERO SAFE ORDNANCE - Ordnance that has been analyzed/tested and is essentially immune to the effects of radio frequency (RF) energy
HERO SUSCEPTIBLE ORDNANCE - Ordnance that has been analyzed/tested and is moderately affected by RF energy
HERO UNSAFE/UNRELIABLE ORDNANCE -
Ordnance that has not been evaluated for HERO
Any ordnance whose internal wiring is inadvertently exposed to the external EME, e.g.:
Tests or programming operations are being performed where additional electrical connections are made to the item
During assembly/disassembly or when the item is in a disassembled condition and not in an all metal container or other wise shielded
Each ordnance that contains electrically initiated devices is tested and assigned one of the types of HERO classifications listed on this slide. 7

8. This HERO Guidance is provided in the facility HERO EMCON Instruction
HERO Prevention
Power Management
Reduce transmitter power to a particular antenna
Silence or power down transmitters completely
Frequency Management
Use specific frequencies which will not affect the ordnance item
Observe Safe Separation Distances
Safe separation distances for all transmitters are listed in the HERO emission control (EMCON) instruction/bill.
Distances are provided for HERO SUSCEPTIBLE and UNSAFE ORDNANCE
Shield Ordnance from EMEs (Containerization)
Barrier bags or sealed all metal containers
Limit use of HERO UNSAFE or SUSCEPTIBLE ORDNANCE items when possible
Each of these HERO prevention measures can be used to maintain safety. See the HERO EMCON instruction for the facility to see what type of guidance is recommended.
This HERO Guidance is provided in the facility HERO EMCON Instruction 8

9. Ordnance Accident – Multiple Radios
Restrictions below apply when using 3 or more VHF ( MHz) or UHF ( MHz) Police, Fire, or Weapons Department radios
Vehicle Radios
Maintain a minimum safe separation distance of 150 feet from accident
Refer to facility HERO EMCON instruction for safe separation distances for a single radio
Handheld Radios
Maintain a minimum safe separation distance of 50 feet from accident
If the safe separation distance listed in the facility HERO EMCON instruction for a single radio is greater than 50 feet then that distance should be used
This information applies when using multiple radios near HERO UNSAFE ORDNANCE. 9

10. HERO Points of Contact
Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) Q52
HERO Program Manager
Rick Magrogan (NSWCDD Q52)
Phone:
Alternate POCs
Steven Springer (NSWCDD Q52)
Phone: Or
Robert Bozarth (NSWCDD Q52)
Phone: 10