Variants M829

1 variants

1.1 m829
1.2 m829a1
1.3 m829a2
1.4 m829a3
1.5 m829a4

variants
m829

the m829 has ballistic nose , 5 tail fins made of aluminum. carried in gun tube four-piece aluminum sabot, separates 4 petals after round leaves gun tube. propulsion system uses obturating case base semi-combustible cartridge wall. has total weight of 41.1 lb (18.6 kg) , utilizes 627 mm (24.7 in) du penetrator 27 mm rod diameter, reach muzzle velocity of 1,670 meters per second (5,500 ft/s) using of 8.1 kg (18 lb) of ja-2 propellant. maximum effective range 3,000 m (3,300 yd). according jane s, m829 capable of penetrating 540 mm (21 in) of rha steel armor @ 2,000 m (2,200 yd) range. original m829 no longer in production , has been succeeded m829a1, m829a2, , m829a3. corresponding training round m865 costing $1,121.

m829a1

the m829a1 (nicknamed silver bullet operation desert storm tank crews) proved in 1991 against iraqi t-55 , t-72 tanks during operation desert storm. however, effectiveness has been reduced modern explosive reactive armor (era) such russian kontakt-5, led rapid development of m829a3 round (which in turn led development of newest russian relikt era). m829a1 round weighs 20.9 kg (46 lb) , has overall length of 984 mm (38.7 in). 7.9 kg (17 lb) of ja-19 propellant creates chamber pressure of 5,600 bars (~81,220 psi), results in muzzle velocity of 1,575 m/s (5,170 ft/s). 684 mm (26.9 in)-long penetrator sabot weighs 9 kg (20 lb). mass of penetrator alone 4.6 kg (10 lb). effective target range 3,000 m (3,300 yd). point-blank m829a1 estimated penetrate 670 mm (26 in) of steel armor, decreases 620 mm (24 in) @ 1,000 m (1,100 yd), , 570 mm (22 in) @ 2,000 m (2,200 yd). @ 4,000 m (4,400 yd), believed still able penetrate 460 mm (18 in) of steel armor.

m829a2

m829a2 cross-section

the next generation ammunition, called 120mm apfsds-t m829a2, entered service in 1994, , current armor penetrator ammunition being produced general dynamics ordnance , tactical systems 120mm m256 gun of tanks m1a1 , m1a2. technology improvement on m829a1, m829a2 immediate response, developed in part take on kontakt-5, silver bullet of desert storm fame. new ammunition s performance gains, while classified, result several new features. these include use of special manufacturing process improve structural quality of depleted uranium penetrator. this, plus use of new composites sabot, which, new propellant, provide superior penetrator performance. combined, these features increase muzzle velocity of m829a2 approximately 100 m/sec greater m829a1 (up around 1,675 m/sec), while operating @ lower pressure. projectile length: 780 mm; weight: 9 kg. estimated penetration performance: 730 mm @ 2,000 meters.[1]

on 6 may 2014, army announced awarded us$12 million-contract defense contractor general dynamics demilitarization , disposal of 78,000 aging depleted uranium (du) tank rounds newer rounds added u.s. war reserves. contract includes m829a1 , m829a2 rounds.

m829a3

the m829a2 immediate response, developed in part take on new era type. m829a3 further improvement, designed defeat future armor protection methods newer kaktus type, seen on prototype tanks such t-80um2 chiorny oriol (black eagle) tank.[2] completed type classification standard in march 2003. little publicly known round, perhaps due export restrictions (see international traffic in arms regulations (itar). m829a3 uses more efficient propellant, rpd-380, boosting muzzle velocity. m829a3 round has total mass of 22.3 kg (49 lb) , length of 892 mm (35.1 in). uses 8.1 kg (18 lb) of rpd-380 stick propellant, accelerating 10 kg (22 lb) depleted uranium rod penetrator, can estimated cutaway mock-ups 800 mm (31 in) long, muzzle velocity of 1,555 m/s (5,100 ft/s), estimated penetration performance: 765 mm @ 2,000 meters. [3] sabot of composite material. variant unofficially referred abrams tank crews super sabot . costs around $8,500. although m829a3 fired 44-caliber m256 gun has lower muzzle velocity 120 mm shells fired rheinmetall 55-caliber gun barrel or russian 2a46 125 mm gun ammunition, uses larger penetrator increased mass increase imparted kinetic energy.

m829a4

the a4 (formerly e4) variant under development general dynamics ordnance & tactical systems , alliant techsystems (atk) until atk received $77-million, three-year contract on 11 july 2011 develop , qualify m829a4 advanced kinetic energy (ake) round army s m1a2 sep (system enhancement package) abrams mbt. m829a4 intended defeat newest russian relikt , malachit explosive reactive armor (era).[4][5]

the m829a4 fifth-generation apfsds-t cartridge consisting of depleted-uranium penetrator three-petal composite sabot; penetrator includes low-drag fin tracer, , windshield , tip assembly. propellant maintains consistent muzzle velocities across operational temperatures −25 145 °f (−32 63 °c). new advanced combustible cartridge case similar previous models has relocated skive joint placement better crew-member safety during handling. initial order 2,501 m829a4 rounds in 2014 had unit cost of $10,100 each. on 20 july 2015, orbital atk announced m829e4 had passed first article acceptance testing , entering production. on 12 october 2015, orbital atk announced round had received type classification m829a4, , awarded full-rate production contract begin in 2016.