Basic Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO)

1. Basic Hazards of Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance (HERO) Point of Contact: Richard Magrogan HERO Program Manager, E3 Assessment and Evaluation Branch (Q52) richard.magrogan@navy.mil (540) 653-3445 Distribution Statement D: Distribution authorized to DoD and DoD contractors only. Approved by NSWCDD Q52 Branch Head William T. Lenzi (Working Papers)

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

3. 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 3

4. Missile Main Charge Insulation Primary Charge Connector Closure Disc Bridgewire Leads Booster Charge Case Electroexplosive Device (EED) EED Examples: • Detonators • Motor Igniters • Battery Squibs • Piston Actuators • Explosive Bolts 4

5. HERO 5

6. Stockpile-to-Safe-Separation Sequence (S4) Navy S4 Army S4 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 7

8. 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 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 (136-225 MHz) or UHF (225-400 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 9

10. HERO Points of Contact Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD) Q52 HERO Program Manager Rick Magrogan (NSWCDD Q52) Phone: 540-653-3445 Email: richard.magrogan@navy.mil Alternate POCs Steven Springer (NSWCDD Q52) Phone: 540-653-2931 Email: steven.p.springer@navy.mil Or Robert Bozarth (NSWCDD Q52) Phone: 540-653-9721 Email: robert.b.bozarth@navy.mil 10