Tungsten alloy for military defense

More knowledge about AHEAD

Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction

AHEAD is the acronym of "Advanced Hit Efficiency and Destruction". That AHEAD can also mean "ahead of …."， is indicative of the idea that AHEAD ammunition is a guided missile that is activated and deployed prior to reaching the target, "advancing interception". The core of AHEAD technology is made up of three parts, including AHEAD ammunition, muzzle velocity measurement, and timed detonator device/ data request system.

Below involve the pictures of a typical military application of tungsten heavy alloy (GDF-AHEAD, from Switzerland):

Schematic drawing of a heavy metal tank ammunition cartridge

1. Windshield         2. Tungsten heavy-metal penetrator (sub projectile)

 3. Three-section sabot  4. Stabilizing fin     5. Propellant

Technological core
The 35mm by 228mm AHEAD ammunition is an original cartridge type, programmed detonator ammunition, composed of a Programmable Fuze System, tungsten alloy subprojectiles, ejection standoff ammunition, a thin-walled body, nitrified fibre firing ammunition and steel ammunition cartridge.

The combat efficiency of the AHEAD ammunition is due to the payload of 152 tungsten alloy subprojectiles weighing 3.3 grams each. These subprojectiles are activated at a certain distance in front of the intercepted target, forming a mass of lethal subprojectiles, greatly augmenting the probability of a kill. The tungsten alloy subprojectiles have a sharp edge, ensuring that they can inroad into the target with precise accuracy, also providing the kinetic energy to destroy the electrical components, payloads or motor of the target.