Special Ops a Cut Above the Rest with New Tool

By Air Base Wing Office of Public Affairs
Air Force Materiel Command

Special operations forces (SOF) operating in war-zone environments are not regularly welcomed with open arms by their adversaries. In fact, their adversaries provide a variety of obstacles designed to keep them at arm’s length.

As a result, SOF personnel requested a compact, lightweight, hand-held tool that would allow them to cut through locks, bars and other barriers.

The Tec Torch cartridge and handle. (Photo: Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Office/Released)

The Air Force Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program office jumped in to meet the need. The SBIR/STTR is providing transition funding that will give SOF personnel, law enforcement and first responders a small, hand-held thermal erosive cutting (TEC) torch. Current systems require large oxygen tanks, hoses and separate ignition systems. The TEC torch shown to the right is 1.5 inches in diameter, 13 inches in length and weighs one pound.

The objective of this SBIR Phase III contract is to ensure manufacturability and quality control of the TEC torch technology. Energetic Materials & Products, Inc. (EMPI), located in Round Rock, Texas, originally developed a thermite-based, high-temperature and high-velocity metal-vapor jet during an Air Force Micro-scale Ordnance Technology SBIR Phase I and Phase II program from 2011 to 2013. That technology demonstrated the ability to focus an extremely high thermal energy flux into a prescribed pattern using a graphite nozzle with different geometries. This allowed the hot jet stream to exit in a variety of configurations, including a flat blade for cutting through rods or a round jet for penetrating plates.

According to Dr. Stephanie Johnson, an AFRL researcher involved in the project, the technology has attracted interest from a diverse set of users for several applications.

“EMPI worked closely with SOF personnel to address their requirements for a thermal breaching device that produces very high temperatures to melt or burn barriers and obstacles, such as locks, bars or other similar barriers, in order to gain entry to secured areas,” Johnson said. “To address these requirements, EMPI developed a compact, hand-held torch, which has displayed superiority over conventional thermal breaching tools in demonstrations by the user community.”

“Other applications for the device include a version for miniature robots and for remote cutting operations for the oil exploration or production industry,” Johnson added.

To date, a limited-rate production facility has been producing 20 units per day. With the additional SBIR funding, EMPI is expected to establish manufacturing processes and procedures that will yield around 1,000 units a day.

A Tec Torch user cuts through 5/8 inch window bars in 1.5 seconds. (Photo: Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Office/Released)

“EMPI has already provided over 600 hand-held units to SOF and for local and federal law enforcement agencies for determining reliability, performance and safety, and several of these units have been used in demonstration for SOF and law enforcement customers,” said Dennis Wilson, EMPI’s SBIR principal investigator. “Their feedback has been incorporated into making design changes, such as handle length and safety modifications.”

This program also leverages more than $1 million in non-SBIR funding. These additional funds will help ensure the Phase III program that successfully transitions the TEC torch into military and private sectors.

The Air Force SBIR and STTR programs are mission-oriented programs that integrate the needs and requirements of the Air Force through research and development topics that have military and commercial potential. The Air Force SBIR and STTR programs provide more than $300 million in funding for research and development activities by small businesses annually.

Story and information provided by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base 88th Air Base Wing Office of Public Affairs Air Force Materiel Command
Follow Armed with Science on Facebook and Twitter!
———-

Disclaimer: Re-published content may have been edited for length and clarity. The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense. For other than authorized activities, such as, military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sites, the Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD website.

from Armed with Science http://ift.tt/1NCrSlj

By Air Base Wing Office of Public Affairs
Air Force Materiel Command

Special operations forces (SOF) operating in war-zone environments are not regularly welcomed with open arms by their adversaries. In fact, their adversaries provide a variety of obstacles designed to keep them at arm’s length.

As a result, SOF personnel requested a compact, lightweight, hand-held tool that would allow them to cut through locks, bars and other barriers.

The Tec Torch cartridge and handle. (Photo: Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Office/Released)

The Air Force Small Business Innovation Research/Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) program office jumped in to meet the need. The SBIR/STTR is providing transition funding that will give SOF personnel, law enforcement and first responders a small, hand-held thermal erosive cutting (TEC) torch. Current systems require large oxygen tanks, hoses and separate ignition systems. The TEC torch shown to the right is 1.5 inches in diameter, 13 inches in length and weighs one pound.

The objective of this SBIR Phase III contract is to ensure manufacturability and quality control of the TEC torch technology. Energetic Materials & Products, Inc. (EMPI), located in Round Rock, Texas, originally developed a thermite-based, high-temperature and high-velocity metal-vapor jet during an Air Force Micro-scale Ordnance Technology SBIR Phase I and Phase II program from 2011 to 2013. That technology demonstrated the ability to focus an extremely high thermal energy flux into a prescribed pattern using a graphite nozzle with different geometries. This allowed the hot jet stream to exit in a variety of configurations, including a flat blade for cutting through rods or a round jet for penetrating plates.

According to Dr. Stephanie Johnson, an AFRL researcher involved in the project, the technology has attracted interest from a diverse set of users for several applications.

“EMPI worked closely with SOF personnel to address their requirements for a thermal breaching device that produces very high temperatures to melt or burn barriers and obstacles, such as locks, bars or other similar barriers, in order to gain entry to secured areas,” Johnson said. “To address these requirements, EMPI developed a compact, hand-held torch, which has displayed superiority over conventional thermal breaching tools in demonstrations by the user community.”

“Other applications for the device include a version for miniature robots and for remote cutting operations for the oil exploration or production industry,” Johnson added.

To date, a limited-rate production facility has been producing 20 units per day. With the additional SBIR funding, EMPI is expected to establish manufacturing processes and procedures that will yield around 1,000 units a day.

A Tec Torch user cuts through 5/8 inch window bars in 1.5 seconds. (Photo: Air Force SBIR/STTR Program Office/Released)

“EMPI has already provided over 600 hand-held units to SOF and for local and federal law enforcement agencies for determining reliability, performance and safety, and several of these units have been used in demonstration for SOF and law enforcement customers,” said Dennis Wilson, EMPI’s SBIR principal investigator. “Their feedback has been incorporated into making design changes, such as handle length and safety modifications.”

This program also leverages more than $1 million in non-SBIR funding. These additional funds will help ensure the Phase III program that successfully transitions the TEC torch into military and private sectors.

The Air Force SBIR and STTR programs are mission-oriented programs that integrate the needs and requirements of the Air Force through research and development topics that have military and commercial potential. The Air Force SBIR and STTR programs provide more than $300 million in funding for research and development activities by small businesses annually.

Story and information provided by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base 88th Air Base Wing Office of Public Affairs Air Force Materiel Command
Follow Armed with Science on Facebook and Twitter!
———-

Disclaimer: Re-published content may have been edited for length and clarity. The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense. For other than authorized activities, such as, military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sites, the Department of Defense does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD website.

from Armed with Science http://ift.tt/1NCrSlj