An evaluation of Yuma Proving Grounds ballistic arsenal scoring methods

• Main Author: Von Krueger, Kristopher E.
• Other Authors: Whitaker, Lyn R.
• Format: Others
• Published: Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School 2012
• Subjects: Weapons systems; United States; Testing
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10945/2153

Yuma Test Center (YTC) is a primary testing and evaluation facility for the United States Army's 30mm M230 automatic gun. The current program used by YTC to evaluate 30mm rounds is an old, complex, FORTRAN package called Accuracy Scoring Program (ASCORE). Due to the age and complexity of ASCORE, questions about its reliability in ballistic calculations have been raised. These reliability questions are important, because ASCORE is used by YTC to evaluate whether all such weapons systems meet Department of Defense specifications. Currently, the Army has no plans to replace ASCORE. The Navy has expressed interest in using ASCORE for fire control We evaluate ASCORE using a modern ballistic simulator named Projectile Design and Analysis System (PRODAS) to simulate trajectories of live fire rounds. This thesis demonstrates how PRODAS can be used to evaluate ASCORE. Preliminary results indicate that ASCORE's accuracy decreases the greater a round's impact distance is from the target.