79 PTE Project
"Low toxicity tear-irritant ammunition to combat public disorder"
Acronim TearCloud
STATUS: currently under research
The Contracting Authority:
Program:
P2 - Increasing the competitiveness of the Romanian economy through research, development, innovation
Subprogram:
2.1 Competitiveness through research, development and innovation - Transfer project to economic operator.
Project title:
Low toxicity tear-irritant ammunition to combat public disorder
Identification code:
PN-III-P2-2.1-PTE-2021-0157
Contract:
79 PTE
Contract value:
1,675,105.00 lei
Contractor:
National Company ROMARM SA
Director:
DEng. Irina Carceanu
Project acronym:
TearCloud
Contracting period:
21/06/2022 - 20/06/2024
Project timeframe:
24 months
Project stages:
3 Stages conducted during 2022, 2023 and 2024
Field:
2. Information and Communication Technology, Space and Security
2.3. Security
Keywords:
Irritant tear ammunition, pyrotechnic mixture, mechano-climatic tests, toxicological effect, low toxicity.
79PTE PROJECT
The aim of the TearCloud project is to develop the manufacturing capacity, at industrial level, of a low toxicity tear-irritant ammunition to combat public disorder, through technological transfer from the Research and Innovation Centre for CBRN Defense and Ecology (P1) to the economic operator C.N.ROMARM S.A. (CO), in order to provide the necessary equipment for the structures of the national system of defense, public order and national security (SNAOPSN), as well as for external beneficiaries.
The low-toxicity irritant-lachrymatory ammunition to combat public disorder will be based on a composition of irritant-lachrymatory agents, less dangerous and much more effective than those currently on the market, with significant rapid recovery, no permanent injuries and greater safety in use.
Thus, the low-toxicity tear-irritant ammunition, in the form of a hand grenade with special effects, is intended to be used by law enforcement agencies and to offer decision-makers the possibility of using the product as an alternative solution to conflict situations where the use of lethal weapons is inappropriate, i.e. missions to combat public disorder, actions to prevent and combat terrorism or training activities for all-weapon fighters to carry out rapid combat actions.
The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction excluded irritants from the category of chemical weapons, grouping them under the heading of substances for the control of disorder. Thus, the use of irritants is allowed only for the purpose of combating public disorder and not as a method of warfare.
In this context, non-lethal technologies can become ideal means to control public disorder.
Technical-scientific argumentation on innovative technical solutions for the design, development, and execution of the preliminary experimental model of a Low Toxicity Irritant-Laser Munition by applying innovative integrated technology in the laboratory phase, given technological transfer to the economic operator.
Estimated results in the first stage - 2022:
1. Report on substances used in pyrotechnic mixtures with irritant-lacrymatory effect
2. Formula for an irritant-lacrymatory pyrotechnic mixture
3. Test report on the pyrotechnic mixture irritant tear gas
4. Experimentation report on tear-irritant ammunition
5. Irritant-lacrymatory ammunition development specification
6. Demo batch
7. ISI article
8. Article presented at an international conference.
Achieved results in stage 1 - 2022:
1. Report on substances used in pyrotechnic mixtures with irritant-lacrymatory effect
2. Formula for an irritant-lacrymatory pyrotechnic mixture
3. Test report on the pyrotechnic mixture irritant tear gas
4. Experimentation report on tear-irritant ammunition
5. Irritant-lacrymatory ammunition development specification
6. Demo batch
7. ISI article
8. Article presented at an international conference.
79PTE PROJECT
Pre-testing of the tester.
Investigation of industrial pyrotechnic mixture and ammunition manufacturing technologies.
Setting up the technological flow, the preparation, and loading plant of the irritant-tear compound.
Estimated results in stage 2 - 2023:
9. Preliminary test report
10. Study on the industrial manufacture of the pyrotechnic mixture irritant tear gas
11. Survey on industrial ammunition manufacture and assembly
12. Technical documentation for ammunition manufacture
13. Facility for manufacturing pyrotechnic mixture
14. Warhead and ammunition manufacturing facility
15. An integrated ammunition manufacturing facility
16. Placing-in-service report
17. BDI indexed article.
Achieved results in stage 2 - 2023:
9. Preliminary test report
10. Study on the industrial manufacture of the pyrotechnic mixture irritant tear gas
11. Survey on industrial ammunition manufacture and assembly
12. Technical documentation for ammunition manufacture
13. Facility for manufacturing pyrotechnic mixture
14. Warhead and ammunition manufacturing facility
15. An integrated ammunition manufacturing facility
16. Placing-in-service report
17. BDI indexed article.
79PTE PROJECT
Low toxicity irritant-lacrymatory ammunition to combat public disorder (TearCloud)
Financing Contract No. 79PTE/2022
Code: PN-III-P2-2.1-PTE-2021-0157
STAGE III/2024 - Zero series batch manufacturing and development evaluation testing. Patent application, workshop, and dissemination of results.
Activity 3.1. Production of the 0 series prototype batch of ammunition;
Activity 3.2. Testing of the prototype batch 0 series of ammunition;
Activity 3.3.- The dissemination of results
Activity 3.4.- Protecting intellectual property rights
Estimated results in stage 3 - 2024:
18. Prototype batch - series 0
19. Testing plan, evaluation of prototype batch development prototype series 0
20. Testing report, evaluation of prototype batch development lot prototype series 0;
21. BDI indexed article
22. Workshop
23. Request an invention patent
Achieved results in stage 3 - 2024:
18. Prototype batch - series 0
19. Testing plan, evaluation of prototype batch development prototype series 0
20. Testing report, evaluation of prototype batch development lot prototype series 0;
21. BDI indexed article
22. Workshop
23. Request an invention patent
The results obtained in the project have a consistent impact internally within the consortium, i.e. the results obtained in the experimental research, the manufacturing technology, and the manufacturing infrastructure developed in the project. The product has a significant impact, as it is a state-of-the-art product in modernization trends in the equipping of armies.
We consider that, due to the current geopolitical context, the impact of the CO's ability to produce and deliver low-toxicity, high market potential, low toxicity, irritant-lacrymatory munitions to foreign markets is significant, given that this range of higher performance munitions can be produced in a limited number of countries.
The experimental work conducted under the 79PTE Technology Transfer Project "Low Toxicity Irritant-Lacrymogenic Low Toxicity Ammunition for Public Disorder" has led to the identification of material characteristics that give GIL ammunition performance, safety, and compatibility characteristics.
The main results achieved within the 79 ETP_TearCloud project were:
► Development of an irritant-lacrymatory pyrotechnic composition with low toxicity and an optimal consumption-efficiency ratio.
The irritant-lacrymatory agent developed within the 79 PTE_TearCloud project exhibits irritant-lacrymatory properties and possesses very high physicochemical, toxicological, and stability properties, thereby facilitating its dissemination by sublimation/condensation from pyrotechnic mixtures into the atmosphere. This performance was made possible by the selection of low-toxicity and high-thermal-stability irritant-lacrimogens embedded in pyrotechnic mixtures with a low combustion temperature.
► Developing manufacturing technology with reduced environmental and health impacts on operators.
Due to the chemical substances and solvents used in the pyrotechnic irritant-lacrymatory compositions, it was necessary to realize a manufacturing technology that would prevent the poisoning of the operators of the manufacturing plant and would not cause adverse effects on the environment. In order to overcome this technological challenge, appropriate personal protective equipment was used, and the water effluents were properly decontaminated.
► Development of an automatic plant for dosing, mixing and realization of pressed samples of pyrotechnic irritant-lacrimatory composition.
The implementation of this desiderate was made in order to minimize the exposure of human operators to the risks associated with intoxication with irritant-lachrymatory substance, as well as to the danger of injury following ignition or deflagration of the pyrotechnic composition.
► Ensuring the pyrotechnical safety of the activities undertaken within the project and subsequent munitions manufacturing activities.
► Production of the prototype batch - series 0, consisting of 220 pcs. tear gas grenades GIL code 111-1.1.
► Finalization of the industrial manufacturing line, of the technology of realization of the mechanical/technical/auxiliary elements of the tear-irritant munition as well as of the constructive documentation of the tear-irritant munition.
► Testing plan, evaluation of prototype batch development prototype series 0;
► Testing report, evaluation of prototype batch development lot prototype series 0;
► Firing/test/characterization bulletins of tear irritant ammunition;
The project has been finalized with the preparation of the documentation for the start of product homologation with MAI/MApN and has been operationally tested in accredited polygons.
► Scientific articles indexed BDI/ ISI Thomson Reuters;
► Submit patent applications to OSIM.
From the analysis of the results obtained, it can be seen that the objectives set out in the Implementation Plan have been fully achieved (according to this technical and scientific report), and the project has been completed.
