In cooperation with Advanced Ordinance Technologies, (AOT), Liquidmetal Technologies will conduct research and development to apply the material properties of amorphous alloys to the design of a pre-fragmented or fragmented plate for a five-inch diameter, forward-firing warhead. Plate design research will focus on capitalizing amorphous alloy's unique strength-to-weight ratio, form-manufacturing ability and fracture (glass-like atomic composition) to meet the Navy's requirements for Naval Surface fire against personnel, vehicles, unarmored equipment and asymmetric ship defense targets such as fast boats. Alternative casting and combining of supplemental fragmentary components will constitute the main line of research, with consideration given to a system cost goal of $500-$1,000 per plate. Successful adaptation of amorphous metal alloys to a pre-fragmented or fragmented plate for Naval Surface munitions will present munitions designers with a much larger trade-space of lethality, range, weight and cost. Alternative uses of amorphous alloys in commercial development might include a number of shock, absorption or controlled energy absorption mechanisms.
