Technology Description

During SERDP-funded laboratory-scale testing (WP-1280), three promising perchlorate-free red flare compositions designated RSF-2A, RSF-2B, and RSF-2C were identified. In recent prototype-scale testing, the RSF-2C composition with a combination of magnesium and magnalium alloy fuels and strontium nitrate and calcium nitrate oxidizers most closely approached the performance of the in-service, perchlorate-containing Mk 124, Red, Marine Smoke and Illumination Signal composition. However, the highly hygroscopic calcium nitrate ingredient seemed to be causing variable levels of degradative aging that were adversely affecting performance parameters such as candle power intensity and burn rate. Most recently, the performance of a fourth perchlorate-free red candidate that contains no calcium nitrate or potassium perchlorate oxidizers has been tested. It is quite similar to the composition used in the Army M158 Ground Illumination Signal, Red Star Cluster, with the exception of the detailed particle size distribution of the magnesium fuel, which has been fine-tuned to produce a burn rate similar to the in-service Mk 124 flare. It appears to consistently provide equal or superior burn rate, candle power intensity, dominant wavelength, and color purity performance when compared with the in-service Mk 124 red flare composition. The formulation qualification, final type qualification, and technical evaluation testing of the perchlorate-free red flare represent the thrust of this project.