Imemg

France

French IM/MURAT Policy for the STANAG 4439 implementation is currently defined by the MoD’s Instruction N°211893, issued on July 21st, 2011 implemented through three technical guides:

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Reference: MoD’s Instruction n°211893/DEF/DGA/INSP/IPE (see below to download document)

The French position on IM is based on both the manufacturers and the Ministry of Defence demand for safer munitions that preserves performances and affordability.

Concrete operational benefits of IM for personnel, equipments and combat platforms are clearly demonstrated.

French industry also takes advantage of IM when using insensitive energetic materials at the warheads and rocket motors facilities.

Safety distances can be reduced. Storage space can be increased. Manufacturing and storage buildings cost decrease (Note DGA/IPE N°1358 dated 23 September 1997 Hazard Division 1.2. Unit Risk)

To acknowledge these incontestable assets of IM, the new French MoD’s Instruction issued in July 2011 goes a step further when compared to previous one dated 1993.

Key points of the French Policy:

  • STANAG 4439 reference requirements are specified in all new acquisitions,
  • Any waiver to the MURAT reference requirements must be justified using hazard and risk based analysis methods,
  • MURAT signature assessment is generalized to inventory Munitions to give Forces better knowledge on explosive hazards in operations,
  • Implementation of the policy should create a MoD common dialogue tool to insure the coherence between operational needs, necessary retrofits and R&T priorities.

Implementation of the policy is described in technical guides:

  • Specification of MURAT level for new acquisitions IPE Instruction n°1184:
  • General Principles of the process:
    • Systematic search of the highest “reasonably” achievable safety level in accordance with STANAG 4439 and more generally the national safety policy on personnel and assets
    • Approval given by the IPE Chief on the enforcement of the MURAT specification process
    • Specified MURAT signature officially approved by the concerned Armed Forces staff
    • Waiver process milestones linked to programme management phases and approval at each milestone by the concerned Armed Forces staff.

MURAT signature assessment:

  • is based on the 6 threats identified in STANAG 4439 + Heavy Fragment Impact (250 g)
  • gives, for each threat, the type of response when subjected to the standard MURAT aggressions
  • evaluates the reaction type with a “good” confidence level (body of evidence)
  • justifies by analysis no type I or type II response within the domain of analysis as recommended in AOP 39
  • Describe the work planned to evaluate and justify the MURAT signature (body of evidence):
  • Gathers data obtained during the program to propose and justifies the MURAT signature

MURAT signature database management

  • For munitions already in service, MURAT signature will be evaluated by DGA experts and validated by IPE
  • The effort on MURAT signature assessment of existing munitions is managed by IPE according to the priorities jointly defined with the Armed Forces
  • The inventory should become a MoD common dialogue tool to ensure the consistency between operational needs and R&T priorities
  • The inventory should give Forces a better knowledge on explosive hazards in operations (especially in joint NATO operations)

Download the MoD and DGA Instruction n°211893/DEF/DGA/INSP/IPE

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