Fuchs Electronics, the South African electronic ordnance fuze supplier, outlines the development of its fuze technology					Fused together
					Fuchs Electronics, part of the Reunert Group of companies, is renowned for its electronic fuze technology that offers armed forces an effective and reliable way to upgrade artillery gun, rocket, mortar and naval ammunition. Products are designed, qualified and manufactured to international standards that include MIL-STD, STANAG and ISO. The range also includes multi-option, proximity, point detonating and electronic time fuzes with associated setting devices. The company was established in 1963 as a high-tech military facility for strategic and tactical requirements. Since 1968 these requirements have included the manufacturing of proximity fuzes for the South African Navy. This laid the foundation for the development of Fuchs’ own proximity fuze technology. In 1975, as a direct result of the Angolan conflict, there was an urgent need for a locally produced artillery proximity fuze and Fuchs took up this important challenge. As a leading supplier of electronic fuzes to the South African Defence Force, Fuchs Electronics developed the technology when advanced proximity and time fuze requirements arose for the 155mm artillery ERFB base bleed and for the 127mm multiple artillery rocket development programmes. Consequently, Fuchs emerged with probably the largest range of fuzes covering mortar, rocket, naval and artillery guns, available from any single supplier. The ISO 9000 quality principles stringently employed ensure production to the highest standards. Currently, more than 90 per cent of Fuchs’ turnover is generated by fuze sales of which more than 95 per cent is exported. To date more than one and half million fuzes have been delivered to local and international markets. Development philosophy Over a number of years, a series of reliable fuze building blocks covering a broad range of requirements and environments have been designed and qualified by the company. The development team is able to implement reliable designs to the spectrum of customer ordnance to achieve a high level of commonality and interchange ability. This enables efficient product development to satisfy customer needs at much reduced cost and timescale, lower production costs and simplified logistics. Real-time, in-flight telemetry technology – an inherent part of most Fuchs fuzes – enables continuous monitoring for hidden shortcomings during dynamic testing. For such testing Fuchs has ready access to the fully instrumented Alkantpan test range suitable for distances up to 60km. Joint ventures The company has gained considerable experience in joint ventures where a qualified electronic fuze module – typically consisting of an encapsulated radio frequency transmitter, signal processing circuitry and a power supply that incorporates the voltage regulator and fire circuitry – is supplied to a client for integration with manufactured mechanical parts such as fuze bodies, explosive trains and safety-and-arming devices, or with component kits supplied by Fuchs. Multi-option/proximity Multi-option fuzes for gun calibre 105mm to 203mm are specialised for 155mm ERFB base bleed ammunition on 39, 45 and 52 calibre systems. These new generation fuzes can be induction programmed with a hand-held setter for proximity (with variable burst height and safety time), time and point detonation (super quick or delay) modes of operation. Fuchs also has a very wide range of standard proximity fuzes with factory-set burst height and safety time. All these fuzes are equipped with point detonation back-up. Point detonation Electronic point detonation fuzes for gun calibre 105mm to 203mm may include a point detonation delay function with delay time induction set manually or factory preset. Time Time fuzes for gun calibre 105mm to 203mm are specialised for 155mm ERFB base bleed ammunition on 39, 45 and 52 calibre systems. Standard time fuzes are induction programmable with a hand-held setter. Further to this type, a new generation time fuze with manual on-board setting and reading capability also can be induction programmed with a hand-held setter. Setters Electronic hand-held setters for the time and multi-option fuze types are used to programme fuzes for the desired operational mode via a user-friendly menu-driven display. It can be adapted for integration into auto loader systems and interfaced to most types of gun and fire control systems. Rocket Rocket proximity fuzes suitable for 68mm to 220mm calibre guns are specialised for extended- range, high-velocity rocket systems. The range also includes proximity fuzes for the BM21 (122mm) and 107mm rocket systems. Mortar Mortar dual mode (proximity/point detonation) and time fuzes are suitable for 60mm to 160mm calibre fin-stabilised conventional, extended range and rocket-assisted mortar bombs. On dual-mode fuzes, proximity or point detonation mode is switch selectable. Naval Proximity/point detonation fuzes suitable for calibre 76mm to 140mm have enhanced miss distance engagement capabilities when used in an anti-missile or anti-aircraft role. Fuze characteristics are virtually unaffected by high sea states when operating only a few metres above the sea surface. All Fuchs Electronics fuzes are compatible with standard, high explosive, pre-fragmented and practice rounds. © >>>>> www >>>>> Fuchs Electronics
		1. New generation fuzes can be induction- programmed for proximity, time and point-detonation modes of operation. 2. Time fuzes for calibre 105mm to 203mm are specialised for 155mm ERFB base bleed ammunition on 39, 45 and 52 calibre systems
	"Fuchs Electronics has probably the largest range of fuzes covering mortar, rocket, naval and artillery guns, available from any single supplier"
	Hand-held setters are used to programme fuzes for the desired operational mode via a user-friendly display