The XM930 provides the user a 120mm Illuminating cartridge which will provide illumination out to the full range of the M120/M121 Mortar System
The XM930 & XM983 Cartridges are designed for use with the M120 and M121 120mm Mortar Systems
for illuminating target areas to facilitate adjustment of fire. The projectile is loaded with an illuminant candle
assembly and parachute assembly. The XM930 and XM983 are identical with the exception of the illuminant
candle composition. The XM930 contains a standard illuminant mix which provides approximately 1 million
candlepower of light whereas the XM983 contains an infrared illuminant mix for use with standard night vision
devices. The XM930/983 is equipped with the M776 Mechanical Time Fuze which functions at a
user-specified time after launch. When the fuze functions it initiates the candle assembly and separates the front
and rear projectile segments. A spring located in the rear body ejects the parachute assembly. As the
parachute deploys, the candle burns for 50-60 seconds, providing the required illumination over the target
area. Each XM930/983 cartridge is packed in a PA153 Fiber Container and two packed rounds are
assembled into a PA154 Metal Overpack.
Both cartridges were developed as a Materiel Change for the U.S. Army to the XM930 Israeli-produced
Visible Illuminating Cartridge, which obtained TC-LRP in November 1991. A materiel change package
was put together and approved when an IR illuminating cartridge requirement was received from the U.S.
Army. The MC consisted of improving the reliability of the XM930 Israeli cartridge, bringing up the
design to current U.S. production practices and developing another cartridge with a candle that
illuminates in the infrared spectrum. Both cartridges completed extensive Production Qualification Testing
in Dugway Proving Ground, Dugway, Utah, and Yuma Proving Ground, Yuma, Ariz.
The XM930/983 consists of the following major components:
- Projectile Body Assembly
- M230 Propelling Charge (with M45 Propellant)
- M981 Ignition Cartridge (with M44 Propellant)
- M31 Fin Assembly
- M776 Mechanical Time Super Quick Fuze
- Illuminant Candle Assembly
- Parachute Assembly
- PA153 Fiber Container
- PA154 Metal Overpack
Propelling
Charge Zone | Muzzle
Velocity | Minimum
Range | Maximum
Range
| 1 | 165 m/s | 400 m | 2200 m |
| 2 | 220 m/s | 700 m | 3800 m |
| 3 | 270 m/s | 950 m | 5500 m |
| 4 | 318 m/s | 3600 m | 6900 m |
|
Maximum Rate of Fire.........16 rounds/min (first minute)
Sustained Rate of Fire..........4 rounds/min
Height of Burst..........500 m
Burn Time..........50 sec
Cartridge Weight..........13.65 kg (30 lb)
Contractor: Pine Bluff Arsenal
Procurement Type: Development
Previous Contracts: 1
Contract Type: Cost
Production Qty: 876
On 26 June 1998 PM Mortars announced the success of achieving the milestone of Type Classification Low-Rate Production -- the
authority to start production after completing extensive design qualification efforts. This TC-LRP action will allow PM Mortars to procure 2,000 cartridges for Production Verification Test leading to a
TC-Standard scheduled for 1Q00 which will be followed with production of the Fiscal 1997 and 1998 buys for the U.S. Army.
PM Mortars directed Crane Army Ammunition Activity to produce the illuminating candles and Pine Bluff
Arsenal to load, assemble and pack the rounds for shipment to the user. PM Mortars and the Picatinny
Acquisition Center are procuring the 120mm ammunition common components and some 120mm
Illuminating unique components, which will be supplied as Government Furnished Materiel to both
CAAA and PBA.
