Fuchs Fuses for Fighting Forces
| Based in South Africa, Fuchs Electronics, part of the Reunert group of companies, is a world-leading electronic ordinance fuse supplier. | |
| Fuchs Electronics’ products offer armed forces an effective and reliable way to upgrade artillery, rocket, mortar and naval ammunition. Fuchs fuses are designed, developed, qualified and manufactured to various international standards such as MIL-STD, STANAG and ISO. A complete range of fuse products is available including multi-option, proximity, electronic time and altimeter types.The company was established in 1963 as a high-tech military facility for strategic and tactical requirements that included the manufacturing of naval proximity fuses for the South African Navy. This laid the foundation for the development of Fuchs’ own proximity fuse technology, that resulted in the company becoming a fuse-orientated operation with more than 90 per cent of its turnover being generated by fuse sales. It currently exports in excess of 95 per cent of fuse production and the remaining military business was passed to its sister companies, Reunert Defence Industries and Reutech Systems.As a supplier of electronic fuses to the then South African Defence Force, the company filled the gap created by the arms embargo when advanced proximity and time fuse requirements arose for the 155mm Artillery ERFB Base Bleed and 127mm multiple Artillery Rocket development programmes. Consequently, Fuchs emerged with probably the largest range of fuses covering most ordnance types (mortar, rocket, naval and artillery) available from any single supplier.Over a number of years, a series of reliable fuse building blocks that covers a wide range of requirements and environments was designed and qualified. This enables efficient product development to satisfy customer needs at much reduced cost and timescale.Case study | |
 Artillery fuse setter | Recently, Fuchs was approached by a client to demonstrate artillery proximity fuses on its 155mm system. Further discussions revealed an additional fuse requirement for 105mm and 130mm systems. Thanks to the proven building block approach, it was possible to utilise the induction programmable multi-option fuse design for 155mm on both the 105mm and 130mm applications with only minor differences to suit the specific shell interfaces.Real-time, in-flight telemetry technology that is an inherent part of most Fuchs fuses, proved that there were no hidden shortcomings when the concept was successfully demonstrated on the various calibres. The client now has the advantage of a single electronic fuse design, with a common induction setter, on all field artillery pieces.Joint ventures The company has gained considerable experience in joint ventures where a qualified electronic fuse module, typically consisting of an encapsulated radio frequency transmitter and signal processing circuitry, a power supply that incorporates the voltage regulator and fire circuitry, is supplied to a client for integration with its own manufactured mechanical parts such as fuse bodies, explosive trains and safety-and-arming devices or with component kits supplied by Fuchs.Product range |
 Link: www.fuchs.co.za | Multi-option fuses for calibres 105mm to 203mm, specialised for 155mm ERFB base bleed ammunition on 39, 45 and 52 calibre systems. These can be induction programmed with a hand-held setter for variable burst heights, safety times, time and point detonation (super quick and delay) modes. Also Fuchs has a range of standard proximity fuses with factory-set burst height and safety time.Time fuses for calibres 105mm to 203mm, specialised for 155mm ERFB base bleed ammunition on 39, 45 and 52 calibre systems. Standard time fuses are induction programmable with a hand-held setter. In addition to this type is a new generation time fuse with manual on-board setting and reading capability that can also be induction programmed with a hand-held setter.Electronic hand-held setters for the time and multi-option fuse types. The setter is used to programme fuses 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 proximity fuses suitable for calibres from 68mm to 220mm, specialised for extended range high-velocity rocket systems. The range also includes proximity fuses for popular BM21 (122mm) and 107mm rocket systems.Mortar proximity fuses suitable for calibres from 81mm to 160mm fin stabilised conventional, extended range and rocket assisted mortar bombs. The fuse has a selector switch for proximity or point detonating mode.Naval proximity fuses suitable for calibres 76mm to 140mm (5.5 inch) including extended miss distance engagement capabilities when used in an anti-missile or anti-aircraft role. Fuse characteristics are virtually unaffected by high sea states when operating only a few metres above the sea surface. All fuses are compatible with standard high-explosive, pre-fragmented and practice rounds. |