BALLISTIC TESTING OF OPERATING V–22 PROPROTOR GEARBOXES

Ballstic testing was conducted on V–22 proprotor gearboxes (PRGB) while being operated under simulated operational conditions. The PRGBs were powered by a T–406 V–22 engine installed in an actual V–22 nacelle. The ballistic testing occurred during November 1997 at the Weapons Survivability Laboratory (WSL), Naval Air Warfare Center – Weapons Division (NAWC–WD), China Lake, CA, in partial fulfillment of V–22 Survivability Program and Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) requirements. Conduct of the tests was highly successful. The engine was operated at cruise levels, approximately 83% rpm. Without having an actual proprotor, achieving this level of rpm with acceptable levels of vibration was considered a success for the test, and provided realistic oil temperatures and pressures inside each PRGB, as well as realistic gear rotations. As a result, the effects of ballistic shots into the operating PRGBs were able to be more accurately evaluated than would have been possible for static tests.