A small 3D-printed device could help US military personnel handle dangerous unexploded munitions without risking accidental detonations. Developed at Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Corona Division, the Submunition Clip mechanically secures explosive components during explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operations.The low-cost device offers a faster alternative to an older method that relies on epoxy or plaster. Its developers believe the design could eventually protect EOD teams handling several types of unexploded ordnance. The invention also earned a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Excellence in Safety Award for fiscal year 2025.Locking dangerous componentsEngineering Technician Samuel Larter and Engineer Darren Mansour developed the device through NSWC Corona’s Close Combat Engineering Team. Its primary function involves immobilizing the arming components inside M42 and M46 submunitions.The clip physically holds these components in place, preventing the movement that could trigger an unintended detonation. Previously, EOD technicians relied on epoxy or plaster to immobilize a munition’s firing pin. That approach consumes considerable material and takes time during clearance operations.The traditional procedure also cannot guarantee complete neutralization. The new device offers a more practical way to secure the firing mechanism before technicians transport or handle the munition.NSWC Corona recently filed a provisional patent application with the US Patent and Trademark Office. The filing could allow the Navy to work with manufacturers and license commercial production.Gulf War legacyThe device addresses a persistent threat from munitions deployed during the 1991 Gulf War. US forces used M42 and M46 submunitions as part of Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions (DPICM).These compact explosives carried shaped charges designed to penetrate armored vehicles. Their fragmentation effects also made them dangerous to personnel nearby. Decades after the conflict, unexploded examples still require clearance across parts of Kuwait and Iraq.Larter understands those risks from firsthand experience. He served as an explosive ordnance disposal technician with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Following the Gulf War, he participated in clearing unexploded munitions across the region.One of his teams encountered thousands of these devices in Iraq. Larter described the destructive potential of their internal shaped charges and fragmentation components.Years of handling dangerous ordnance eventually led him to consider a safer approach. He envisioned a simple attachment that could prevent critical components from moving. When he shared the concept with Mansour, the engineer saw an opportunity to turn it into a working design.Printing safety on demandMansour designed the Submunition Clip for additive manufacturing, allowing EOD teams to produce it locally. Personnel could access the digital design and print replacement devices without waiting for conventional supply chains. “We could just have them print it themselves and they’d have plenty,” Mansour said.The approach could also help the military adapt the design for other explosive devices. Larter believes engineers could develop similar mechanisms for hundreds of ordnance types. Such adaptations could immobilize firing components and make dangerous explosives safer to transport.The provisional patent creates another route toward wider adoption. Industry partners could eventually manufacture and distribute the device under licensing arrangements.Larter hopes the invention reaches the technicians who need it most. “I just want to see this get out there so people can use it to save lives,” he said. NSWC Corona, based in Norco, California, has supported Navy operations since 1964. Its engineering and technical teams provide analysis and assessments that help the service evaluate its warfighting capabilities.