Abstract: A non-destructive process for estimating the ageing of an article made of a composite material is described comprising a preliminary phase in which at least one chart is prepared characterizing the change in the attenuation of ultrasonic waves in the composite material as a function of weight loss thereof, and a checking phase in which the attenuation of ultrasonic waves in the article made of the composite material is measured and the weight loss of the article is determined using the chart prepared in the preliminary phase, the weight loss being representative of the ageing of the article.

Abstract: Apparatus for transferring modules (3) that make up propellant charges from a storage magazine to a loading system (5) for loading the modules into the chamber of a large-caliber gun barrel, in particular a barrel mounted in a turret or in an armored casemate, said apparatus being characterized in that it includes: first means (6) for receiving n modules (3) taken from a magazine; second means (7) for transferring each of the n modules (3) to a conveyor (8) of a loading system (5); and control apparatus (9) for controlling the second means (7) so as to select transferal of a determined number of modules (3) to the conveyor (8) as a function of the quantity of modules (3) making up the desired propellant charge for firing a projectile.