Abstract: A munition has preformed fragments at two radial distances from a center axis, for instance having inner fragments in or within or adjacent to a casing, and outer fragments outside of the casing. The outer fragments may be between the casing and an outer enclosure that surrounds the casing. The casing may be part of a warhead, and may be a penetrator casing. The fragments at different radial distances from the center may have different sizes, different materials, and/or different shapes. The use of fragments at different radial distances aids in providing enhanced fragmentation effects, such as controlling dispersal of fragments to limit fragmentation effects and/or provide more even distribution of fragments.

Abstract: A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or reinforced building or other structure, with the penetrator casing having reduced-thickness portions. The reduced-thickness portions provide weak points to the casing that facilitate the casing being transformed into fragments of a desired size/quantity when an explosive within the casing is detonated after the penetration occurs, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the munition. In addition, the warhead may have lethality-enhancing materials, such as additional fragments and/or energetic materials, at the reduced-thickness portions of the penetrator casing. The reduced-thickness portions may be holes, such as longitudinal holes, in the casing, or may be grooves on an inner and/or outer surface of the casing. The munition may be a dual-use munition, with the explosive able to be detonated at a burst height for use of the warhead as a non-penetrating area fragmentation weapon.

Abstract: A munition may include a warhead, such as a penetrator warhead, enclosed in airframe. The airframe may enable connection to standard mountings, and/or to standard nose kits or tail kits. The airframe may have preformed fragments in it, packed between the airframe and the warhead. The preformed fragments may be loose, may be packed in a potting material, or may be in flexible bags. The fragments may enhance performance of the munition. The warhead may also contain preformed fragments.

Abstract: A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or reinforced building or other structure. The penetrator casing has a relatively thick nose, and a relatively thin aft section extending back from the nose. A cable interface is in the aft section, and an electrical harness extends from the cable interface, external of the casing, and forward to a nose kit. The penetrator casing may have reduced-thickness portions, to provide weakness points to the casing that facilitate the casing being transformed into fragments of a semi-controlled and desirable size when an explosive within the casing is detonated after the penetration occurs, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the munition.

Abstract: A munition may include a warhead, such as a penetrator warhead, enclosed in airframe. The airframe may enable connection to standard mountings, and/or to standard nose kits or tail kits. The airframe may have preformed fragments in it, packed between the airframe and the warhead. The preformed fragments may be loose, may be packed in a potting material, or may be in flexible bags. The fragments may enhance performance of the munition. The warhead may also contain preformed fragments.

Abstract: A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or reinforced building or other structure. The penetrator casing has a relatively thick nose, and a relatively thin aft section extending back from the nose. A cable interface is in the aft section, and a electrical harness extends from the cable interface, external of the casing, and forward to a nose kit. The penetrator casing may have reduced-thickness portions, to provide weakness points to the casing that facilitate the casing being transformed into fragments of a semi-controlled and desirable size when an explosive within the casing is detonated after the penetration occurs, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the munition.

Abstract: A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or inforced building or other structure, with the penetrator casing having reduced-thickness portions. The munition also includes a shock-resistant fuzewell for absorbing shocks during the penetration, to allow a fuze within the fuzewell to survive hard target penetration. The fuzewell may have one or more shock-absorbing features, such as having a ring surrounding a central housing, with flexible spokes connecting the ring to the central housing. The shock-absorbing features may allow the fuze to withstand the penetration into a hard target, with the fuze subsequently being used to detonate an explosive of the munition.

Abstract: A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or inforced building or other structure, with the penetrator casing having reduced-thickness portions. The munition also includes a shock-resistant fuzewell for absorbing shocks during the penetration, to allow a fuze within the fuzewell to survive hard target penetration. The fuzewell may have one or more shock-absorbing features, such as having a ring surrounding a central housing, with flexible spokes connecting the ring to the central housing. The shock-absorbing features may allow the fuze to withstand the penetration into a hard target, with the fuze subsequently being used to detonate an explosive of the munition.

Abstract: A munition has preformed fragments at two radial distances from a center axis, for instance having inner fragments in or within or adjacent to a casing, and outer fragments outside of the casing. The outer fragments may be between the casing and an outer enclosure that surrounds the casing. The casing may be part of a warhead, and may be a penetrator casing. The fragments at different radial distances from the center may have different sizes, different materials, and/or different shapes. The use of fragments at different radial distances aids in providing enhanced fragmentation effects, such as controlling dispersal of fragments to limit fragmentation effects and/or provide more even distribution of fragments.

Abstract: A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or reinforced building or other structure, with the penetrator casing having reduced-thickness portions. The reduced-thickness portions provide weak points to the casing that facilitate the casing being transformed into fragments of a desired size/quantity when an explosive within the casing is detonated after the penetration occurs, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the munition. In addition, the warhead may have lethality-enhancing materials, such as additional fragments and/or energetic materials, at the reduced-thickness portions of the penetrator casing. The reduced-thickness portions may be holes, such as longitudinal holes, in the casing, or may be grooves on an inner and/or outer surface of the casing. The munition may be a dual-use munition, with the explosive able to be detonated at a burst height for use of the warhead as a non-penetrating area fragmentation weapon.

Abstract: A component separation system for separating a load from an external structure according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a sleeve slidingly engaged with the external structure. The sleeve includes an opening and an interior. A locking mechanism, such as a ball or latch, is movably disposed through the sleeve opening between a locked position engaging the external structure and an unlocked position not engaging the external structure. A mover slidingly disposed within the hollow interior of the sleeve controls the movement of the locking mechanism through the opening. Energy excess beyond that required for unlocking the mechanism may provide a thrust to forcibly eject the load from the external structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of a reactive shaped charge, a reactive liner, and a method for penetrating a target are generally described herein. The reactive shaped charge comprises a reactive liner having a matrix of reactive metal particles in a hydrocarbon fuel, a high explosive, and an inner barrier separating the reactive liner from the high explosive. The hydrocarbon fuel fills the interstitial spacing between the reactive metal particles, and the matrix is tightly packed or compresses to exhibit a solid like property.

Abstract: Embodiments of a reactive shaped charge, a reactive liner, and a method for penetrating a target are generally described herein. The reactive shaped charge comprises a reactive liner having a matrix of reactive metal particles in a hydrocarbon fuel, a high explosive, and an inner barrier separating the reactive liner from the high explosive. The hydrocarbon fuel fills the interstitial spacing between the reactive metal particles, and the matrix is tightly packed or compresses to exhibit a solid like property.

Abstract: Embodiments of a reactive shaped charge, a reactive liner, and a method for penetrating a target are generally described herein. The reactive shaped charge comprises a reactive liner having a matrix of reactive metal particles in a hydrocarbon fuel, a high explosive, and an inner barrier separating the reactive liner from the high explosive. The hydrocarbon fuel fills the interstitial spacing between the reactive metal particles, and the matrix is tightly packed or compresses to exhibit a solid like property.

Abstract: An acoustic weapon comprises a sonic pulse generator configured to generate discrete sonic pulses at a repetition rate. A sensor is configured to measure a range-to-target. A controller is configured to control the sonic pulse generator to generate a single shot including a burst of multiple pulses at a fixed repetition rate, to adjust the fixed repetition rate to shift the frequency content of the burst in accordance with a target coupling efficiency towards improving energy transfer to the target and to adjust the peak pressure of the burst in accordance with the range-to-target towards applying a specified peak pressure to the target. The controller may incorporate the target coupling efficiency as well as other parameters such as target apparent area and beam width when adjusting the weapon peak pressure. A pulse detonation engine (PDE) or pulse manifold (PM) may be modified and controlled to provide the large discrete peak pressures required at a periodic repetition rate.

Abstract: A component separation system for separating a load from an external structure according to various aspects of the present invention comprises a sleeve slidingly engaged with the external structure. The sleeve includes an opening and an interior. A locking mechanism, such as a ball or latch, is movably disposed through the sleeve opening between a locked position engaging the external structure and an unlocked position not engaging the external structure. A mover slidingly disposed within the hollow interior of the sleeve controls the movement of the locking mechanism through the opening. Energy excess beyond that required for unlocking the mechanism may provide a thrust to forcibly eject the load from the external structure.