Abstract: A propelling charge support comprises horseshoe-shaped clips for engaging the tail fin and holding the propelling charges together for protection, a rounded saddle for holding the propelling charges of the cartridge, and winged edges to protect the propelling charges and aid in removal of the propelling charge support from the tail fin. The propelling charge support further comprises a flat outer surface on which the propelling charge support loaded with propelling charges can rest while being installed onto the tail fin. It comprises a fin engagement clip that interfaces with a fin blade when installed on the cartridge, and that prevents rotation of the propelling charge support and propelling charges about the tail fin axis during rough handling and transportation, preventing damage to the propelling charges.

Abstract: A microscale firetrain for a safe and arm device having a safe position and an armed position, the firetrain including an input explosive column having a longitudinal axis; a transfer charge having a longitudinal axis and first and second ends and movable from a safe position to an armed position; a receptor charge having a longitudinal axis that is non-collinear with and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the input explosive column; wherein, in the safe position, the transfer charge is remote from both the input explosive column and the receptor charge; and wherein, in the armed position, the input explosive column is adjacent the first end of the transfer charge to thereby initiate the transfer charge, the longitudinal axis of the input explosive column is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transfer charge, the second end of the transfer charge is adjacent the receptor charge to thereby initiate the receptor charge and the longitudinal axis of the receptor charge is

Abstract: High explosives suitable for filling very small volume loading holes in micro-electric initiators for micro-electro-mechanical mechanisms, used as safe and arm devices, are prepared from slurries of crystalline energetic materials and applied using various methods. These methods include swipe loading, pressure loading and syringe loading. A volatile mobile phase may be added to the slurry so as to partially dissolve the energetic material so that, upon evaporation of the mobile phase, the energetic material precipitates and adheres to the loading hole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the generic extraction and compression of surveillance information that facilitates high performance data fusion in distributed sensor systems. According to the method, multiple sensors (120[1] . . . 120[N]), distributed over a wide surveillance area (100), sense surveillance data of interest (310), optionally filter that sensed data (340), extract non-essential data (360) from the filtered data, compress in a manner specific to the extracted data (370) the extracted data for transmission and subsequently transmit (380) the compressed data to a “master” processing system (220) for integration/fusion with other transmitted compressed data streams originating from other sensors. Reductions in required data transmitted is on the order of 100:1.

Abstract: A projectile launch detection system utilizes a continuous wave radio frequency signal (CW/RF) to confirm muzzle exit. The projectile launch detection system can be used in smoothbore, fin-stabilized, non-air breathing projectiles. The gun tube appears as a waveguide to the projectile launch detection system during projectile launch. The projectile launch detection system transmits a CW/RF signal down the gun tube during launch of the projectile. A portion of the CW/RF signal is reflected back by an impedance mismatch at the boundary between the muzzle of the gun tube and free space. Upon exit by the projectile from the gun tube, an exit signature is detected that is defined by the impedance of the gun tube and by a ratio of the diameter of the gun tube to the frequency of the CW/RF signal. The projectile launch detection system processes the exit signature to detect a muzzle launch of the projectile from a specific gun tube.

Abstract: A MEMS type safety and arming device includes a substrate; a frame disposed on the substrate; a setback slider disposed in the frame, the setback slider moving linearly in response to a setback acceleration; an arming slider disposed in the frame, the arming slider moving linearly in an arming direction perpendicular to the direction of the setback acceleration and in response to spin; a setback lock lever disposed in the frame, the setback lock lever engaging the arming slider to prevent linear motion of the arming slider until the setback slider contacts and moves the setback lock lever; and a command lock rocker disposed in the frame, the command lock rocker engaging the arming slider to prevent full arming motion of the arming slider until after the command lock rocker is actuated.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting an object from an incoming munition includes a tracking apparatus mounted on the object, for tracking the incoming munition; a firing solution computer connected to the tracking apparatus; a plurality of launch tubes mounted on the object, the plurality of launch tubes pointing in different directions so as to maximize coverage of an area surrounding the object; a parachute container attached to each launch tube; an igniter disposed in a rear of each launch tube and connected to the firing solution computer; a propelling charge disposed in front of each igniter; a mass disposed in front of each propelling charge; a connecting ring attached to a front of each mass; a parachute disposed in the parachute container; and a cable connecting the connecting ring and the parachute.

Abstract: A shape memory alloy serves to actuate or inhibit the function of a semi-automatic pistol in response to an identification signal produced by an identifier. The identifier operates to either detect the present or absence of an authorized user thereby enabling or disabling the function of the weapon.

Abstract: A bipod has a base attached to the weapon and a pair of legs which extend in a use position from the base downwards and outwards. Each leg includes an inner member having a pointed distal end and a proximal end attached to the base, and an outer member which freely slides relative to the inner member. The outer member includes a foot through which the pointed distal end extends when the outer member is in an retracted position and hence the pointed distal end is in an exposed position. Each leg also includes a holding mechanism which holds the outer member relative to the inner member such that the pointed distal end is located within the outer member adjacent the aperture of the foot when the outer member is in an extended position and hence the pointed distal end is in a withdrawn or protected position.

Abstract: The forward mounting rail system for fire control and other accessories for attachment to automatic and semi-automatic; weapon providing three additional MIL-STD-1913 mounting rails to supplement the one standard MIL-STD-1913 mounting rail currently used on the M249 SAW. The forward mounting rail system for the 5.56 mm M249 Squad Automatic Weapon) consists of a two piece base which attaches directly to the M249 SAW using existing holes in the receiver of the said weapon. The two piece configuration facilitates ease of use and manufacture by reducing the number of parts required to affix the mounting rail on the weapon.

Abstract: A non-lethal cargo projectile includes a projectile body; a nose cap attached to a front of the projectile body; a boattail attached to a rear of the projectile body; a fin assembly including a boom attached to the boattail; a parachute assembly disposed in a front of the projectile body; a cable connecting the parachute assembly to the boattail; a fuze disposed in the boattail; a first pair of half cylinders disposed in the projectile body behind the parachute assembly; a first circular disc disposed at a front end of the first pair of half cylinders and a second circular disc disposed at a rear end of the first pair of half cylinders; a second pair of half cylinders disposed in the projectile body in front of the first circular disc enclose the parachute assembly; and a payload disposed in a space defined by the first pair of half cylinders and the first and second circular discs.

Abstract: An insensitive high energy explosive is disclosed which can be processed on high speed loading equipment without significant buildup of explosive material on the tooling of the high speed loading equipment. The insensitive high energy explosive comprises (a) from about eighty to about ninety-six percent (80.0 to 96.0%) by weight of a high energy explosive chosen from the group comprising cyclotetramethylene tetranitramine (HMX), cyclotrimethylylene trinitramine (RDX), or hexanitrohexaazaisowurtzitane (CL-20); (b) from about two and four-tenths to about twelve percent (2.4 to 12.0%) by weight of an energetic plasticizer, preferably a 1:1 mixture of BIS 2,2-Dintropropylacetate and BIS 2,2-Dinitropropyl formal (BDNPA/F); (c) from about one and six-tenths to about eight percent (1.6 to 8.0%) by weight CAB binder system; and, (d) about one half of one percent (0.5%) fluorocarbon additive, preferable a Teflon-type additive commercially available under the Trade name Zonyl® MP 1100.

Abstract: A semi permanent backup iron sight is adapted for attachment to, and detachment from a weapon while other devices are still attached to the weapon. The iron sight comprises a base formed of two vertical rails and an interconnecting member that allows the base to flex for securing the iron sight on the weapon; a sight aperture assembly formed of a sight aperture, a sight aperture frame, a sight aperture spring, and a sight aperture pivot pin; an elevation cam assembly formed of an elevation cam, a retaining clip, an elevation cam spring and keeper, and a detent spring and a ball detent; and a windage mechanism. The base provides a mounting interface for the sight aperture assembly, elevation cam assembly, and windage mechanism. The elevation cam assembly has an elevation scale located in a position that allows the shooter to see the elevation scale without moving his or her head from the shooting position.

Abstract: A composite monopack container for mortar ammunition is lightweight, universally adaptable to all existing ammunition types, is capable of fully protecting ammunition without the need of a metal overpack, and is relatively inexpensive to produce, maintain and dispose. The container is also fully back-compatible enables a quicker ammunition re-supply and greater ammunition availability on the battlefield. The monopack container comprises a cap, a main body, a latch assembly that locks the cap and the main body, a pair of alignment features that mate with two corresponding alignment channels on the main body, and three stacking indices that prevent the container from rolling, and that make it stackable with other composite containers.

Abstract: A machinable datum for use in a vacuum fixture is disclosed.

Abstract: The invention is a normally-open, momentary, non-latching, inertial thresholding switch 30, fabricated on a substrate 1 in a planar configuration, using no cylindrical tilt mass, with low mass 16 and small switch gap 36, 37, 38, 39 to allow fast switch action and rapid reset. Of ultra-miniature, rugged construction, its high mechanical frequency limits sensitivity to vibration inputs.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 is provided for initially slowing a backwards extraction movement of a bolt group 12 of a weapon which moves backward automatically after firing and against a force of a return drive spring 14. The apparatus includes first and second longitudinal members 16, 30 having respective distal ends and proximal ends. A mounting mechanism is provided for mounting the first and second members for longitudinal movement of the first member relative to the second member and adjacent the drive spring, with the drive spring urging the first and second members apart and against the bolt group. A retarding mechanism 36 is provided for retarding an initial backwards movement of the first proximal end relative to the second distal end, and for allowing a relatively free further backwards movement of the first proximal end relative to the second distal end as the bolt group moves backwards after firing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to design and construction of lightweight and mobile rail gun barrels. The barrels comprise a pair of elongated, generally parallel conductive rails extending along opposite sides of the bore and being symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of the bore; a pair of elongated insulators disposed generally coextensively with the rails and circumferentially between them and maintained in a compressed state; a circumferentially sleeve surrounding the insulators; a plurality of Belleville containment disk maintained in a stack that are compressed and surround the circumferential sleeve, each containment disk having a substantially hollow form with an outer surface, and an inner surface; and a plurality of longitudinal tension rods, disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of they bore and disposed external to the sleeve, the tension rods compress the plurality of Belleville containment disk. A protective sleeve and cooling channels can form part of the barrel.

Abstract: A non-lethal projectile includes a projectile body; a fuze disposed in a rear of the projectile body; an expelling charge disposed adjacent the fuze; a wad disposed adjacent the expelling charge; a dense powder ballast disposed adjacent the wad; a non-lethal payload disposed adjacent the dense powder ballast; and an end cap disposed on a front end of the projectile body; wherein the expelling charge expels the dense powder ballast and non-lethal payload and reduces the forward kinetic energy of the projectile body and the fuze to one of a near non-lethal or non-lethal level such that as the projectile body and the fuze travel from a burst point to a target impact a residual kinetic energy of the projectile body and the fuze is non-lethal.

Abstract: An autonomous onboard absolute position and orientation referencing system provides a means of efficaciously and economically embedding guidance and control components into the fins of supersonic, highly maneuverable small, medium-caliber and long range munitions. Embedded resonant cavities form an integral part of the referencing system. The magnitude and phase information received by the integral antennas is used to determine the munition orientation. Embedded sensors provide continuous, onboard information about the angular orientation of the munition, such as its pitch, yaw, and roll angles, as well as its absolute position relative to a ground station.