Abstract: A mission responsive ordnance of the present invention arranges a plurality of projectiles in a bundled configuration. The bundled configuration is defined by the projectiles and a bundling means which, together, form a combination that bears loads generated when the bundled configuration strikes and penetrates a target. Unbundling means, coupled to the bundling means, can be operated to selectively render the bundling means inoperative before the target is struck so that one or more of the projectiles are released from their bundled configuration.

Abstract: The present invention controls the polar ejection angle of fragments in a fragmenting warhead. The warhead's detonators are initiated non-simultaneously to produce corresponding detonation waves in the warhead's explosive material. The detonation waves interact to control the polar ejection angle of fragments formed when the warhead's casing ruptures. Specified times of detonation for each of the detonators can be selected/adjusted after the warhead is deployed.

Abstract: An adjustable sight assembly for attachment to a firearm is provided. A base with a recessed portion has a plate that loosely fits within the recessed portion. A windage adjustment assembly cooperating with the base and a first end of the plate i) effects side-to-side movement of the plate within the recessed portion of the base, and ii) defines a pivotal coupling of the plate to the base at the first end thereof. A second end of the plate moves along an arc when the plate is pivoted about the first end thereof. An elevation adjustment assembly cooperating with the base and the second end of the plate effects elevation of the plate's second end. A sight is pivotally coupled to the plate such that the sight can lie against the plate when not in use and can be rotated approximately 90° to extend vertically from the plate when in use.

Abstract: A warhead casing defines a geometry that is a portion of a ring having an outer radial wall and an inner radial wall spaced radially apart from one another. The outer radial wall and inner radial wall are joined radially by side walls, while the casing is enclosed at either axial end thereof by end walls. An explosive material fills the casing. At least one initiator is positioned in the explosive material along a radial plane that bisects the portion of the ring. Detonation of the explosive material causes the inner radial wall to form an EFP while the outer radial wall fragments.

Abstract: A self-contained non-lethal munition system is provided for use with a shoulder launcher. A barrel is coupled to a breech end of the launcher and is coaxially aligned therewith. A solid sphere having a hardness in the range of approximately 50 durometer is pressure sealed in the barrel. Launch pressure is supplied aft of the sphere. The launch pressure must overcome the sphere's pressure seal with the barrel and propel the sphere with a kinetic energy of between approximately 135-220 Joules/cm2 for distances up to approximately 30 meters.

Abstract: A weapon system and projectile are disclosed. The projectile incorporates a rheological fluid, the viscosity of which is adjustable in the presence of an appropriate field of energy. The weapon system includes a launching device (e.g., a gun) for firing the projectile and an energy field generator coupled to the launching device. The energy field generator provides the appropriate field of energy about the projectile to increase the viscosity of the rheological fluid. The projectile can be non-lethal when the rheological fluid has not been subjected to the field of energy and can be made more lethal when the rheological fluid has been subjected to the field of energy.

Abstract: A countermass assembly is axially and radially restrained while within a vessel and is dispersible into its component parts upon being ejected from the vessel into an open environment. A plurality of groups arranged axially adjacent one another to form a stack. Each group is formed from a plurality of rings arranged in a nested interengagement. Each ring is an individual ring that is in a non-binding relationship with adjacent rings. The non-binding relationship allows each ring to be separable as such from its associated group when the stack is ejected from the vessel into the open environment.

Abstract: A buttstock assembly has a buttstock that holds a plurality of removable and sealable tubes. The buttstock has a butt plate, an elongated body extending perpendicularly away from the butt plate, and a structural web coupled to the butt plate and elongated body. The elongated body defines a central cavity and an elongated cavity on either side thereof. Each tube is sealable and forms a sliding fit with one elongated cavity.

Abstract: A launcher training system includes a housing shaped to resemble a projectile launcher. A hollowed-out portion of the housing defines a boresight axis. An optical sight is coupled to the housing such that the boresight axis and the optical sight's line-of-sight are fixed in relation to one another. The optical sight further defines a sight field-of-view (FOV) with a first reticle appearing therein. An imaging means in the hollowed-out portion of the housing generates an image in an image FOV thereof. Video signal transmitter are provided to transmit signals indicative of the image over the air waves. A remotely-located receiver station is provided to reproduce the image with a second reticle being overlaid thereon. The imaging means are adjustably positioned such that the image FOV is sighted along the boresight axis and such that the second reticle overlaid on the reproduced image appears at the same position as the first reticle in the sight FOV.

Abstract: A water-activated locking mechanism has a housing with a chamber formed therein. Compressed water-absorbent fiber pellets are housed in the chamber. Ports in the housing allow water to enter the chamber when the housing is immersed in water. Mounted in the housing is a slidable piston assembly that is biased towards the chamber with a first end of the piston assembly residing in the chamber. A pin assembly is slidably mounted in the housing at an angle relative to the piston assembly. The pin assembly is biased towards the piston assembly with one end of the pin assembly contacting an indented portion of the piston assembly to define a first position of the pin assembly. When the housing is immersed in water, the fiber pellets expand and apply a force to the first end of the piston assembly. The piston assembly then slides within the housing with the indented portion thereof moving past the pin assembly.

Abstract: A control knob assembly is disclosed that may be generally used for the quick zeroing adjustment of a dial thereof. A control knob assembly includes a housing with a shaft rotatably supported therein. A ring is coupled to the shaft in such a way that rotation of the ring causes rotation of the shaft. The ring has a plurality of holes distributed therearound and extending longitudinally therethrough from a first side thereof to a second side thereof. A knob is disposed about the shaft adjacent the first side of the ring. The knob is rotatable about the shaft and slidable therealong. A spring is coupled between the knob and ring for biasing the knob towards the ring. A pin extends from the knob to engage one of the holes at the first side of the ring when the spring is free to bias the knob towards the ring. A spring-loaded detent mechanism mounted in the housing engages one of the holes from the second side of the ring.

Abstract: Fragmentation body for fragmentation projectiles and warheads, including an integral fragmentation shell structure made of cast metal, and the shell structure has an outer wall surface and an inner wall surface separated by a thickness of the shell, where at least one of the inner or outer surfaces includes recesses formed through part of the thickness of the shell to define a plurality of fragments which remain integrated with the shell structure until an explosive force is detonated in proximity of the shell, wherein the shell material comprises a steel alloy including carbon, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, cobalt, and the balance essentially being iron. Shell structures of the inventive fragmentation body also have a fragmentation pattern defined via recesses or grooves provided in at least one of the inner or outer wall surfaces thereof to define the size and shapes of the fragment projectiles desired.

Abstract: A one-piece fan rotor optimized for construction and safety performance criteria is provided. The rotor has a hub with a radial cross-section defined by an I-beam. A plurality of unequally-spaced rotor blades are disposed circumferentially around and extend radially outward from the hub. Each rotor blade has a root portion coupled to the hub with the root portion defined by a concave fillet circumventing the rotor blade. For rotational balance, at least one of the forward side and backside of the hub incorporates an axially extending pad. Methods are provided for controlling stress on the rotor and for balancing the rotor.

Abstract: A recoilless projectile launcher system has a projectile residing in a launch tube with a propellant charge coupled to the aft end of the projectile. A first tube is slidingly fitted in the launch tube, is coupled to the aft end of the projectile, and encases the propellant charge. The first tube has a first portion extending from the propellant charge and a second portion extending from the first portion towards the breech end. The first portion has a constant inside diameter while the second portion has a reduced inside diameter relative to the constant inside diameter of the first portion. A piston, slidingly fitted in the first portion of the first tube, is positioned adjacent the propellant charge. A second tube is coupled to the piston and extends towards the launch tube's breech end. The second tube has a constant inside diameter and a constant outside diameter with the constant outside diameter forming a sliding fit with the second portion of the first tube.

Abstract: A line charge assembly and system are provided for use in a shallow-water obstruction clearing operation. Each assembly has a propulsion unit capable of flight through the air, a line charge array, an air-safed water-armed fuze, a first interrupter disposed between the line charge array and the fuze, and a second interrupter disposed in the line charge array. The line charge array is defined by a plurality of line charges successively coupled to one another by a detonation line capable of transferring detonation energy therealong successively to each line charge. The line charge array has a first end coupled to the propulsion unit and has a second end coupled to the first interrupter. The fuze generates the detonation energy at the expiration of a first time period provided the fuse is in water. The first interrupter permits the detonation energy to be transferred from the fuze to the second end of the line charge array until the expiration of a second time period.

Abstract: A line charge assembly and system are provided for use in a shallow-water obstruction clearing operation. Each assembly has a propulsion unit capable of flight through the air, a line charge array, an air-safed water-armed fuze, and at least one explosive diode. The line charge array is defined by a plurality of line charges successively coupled to one another by a line capable of transferring detonation energy therealong successively to each of the line charges. One end of the line charge array is coupled to the propulsion unit and the other end is coupled to the fuze. The fuze is capable of generating the detonation energy only when in water. The explosive diode is positioned in the line charge array to limit transfer of the detonation energy in a direction of propagation running from the fuze to the propulsion unit. The system utilizes a plurality of the line charge assemblies deployed over an area.

Abstract: A resettable trigger mechanism has an activating rod with a first portion slidably mounted in a housing and a second portion extending from the housing. The activating rod has a notch formed in its first portion. A trigger is coupled to the activating rod's second portion. A first spring coupled between the activating rod and housing biases the second portion towards the housing. A reset rod has a first section slidably mounted in the housing and a second section extending from the housing. The reset rod has a cutout portion formed in its first section for slidingly receiving therethrough the first portion of the activating rod. A second spring is coupled between the reset rod and housing for biasing the second section away from the housing. When the trigger is activated, the activating rod is pulled from the housing to align its notch with the cutout portion of the reset rod so that the reset rod can move under the force of the second spring until the reset rod's cutout portion engages the notch.

Abstract: A bayonet lug clamp and mount assembly is provided for use with a rifle having a T-shaped bayonet lug with slots formed in a central portion thereof. A housing is configured to slidingly engage the bayonet lug. A lever incorporating an accessory mounting rail is pivotally coupled to the housing for movement towards and away therefrom. A jaw is movably mounted in the housing and has teeth that are aligned with the slots in the bayonet lug when the housing is slid thereon. A piston/cylinder assembly is coupled to the lever and to the jaw. When the lever is pivoted towards the housing with the teeth aligned with the slots in the bayonet lug, the piston/cylinder assembly presses the jaw against the bayonet lug as the teeth engage the slots. The lever can be locked to the housing in order to assure that the clamp does not move when the rifle is fired.

Abstract: An optical sight is integrated into a bracket that can support an optical scope. The bracket defines a bore therethrough such that an optical line-of-sight is defined that is parallel to the line-of-sight of the optical scope. A post extends vertically upward into the bore at a forward end of the bracket in a way that the post's outboard end can be selectively positioned in the bore along a vertical line extending through the bore. A plate with a viewing aperture formed therethrough is mounted across the bore at an aft end of the bracket in a way that the viewing aperture can be selectively positioned along a horizontal line that is perpendicular to the vertical line defined by the post.

Abstract: A bayonet lug clamp has a housing opened on one end thereof for slidingly engaging the bayonet lug. A plate is mounted in the housing and opposes the bayonet lug as the housing is slid thereon. A screw passes through the housing to threadably engage the plate. Turning of the screw draws the plate against the bayonet lug.