Abstract: A stacked, collaborative engagement ammunition round is presented. The round includes plural stacked miniaturized projectiles where such projectiles separate after launch and then swarm as a group towards a target or targets. At launch, the projectiles may fly in a preselected formation, leader-follower towards the target. Or, the projectiles may deploy propellers, tri-copter or quad-copter vanes, and self steer swarming to the target. Each projectile has its own miniaturized guidance, navigation and control components, autopilot, cameras, transmitter, receiver, antennae, power source, sensors, fuzes and/or flex circuits.

Abstract: An extended range, enhanced lethality 40 mm ammunition round. The round features controlled guidance and camera front end, which can be fired as fin stabilized with no appreciable spin, from an M320 grenade launcher. The round has a launching sleeve with an oversized propellant cup, to essentially double or triple conventional range, with sharp accuracy provided by the guidance system.

Abstract: Shown is a family of low spin and essentially no spin, full in-bore 40 mm projectiles which can be fired from a standard M203 or M320 grenade gun launcher. The projectiles have extended range through over 1000 meters and also have the capability for adding on guidance-navigation and control features/components for great accuracy. Increased accuracy is also provided by another, rear fin type projectile embodiment. The projectiles can be lengthened to accommodate more lethal fragments, and increased amount of explosive and energetic. At the same time, there is provided a training round of analogous performance for all these tactical projectiles.

Abstract: A cartridge launched in an M203/M320 gun launcher device, which cartridge has fins of 1-5 inches in length to insure flight stability without spinning the cartridge. The non spin makes the cartridge capable of having a guidance navigation and control, canard actuating system added between the body and nose. The guidance navigation and control, canard actuating system features now make the cartridge suitable for successfully attacking stationary and moving targets not heretofore possible.

Abstract: A non-spinning 40 mm ammunition round for firing in an M320 grenade launcher. The round includes a cylindrical shaped gun sleeve cartridge case, which covers the standard rifling inside the M320, and thus presents a smooth bore surface to the fired ammunition. Because the ammunition is not launched in a spinning mode, it may now comprise those guidance and camera components as may be desired which components would not have been possible to employ on a round that is spinning.

Abstract: A 40 mm ammunition projectile for firing without significant spin in an M203 or an M320 grenade launcher. The ammunition includes a projectile body having hollow inner cavity therein for an explosive warhead; a projectile fin assembly; a projectile nose element having a conically shaped front area thereon; a decoupled projectile sabot in two or more joining sabot petals enclosing the body; a base cartridge case having vent holes, a bowl area for placement of a copper closure cup containing propellant therein, and a closure plug for threading into the rear of said cartridge case. The projectile fin assembly may provide a canted angle on each fin blade to (relatively very slowly) spin up the round at less than 30 Hz. Projectiles with body length less than five inches may be launched in an M203 grenade launcher while projectiles with body length up to eight inches may be launched in an M320 grenade launcher.

Abstract: A Kinetic Energy penetrator round is shown effective in neutralizing incoming air borne threat munitions such as rockets, artillery, or mortars for instance, without posing a threat in urban environments to harm bystanders on the ground. There are also no hazards or expense with this round of cleaning up unexploded ordnance, which might have occurred with other types of rounds due to unreliability of self destruct mechanisms. Shown herein is a kinetic energy penetrator for air defense that merely self destructs beyond its operational range into fragments that are not lethal to personnel on ground; no pyrotechnic or energetic materials means are used to activate this self destruct process. A full bore projectile structure is shown that is composed of plural axi-symmetric circular disks stacked on each other and tied by a shape memory metal wire of Nitinol. While operational as a joined group, the disks are a formidable round to kill an incoming air target.

Abstract: A rod sleeve made of smart material sleeves and/or steel sleeves with smart material rings surrounds the rod of a kinetic energy projectile. The rod may be made of DU, tungsten, or other material. Smart materials are materials such as nickel-titanium (nitinol) and copper aluminum nickel (CAN) that can be trained to change to one or more particular shapes at predetermined temperatures. The change in shape occurs on a molecular level, almost instantaneously. The rod sleeve can be made all or in part from smart material. The smart material is trained to shrink at cold temperatures and expand at hot temperatures. The sleeve may then be heated and expanded to allow the sleeve to be pressed on the rod. As the sleeve cools, it compresses and provides required support to rod during gun launch of the kinetic energy projectile. The sleeve heats up while traveling down range due to the aero-ballistic heating of the sleeve material. At this higher temperature, the sleeve expands.

Abstract: A finless cone-nosed, ogival-nosed, or combination ogive-cone nosed training projectile is statically stable, yet has adequate spin rate to compensate for aerodynamic or mass asymmetries. In addition, the training projectile can be fired from smooth bore or rifled cannons of various calibers, including 120 mm and 105 mm. Spin torque and stability augmentation are provided by a radially angled slotted tail flange attached to the rear of the training projectile, providing high performance and improved accuracy at low cost for use in training exercises. The training projectile has a higher static margin than conventional devices, and provides the ability to train personnel with a training projectile that achieves flight ranges similar to its matching tactical projectile, and has improved accuracy.

Abstract: A length of a rod of an axial kinetic energy projectile is increased as the projectile flies to the target. The projectile includes a nose, a rear, and a base rod. The base rod has a forward member, a rearward member, and a connection between the forward member and the rearward member which allows the forward member to move axially relative to the rearward member from a contracted position where the rod has a reduced length to an extended position where the rod has an increased length greater than the contracted length. Further, the base rod includes a locking mechanism which axially locks the forward member and the rearward member together when the forward member is moved from the contracted position to the extended position.

Abstract: A finless cone-nosed, ogival-nosed, or combination ogive-cone nosed training projectile is statically stable, yet has adequate spin rate to compensate for aerodynamic or mass asymmetries. In addition, the training projectile can be fired from smooth bore or rifled cannons of various calibers, including 120 mm and 105 mm. Spin torque and stability augmentation are provided by a radially angled slotted tail flange attached to the rear of the training projectile, providing high performance and improved accuracy at low cost for use in training exercises. The training projectile has a higher static margin than conventional devices, and provides the ability to train personnel with a training projectile that achieves flight ranges similar to its matching tactical projectile, and has improved accuracy.

Abstract: An energetic sabot allows part of the sabot to burn away at a controlled rate, adding propellant energy to the gun while at the same time completely support the projectile rod. The energetic sabot is thicker or larger at shot start to support the projectile without breaking. As the energetic sabot travels up the gun tube, the energetic sabot then thins out or otherwise decreases in mass as the force on the energetic sabot decreases. The weight of the projectile consequently decreases as it travels up the gun tube, allowing the gun gases to push a lighter projectile, giving the projectile a higher velocity. Due to its continually decreasing weight in the gun tube, the projectile experiences greater acceleration and exits the gun with a higher muzzle velocity. A secondary effect comes from increased pressure in the gun tube from the gases relinquished in the burning of the sabot, further increasing the velocity of the projectile.

Abstract: An electronic light source system is employed to create a flame-less tracer for a munitions projectile. The electronic light source system may be positioned in various locations and combinations of locations on a projectile (e.g., front, back, side, etc.) to enhance visibility of the projectile during flight. The electronic light source system provides a light source on the projectile that is visible to an observer at various viewing angles throughout the projectile flight without the environmental or safety issues presented by tracers using pyrotechnic materials. After assembly, the present system is encapsulated in glass or clear plastic to G-harden the present system, enabling the present system to sustain the large loads and stresses induced by gun launch. The present system may comprise a variety of light sources such as, for example, lasers, high output light-emitting diodes (LEDs), strobe lights, etc. The present system is capable of flashing the light sources at a variety of frequencies (e.g.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the process of mechanical translation of projectiles by a spring mechanism that is built of a smart material and that is activated by an electric pulse, to provide a controlled translation of a projectile before firing or, in case of pre-firing termination, in order to restore the projectile to its original position after translation. The pre-firing translation using the spring mechanism provides a more controlled process and reduces the risk associated with the conventional propulsion charge translation design. The ability to return the projectile to its initial state after translation affords a significant advantage over the conventional propulsion charge design since it enables the projectile firing to be terminated even after translation, unlike in the conventional design whereby the projectile firing is irreversible upon a mechanical translation by setting off the propulsion charge.

Abstract: A flameless tracer and marker for small munitions and canon caliber projectiles incudes non-toxic, environmentally friendly chemiluminescent materials which are maintained in separate compartments is described. The munitions when fired glow intensely for several minutes and mark a target area upon impact.

Abstract: The present invention uses aerodynamic heating caused by air-friction during flight of a training projectile. The training projectile includes a nose, a body and a tail section. The body has a forwardmost end secured to the nose, and a rearwardmost end secured to the tail. Air friction during flight causes deployment of “passive” shape memory alloy (SMA) aerodynamic members in an assembly to induce drag of the training projectile thereby limiting an effective range of the projectile.

Abstract: An aerodynamic device, such as a projectile includes an elongated forebody, and an aft section secured to the forebody. The aft section acts as a d control device, and includes a connecting member that extends integrally in a conically shaped flared section, for generating a lift force to help stabilize the projectile during forward flight. The aft section further includes a flange that extends from the flared section, and that provides velocity decay and optimal drag, in order to limit the projectile flight and descent within a predetermined safety or emergency range. The flared section is defined between an innermost edge positioned adjacent to the connecting member, and an outermost edge positioned adjacent to the flange.

Abstract: A collapsible training projectile includes a nose, a body and a tail. The dy has a forwardmost end secured to the nose, and a rearwardmost end secured to the tail. The body further includes one or more axial, longitudinal slots that extend radially through at least part of the body, such that when the projectile impacts with an object, the kinetic energy causes the body to plastically deform along the slots, thereby reducing the penetration energy of the projectile. In another embodiment, the projectile includes a wedge, a body and a tail. The forwardmost end of the body is secured to the wedge, and its rearwardmost end is secured to the tail.

Abstract: A tank cartridge is described which is capable of withstanding rough handg during loading and unloading operations.