Abstract: Apparatus and method suitable for use with a munition According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a fuze arming system for a munition, comprising: an arming circuit arranged to detect a setback event and, in response to the setback event, generate a signal indicating that an arming event has occurred, wherein the arming circuit comprises a sensor configured to produce a graduated output when the setback event occurs, and fuze arming system is arranged to use that graduated output.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an object for moving through a fluid, the object comprising: an outer housing, arranged to be exposed to a hydrostatic pressure exerted by the fluid; a strain gauge, arranged to obtain an indication of the hydrostatic pressure, wherein a first part of the strain gauge is arranged to be in contact with the outer housing, such that the strain gauge is arranged to obtain an indication of the hydrostatic pressure by obtaining an indication of the strain on the housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the control of weapons, particularly weapons which are controlled via a communications link, possibly at some distance from the weapon's location. The invention is to an apparatus comprising safety-critical and non-safety-critical functional parts wherein at least one of a plurality of safety-critical functional parts is only connected to at least one other of the plurality of safety-critical functional parts.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a fuze arming system for a submunition, comprising: a first stage, arranged to detect launch of the submunition and its associated carrier; a second stage, arranged to detect expulsion of the submunition from the carrier, and to at least partially arm a submunition fuze based on such detection; wherein the second stage is unable to at least partially arm the submunition fuze without the first stage detecting launch of the submunition and its associated carrier.

Abstract: Disclosed is an unmanned Aerial Vehicle, UAV, comprising a plurality of rotors, a camera and an explosive payload, wherein the UAV comprises a generally elongate body, and the camera and the payload are arranged substantially in-line within the body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the control of weapons, particularly weapons which are controlled via a communications link, possibly at some distance from the weapon's location. The invention is to an apparatus comprising safety-critical and non-safety-critical functional parts wherein at least one of a plurality of safety-critical functional parts is only connected to at least one other of the plurality of safety-critical functional parts.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuse system (22) for a munitions projectile, the system comprising: a first electro-optic transmitter (24); a first electro-optic receiver (30); the first electro-optic transmitter (24) being arranged to receive electrical power, and to use that received electrical power to transmit an optical signal (28) to the first electro-optic receiver (30); the first electro-optic receiver (30) being arranged to receive the optical signal (28), and to use that received optical signal (28) to transmit electrical power to an element (34) of the fuse system (22) connected to the first electro-optic receiver (30).

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an object for moving through a fluid, the object comprising: an outer housing, arranged to be exposed to a hydrostatic pressure exerted by the fluid; a strain gauge, arranged to obtain an indication of the hydrostatic pressure, wherein a first part of the strain gauge is arranged to be in contact with the outer housing, such that the strain gauge is arranged to obtain an indication of the hydrostatic pressure by obtaining an indication of the strain on the housing.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the status of a munition fuze is disclosed. The device includes a visible marker; an indicator strip, capable of actuation, from a first state to a second state; and a power source providing power to the munition initiation system, the visible marker and/or the indicator strip. The visible marker and indicator strip are positioned to be visible to an observer when the fuze has been fitted for use on said munition and activation of the power source causes switching of the visible marker from an off state to an on state and actuation of the indicator strip from a first state to a second state, such that the power source's activation is indicated by the actuation of the indicator strip to its second state. The visible marker remains in an on state only if there is sufficient power to operate the initiation system.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a fuze arming system for a submunition, comprising: a first stage, arranged to detect launch of the submunition and its associated carrier; a second stage, arranged to detect expulsion of the submunition from the carrier, and to at least partially arm a submunition fuze based on such detection; wherein the second stage is unable to at least partially arm the submunition fuze without the first stage detecting launch of the submunition and its associated carrier.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a programmable system for a munition, comprising: an electroacoustic transducer, arranged to receive an acoustic signal comprising data, and convert that signal into an electrical signal comprising data; a processor, arranged to receive and process the electrical signal comprising data, and to use that data in programming of the programmable system.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuse system for a projectile for a ranged weapon, the fuse system comprising: a pressure sensor system for sensing an air pressure of an environment in which the fuse system is present; a control system arranged to receive a signal from the pressure sensor system, and to at least initiate arming of the fuse system conditional on the received signal.

Abstract: There is disclosed an IR illumination device and munitions comprising the same. There is provided an IR illumination munition device for selective activation where upon activation the device emits IR radiation in the range of wavelengths of from 750 nm to 900 nm, the device comprising: an electrical power source; an array of IR light emitting diodes to emit the IR radiation.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of munition fuzes and is a device for monitoring the status of a munition fuze, said device comprising; a visible marker capable of being switched between an off state and an on state; an indicator strip, capable of actuation, from a first state to a second state; a power source, capable of activation, wherein the power source provides power to the munition initiation system, the visible marker and/or the indicator strip; wherein said visible marker and indicator strip are positioned to be visible to an observer when the fuze has been fitted for use on said munition; and wherein activation of the power source causes switching of the visible marker from an off state to an on state and actuation of the indicator strip from a first state to a second state, such that the power source's activation is indicated by the actuation of the indicator strip to its second state; and wherein the visible marker remains in an on state only if there is sufficient power to operate the initiati

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication system for communicating between a ranged weapon and a projectile for that ranged weapon, the system comprising: a transmitter associated with the ranged weapon, the transmitter being arranged to encode data to be transmitted to the projectile on an electromagnetic carrier wave, and to transmit that electromagnetic carrier wave to the projectile; a receiver associated with the projectile, the receiver being arranged to receive the electromagnetic carrier wave, and to decode data encoded in the electromagnetic carrier wave to retrieve that data, the data being usable in the activation of a fuse of the projectile.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuse system for a projectile for a ranged weapon, the fuse system comprising: a pressure sensor system for sensing an air pressure of an environment in which the fuse system is present; a control system arranged to receive a signal from the pressure sensor system, and to at least initiate arming of the fuse system conditional on the received signal.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication system for communicating between a ranged weapon and a projectile for that ranged weapon, the system comprising: a transmitter associated with the ranged weapon, the transmitter being arranged to encode data to be transmitted to the projectile on an electromagnetic carrier wave, and to transmit that electromagnetic carrier wave to the projectile; a receiver associated with the projectile, the receiver being arranged to receive the electromagnetic carrier wave, and to decode data encoded in the electromagnetic carrier wave to retrieve that data, the data being usable in the activation of a fuse of the projectile.

Abstract: Fuse system for a projectile for a ranged weapon, the fuse system comprising: a plurality of magnetic field sensors, each sensor being arranged to provide a signal that changes in response to a relative change in position and/or orientation between the system and the Earth's magnetic field, and wherein each sensor has a different alignment in terms of magnetic field sensitivity, and a controller arranged to receive one or more signals from the plurality of magnetic field sensors, and to activate a fuse of the projectile depending on the received one or more signals.

Abstract: Fuse system for a projectile for a ranged weapon, the fuse system comprising: a plurality of magnetic field sensors, each sensor being arranged to provide a signal that changes in response to a relative change in position and/or orientation between the system and the Earth's magnetic field, and wherein each sensor has a different alignment in terms of magnetic field sensitivity, and a controller arranged to receive one or more signals from the plurality of magnetic field sensors, and to activate a fuse of the projectile depending on the received one or more signals.

Abstract: There is disclosed an IR illumination device and munitions comprising the same. There is provided an IR illumination munition device for selective activation where upon activation the device emits IR radiation in the range of wavelengths of from 750 nm to 900 nm, the device comprising: an electrical power source; an array of IR light emitting diodes to emit the IR radiation.