REACTIVE ARMOR
Reactive armour comprises an explosive reactive armour module comprising a first triggering screen and an explosive layer; and at least one explosive module placed in proximity to the reactive armour module and connected to said first triggering screen for detonation. The reactive armour module may have shaped charges to produce a shaped wavefront, and the triggering screen may be divided into at least two triggering parts, each part triggered by a different approach angle of an incoming projectile and each part configured to initiate an explosion in a different part of the reactive armour module or in a different explosive module if provided.
The invention relates in general to the field of protecting armored vehicles or structures from approaching Kinetic Energy Penetrators (KEP) or rocket propelled HEAT warheads. More specifically, the invention relates to the protection of armored vehicles or structures from approaching Tandem warheads.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONEssentially HEAT (High Energy Anti-Tank) munitions operate by piercing the exterior armor of armored vehicle's, killing and maiming the crew inside, disabling vital mechanical systems, or both.
In order to enable an armored vehicle to sustain a shaped charge HEAT impact (hereinafter referred as HEAT), an external explosive element titled Explosive Reactive Armor (ERA), is attached to the vehicle's armor.
The standard ERA consists of sheets or a slab of high explosive, sandwiched between two plates, typically metal, called the reactive or the dynamic elements.
In one example, and in order to neutralize an incoming rocket propelled HEAT, such as RPG-7, and upon impact, the high explosive of the reactive armor detonates, forcibly driving the metal plates of the reactive armor apart, against a shaped charge jet. The projected plates disrupt the metallic jet penetrator.
In one prior art example, the notable efficiency of the ERA is primarily attributed to two fundamental mechanisms. First, the moving plates change the effective velocity and angle of impact of the shaped charge jet. The effect is to change the angle of incidence and thus reduce the integrity of the jet. In a second aspect, since the plates are angled compared to any likely impact direction of the shaped charge warhead, and as the plates move outwards usual, the impact point on the plate changes over time, requiring the jet to cut through fresh plate material. This second effect significantly increases the effective plate thickness during the impact.
The ERA has proven itself as highly efficient in defeating single stage rocket propelled HEAT-shaped charge warheads, such as the RPG 7, TOW, LOW, etc.
As soldiers rely heavily on the use of rocket propelled HEAT to defeat armored vehicles, a new warhead technology named Tandem-Charge has been developed to defeat the ERA. In essence, a Tandem-Charge weapon is an explosive device or projectile that comprises two or more stages of detonation. It is effective against reactive armor which is designed to protect an armored vehicle (mostly tanks) against anti-tank munitions.
The Tandem Charge comprises two or more detonation stages. The first detonation stage of the tandem-charge weapon is typically a weak charge that activates the ERA upon impact, so that the second warhead may pass unimpeded. Commonly, this may involve detonating the reactive armor before the main charge arrives, causing the timing of the counter-explosion to fail to disrupt the main charge which comes with the second detonation stage. The second detonation stage of the tandem-charge attacks the same location as the first detonation point of impact, which is where the reactive armor has been compromised. Since the reactive armor is the only element that enables the armored vehicle's integral armor to sustain an impact of a HEAT jet, as the reactive armor was compromised by the first detonating stage, the main charge (second detonation) has an increased likelihood of penetrating the main armor of the vehicle.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a reactive armor module that can defeat Tandem warheads.
It is another object of the present invention to improve and augment the susceptibility of existing reactive armor modules to sustain a Tandem warhead hit.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide the improved reactive armor in manner which is simple, of relatively light weight, and highly reliable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to an aspect of the present invention there is provided reactive armour comprising:
an explosive reactive armour module comprising a first triggering screen and an explosive layer; and
at least one explosive module placed in proximity to said reactive armour module and connected to said first triggering screen for detonation.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a reactive armour module comprising an explosive layer triggerable by an incoming projectile, said layer being shaped in order to provide a shear component of a blast against said incoming projectile.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a reactive armour module comprising a first extremity and a second extremity, first and second steel layers extending between said first extremity and said second extremity, said first and second steel layers being lined with respective explosive layers, a first explosive charge at said first extremity adjacent said first steel layer and a second explosive charge at said second extremity adjacent said second steel layer, and a trigger screen configured to detonate said first and second explosive charges in a timed manner in response to an incoming projectile in order to create a scissoring explosive effect.
In the various aspects, the module may comprise at least one layer of rigid particles, the particles arranged in relation to said plurality of explosive layers to form a particle cloud for disrupting an incoming jet following detonation of the explosive layer.
In the module, at least some of the rigid particles in the particle layer may comprise a rigid core surrounded by a relatively less rigid shell. In the module at least one of said explosive layers may comprise a shaped charge which may be an explosive lens.
The explosive layers may be unevenly distributed over the module, thereby to form a disruptive wavefront.
One of said explosive layers may comprise at least one shaped region comprising at least one cavity or at least one groove.
The module may comprise at least one layer of rigid particles, the particles arranged in relation to said plurality of explosive layers to form a particle cloud for disrupting an incoming jet following detonation of the explosive layer.
At least some of the rigid particles in the particle layer may comprise a rigid core surrounded by a relatively less rigid shell.
At least one of said explosive layers may comprise a shaped charge.
At least one of said explosive layers may comprise at least one explosive lens.
At least one of said explosive layers is unevenly distributed over said module, thereby to form a disruptive wavefront.
At least one of said explosive layers comprises at least one shaped region comprising at least one cavity or at least one groove.
The module may include at least one explosive layer which is shaped into a plurality of explosive lenses, the lenses being triggerable to provide a shear force against an incoming projectile.
The module may comprise a triggering screen for triggering said explosive layer or at least one of said explosive layers.
The screen may be divided into at least two triggering parts, each part triggered by a different approach angle of an incoming projectile and each part configured to initiate an explosion in a different part of said explosive layer.
At least one layer of rigid particles may be arranged in relation to said plurality of explosive layers so as to form a particle cloud for disrupting an incoming jet following detonation of the explosive layer.
At least some of the rigid particles in the particle layer may comprise a rigid core surrounded by a relatively less rigid shell.
At least one of said explosive layers may comprise a shaped charge.
At least one of said explosive layers may comprise at least one explosive lens.
At least one of said explosive layers may be unevenly distributed over the module, thereby to form a disruptive wave front.
At least one of the explosive layers may comprise at least one shaped region comprising at least one cavity or at least one groove.
An embodiment may comprise at least one explosive layer which is shaped into a plurality of explosive lenses, the lenses being triggerable to provide a shear force against an incoming projectile.
The module may comprise at least one explosive layer which is shaped into a plurality of explosive lenses, the lenses being triggerable to provide a shear force against an incoming projectile.
The module may comprise a triggering screen for triggering said explosive layer or at least one of said explosive layers.
The screen may be divided into at least two triggering parts, each part triggered by a different approach angle of an incoming projectile and each part configured to initiate an explosion in a different part of said explosive layer.
The module may detonate different explosive layers or different parts of respective explosive layers in a timed sequence or simultaneously.
The module may have a planar surface and may comprise at least one steel plate, the steel plate having at least one layer of high explosive attached thereto, the steel plate being angled with respect to said planar surface.
The module may include at least one explosive layer sandwiched on either side by steel plates.
The module may include two explosive layers, each sandwiched on either side by steel plates, one of said layers being placed outwardly on said module and one of said layers being placed inwardly on said module, said outer layer comprising an explosive material with a detonation rate that is lower than a corresponding detonation rate of said inner layer.
The module may include a third explosive layer sandwiched on either side by steel plates, the third explosive layer being placed outwardly of both of said two explosive layers and having a detonation rate which is faster than both of said two explosive layers.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a reactive armour module comprising a plurality of explosive layers, each of said explosive layers being triggerable in response to an incoming projectile, each of said explosive layers being constructed from an explosive material having a different rate of detonation.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a reactive armour module comprising an explosive layer, the layer being shaped into a plurality of explosive lenses, the lenses being triggerable to provide a shear force against an incoming projectile.
The triggering screens may also be stacked one after the other and connected to a processing unit that can calculate the velocity of an incoming object by calculating the time elapsing between the activation of each of the triggering screens as to infer an event. Sayed mechanism might be used to augment triggering screens as described as to activate a blast sequence as described/
In the drawings:
Reactive armour according to the present embodiments comprises an explosive reactive armour module comprising a first triggering screen and an explosive layer; and at least one explosive module placed in proximity to the reactive armour module and connected to said first triggering screen for detonation.
Irrespective of use of an explosive module, the reactive armour module may have shaped charges to produce a shaped wavefront, and the triggering screen may be divided into at least two triggering parts, each part triggered by a different approach angle of an incoming projectile and each part configured to initiate an explosion in a different part of the reactive armour module or in a different explosive module if provided.
As noted above, upon impact with a typical reactive armor, the first charge of the Tandem warhead detonates, initiating a first jet, which activates the reactive armor charge. Thereafter, at a predetermined and precise timing, the second charge of the Tandem warhead detonates, initiating a second jet which penetrates the main body armor of the vehicle, at the location in the reactive module that was previously activated by the first charge.
A cross-section of a typical armor module 20 is shown in
While the typical reactive armor has proven itself as highly efficient in defeating single stage rocket propelled HEAT-shaped charge warheads such as, the RPG 7, TOW, LOW, etc., it nevertheless fails in defeating Tandem warheads such as RPG-29.
The module 30 of the present invention comprises a front plate 31, and a back plate 32. In one embodiment the plates are made of some rigid material such as steel, ballistic aluminum, Titanium, Alumina, etc., or some composition of the materials. In another embodiment, plates 31 and 32 are made of polymers or materials having similar characteristics, such as Dynema, Spectra, Aramid, etc. In still another embodiment, the plates may be made of a combination of polymers and rigid materials. In still another embodiment, the front and back plates, 31 and 32 respectively, may be made of different materials or different material combinations.
Module 30 further comprises two internal layers in between the front and back plates 31 and 32. The first of the two layers is a particle layer 33, and the second of the two layers is a high-explosive layer 34.
The particles layer 33 comprises a plurality of rigid particles. For example, the rigid particles may have a spherical shape, cylindrical shape, or shapes that are particularly designed to maximize the likelihood of ascertaining impact with the incoming Tandem warhead, and ascertaining penetration into the Tandem warhead. In some embodiments, a combination between various shapes may be used.
As shown in the inset, particle 3311 may have an iron core 3312 surrounded by a layer of lighter material 3313 and a shell 3314. The result is that the particles are spaced apart and do impede each other when explosive layer 34 is detonated.
The reactive armour layer 30 may include a triggering screen, allowing for control of the timing of the detonation, as will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.
In one embodiment, the particles are spaced apart to reduce the kinetic energy transfer between the particles that is caused by the mechanical impact that the jet causes. The separation between the particles may be achieved by coating each particle with a softer material, for example aluminum or a polymer or a puffed energy absorbing material, as discussed above with respect to
In still another embodiment, the cross-section structure of the casing may be designed to channel the energy of the blast to achieve a desired particles cloud vector and shape. For example, the high explosive is shaped in a curved manner, or is placed in a sloped or curved casing, and some examples are given below. In still another alternative, a rigid material might be placed on a part of the shaped explosive creating a time-gap explosion between outgoing particles. In another aspect, geometric elements such as a pyramid shaped element is inserted in between the particles with its tip towards the explosive layer to effect upon detonation the blast effect on the particles vector.
The reactive module 30 of the present embodiments may also comprise an additional front layer in front of the front plate 31. Such additional front layer may be used as a triggering mechanism that upon impact with the Tandem warhead will activate the reactive armor module either by an electronic signaling or by a sequential blast caused by explosive material which is attached to the additional plate.
In still another embodiment, a proximity fuse or sensor may be associated with one or more reactive armor modules 30, in to activate the detonation before the impact of the Tandem warhead with the front plate.
The progress of the explosion among the layers is not clearly defined and several paths are possible. For example the explosion may initiate within the first particles structure 233a, the blast propagating via the apertures 246 activating the main explosive layer 235, causing an immediate explosion of the second explosive layer 235. As the second explosive layer 235 is detonated, an implosion process as described above in detail begins, within the particle structure 233b, that collapses into itself. Following this explosion, the blast propagates via the explosive layer 236, to begin a blast sequence of the explosive layer 237. The detonation of the explosive layer 237 causes the particles structure 233c to collapse into itself, as the particle mass collides with the collapsed particles structure 233b. This multiple explosion-structure implosion tandem process damages the incoming HEAT jet. More specifically, multiple kinetic force vectors that are formed due to the asymmetric arrangement effectively damage the jet. Also in this embodiment, and in similarity to
It should be noted that the typical reactive armor is generally mounted slated relative to vertical orientation (although this general situation is not shown
In still another embodiment of the present invention, a triggering screen is provided in order to enable timed initiation of the blast sequence in the ERA of the invention. Triggering screens are known in the art. For example, a triggering screen model no. PT-0303500600MK is manufactured by Whithner Corporation (a US company), and is shown in
It should be noted that such a technique may also be used to trigger the prior art ERA module 20 (of
It should also be noted that the triggering screen 241 discussed above may be augmented or replaced by other means known in the art to generate a blast sequence before the impact of the incoming jet and predetermined elements in the ERA.
As shown in
Reference is now made in greater detail to
The space may be of any size and may be empty or may be filled, say with polymer. As discussed, the screen 241 is connected to detonator 243 and the distances are configured to detonate the explosive layer 23 at a precise predetermined time after the triggering screen is activated, as discussed.
The space may be of any size and may be empty or may be filled, say with polymer. As discussed, the screen 241 is connected to detonator 243 and the distances are configured to detonate the explosive layer 23 at a precise predetermined time after the triggering screen is activated, as discussed. Extensions 141a and 141b together with the general distribution of the explosives, ensure that the explosion wavefront is highly disruptive.
The space 2412 may be of any size. As discussed, the screen 241 is connected to detonator 243 and the distances are configured to detonate the explosive layers 233a, 233b and 233c in a precisely timed sequence after the triggering screen is activated in order to provide a disruptive wavefront.
Reference is now made to
The triggering screen, as shown, for example in
The above means (b), (e), and (f) may be used in conjunction with the triggering screen or as a triggering mechanism for the reactive armor as described in any of the abovementioned embodiments. They may also replace the triggering screen, as upon impact, they may release the voltage necessary to initiate the blast sequence. Preferably, the elements (b), (e), and (f) are placed at some distance in front of the explosive charge.
Battery 167 may provide power to operate detonator 163.
It should be noted that the strike face 166 of all and any of the above reactive armor modules can be composed of rigid metallic elements such as steel, titanium, ballistic aluminum, and all types of metallic alloys. Furthermore, the strike face may be composed of rigid materials as alumina, boron carbide, etc. Furthermore the strike face may be composed of an assortment of polymers such as, aramid, dynema, etc. Furthermore, the strike face may be composed of compressed fibers, such as glass, carbon-fiber, etc. Each and any of the above materials may be combined or replace the strike face as described in the drawings that have been indicated as steel. The same applies to all other layers indicated herein as being steel layers.
In order to better direct the blast wave, the shape of the lenses in cross section may be triangular (as shown in the figure), spherical, or any other shape. In an alternative embodiment, the lens may be a part sphere with grooves or cavities. The grooves may be filled with liner. The grooves or cavities cause concentration of force and thus enhance the lensing effect.
In all the embodiments herein, the modules may operate in a sequential order such as in a tandem setting for example, as they are arranged either one in front of the other or one besides the other or in clusters that comprise of several reactive armor modules. Each module may contain its own triggering mechanism as described or may be activated by a single triggering mechanism. A triggering screen, associated with one reactive armor module may upon activation initiate a blast sequence in another module as to operate in tandem as described.
In yet another embodiment, in order to assure the likelihood of destruction or severe deformation of the HEAT jet, a plurality of reactive armor modules as described in this application or known in the art are arranged in a sequential manner, i.e., one in front of the other, one above the other, one besides the other, etc., to be activated in a timed manner. One or more reactive armor modules known in the art, such as, explosive reactive armor, inert reactive armor, etc. As shown in a non-limiting example of
Currently, steel is used in reactive armor modules as the energy exerted by the HEAT jet on the steel plates is such that a replacement of steel with metal alloys as Titanium makes almost no difference in the overall performance of the reactive module as in
In yet another embodiment a timed blast sequence as mentioned above, can be achieved by usage of timing means known in the art. In a further embodiment, usage of detonators having a different reaction time as to initiate a timed blast sequence from a single triggering element.
It should also be noted that, in an embodiment of the invention shown in
In yet another non-limiting embodiment which is shown in
Explosive module 979 may contain rigid elements that may be placed around the explosive charge 944. Explosive module 979 may be encased by a rigid casing 945.
In yet another non-limiting embodiment which is also shown in
In yet another non-limiting embodiment shown in
As shown in
In a further embodiment, reactive armour module 1005 may be used, and a single triggering screen 1002 may trigger both its own explosive layer 976 and module 979, the latter via wire 977 which may introduce a delay.
As shown in inset 1006, an ERA module such as module 1000 or 1005 may be located in the center of a cluster of explosive modules 979. The module in the center may be an ERA module according to the present embodiments or may be any kind of existing ERA module.
In yet another non-limiting embodiment a triggering mechanism known in the art or as described above is to augment ERA modules known in the art by attaching/inserting a blast mechanism such as detonator or any other blast mechanism as to be activated by the triggering mechanism described above.
In yet another non-limiting embodiment a triggering mechanism to activate an ERA as described herein may be associated with a radar system/an electro-optical system which is placed on the protected platform in order to detect an incoming missile, thereby to preemptively activate or arm any of the embodiments of the system of the invention.
In yet another non-limiting embodiment a triggering mechanism of the invention as described above may be associated with the explosive module 979 as to augment known in the art ERA/NERA.
In yet another non-limiting embodiment a triggering mechanism known in the art may be associated with the explosive module 979 as to augment any known in the art ERA/NERA.
It should be noted, that wherein an ERA/NERA is an integral part of the armor of a vehicle as in modern MBT's (Modern Battle Tanks), the system according any embodiment of the invention can either augment existing armor or replace it.
In yet another non-limiting embodiment, detonator 980 is activated by the triggering mechanism 921, via communication element, such as wire, 977. The blast of explosive charge 944 can be timed via the usage of a detonator having a slower response time. The entire blasting unit 940 may be attached in an elevated position with respect to module 920, or placed on top of it or beside it. This unit is intended to destroy the main body of a tandem charge, such as the RPG29. The blasting unit may be covered by a protective shield, made of bullet proof material, as to avoid damage to the charge. In the event that a rigid casing 945 made of metal is used to cover the charge, the internal part of the cover may be grooved as to allow a quick release of the explosive energy through the case. In another embodiment, the explosive material is molded in a manner known in the art into a structure made of metal such as copper, with indentations in the material acting as blasting lens as to assure an instant elimination of the rigid casing 945, enabling a blast wave 944 to reach the main body of the RPG29 (for example).
As described above, high explosive is sandwiched between steel plates in the various modules of the invention. Upon detonation of the high explosive, one or more of the metal plates are ejected towards the incoming jet deforming it. As to improve the jet deformation capability of the plates, each of the plates may contain several layers as shown in
The thickness t of the high density polymer may vary as to create a gap between the steel layers in accordance with a predesigned specification. In another embodiment of the invention the high density polymer may be substituted by a rigid material such as aluminum and/or laminated composites known in the art. The thickness t of the layer L3 between the two steel plates may vary wherein one side t1 may be thinner, the other t2 thickness causing the steel plates to have an angle between them. It should be noted the layer L3 may comprise a plurality of elements that reside one beside to the other. It should be noted said that the sandwich structure may comprise any number of such layers L1, L2, and L3. It should also be noted that the thickness of plates L1 and L2 may vary. Furthermore, the sandwich structure may also be used in any ERA/NERA module. In a non-limiting example, a 10 mm thickness of a steel front plate may be reconstructed as a 5 mm steel layer L1, t1=20 mm t2=20 mm heavily perforated polycarbonate layer L3, and a rear plate L2 having a thickness of 5 mm. In another non-limiting example, a 10 mm thickness of a steel front plate may be reconstructed as 5 mm steel layer L1, t1=20 mm t2=10 mm heavily perforated polycarbonate layer L3, and a rear plate L2 having a thickness of 5 mm
it should be noted that that the term “steel ” in this document may be used as well as synonyms for a plurality of rigid materials and or alloys with ballistic stopping capabilities.
While some embodiments of the invention have been described by way of illustration, it will be apparent that the invention can be carried into practice with many modifications, variations and adaptations, and with the use of numerous equivalents or alternative solutions that are within the scope of persons skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. Reactive armour comprising:
- an explosive reactive armour module comprising a protective cover, a first triggering screen behind said protective cover, and an explosive layer; and
- at least one explosive module placed in proximity to said reactive armour module and connected to said first triggering screen for detonation.
2. The reactive armour of claim 1, wherein said explosive module comprises a first shaped charge.
3. The reactive armour of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the explosive reactive armour module comprises a second shaped charge.
4. The reactive armour of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein at least one of the first and second shaped charge comprises at least one cavity or at least one groove.
5. The reactive armour of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a layer of rigid particles, the particles arranged to form a particle cloud for disrupting an incoming jet.
6. The reactive armour of any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least some of the rigid particles in the particle layer comprise a rigid core surrounded by a relatively less rigid shell.
7. Reactive armour module comprising an explosive layer triggerable by an incoming projectile, said layer being shaped in order to provide a shear component of a blast against said incoming projectile.
8. The reactive armour module of claim 7, wherein said explosive layer comprises a shaped charge.
9. The reactive armour module of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein said explosive layer comprises at least one explosive lens.
10. The reactive armour module of claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein said explosive layer is unevenly distributed over said module, thereby to form a disruptive wavefront.
11. The reactive armour module of any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein said explosive layer comprises at least one shaped region comprising at least one cavity or at least one groove.
12. The reactive armour module of any one of claims 7 to 11, further comprising a layer of rigid particles, the particles arranged in relation to said explosive layer to form a particle cloud for disrupting an incoming jet following detonation of the explosive layer.
13. The reactive armour module of claim 12, wherein at least some of the rigid particles in the particle layer comprise a rigid core surrounded by a relatively less rigid shell.
14. Reactive armour module comprising a first extremity and a second extremity, first and second steel layers extending between said first extremity and said second extremity, said first and second steel layers being lined with respective explosive layers, a first explosive charge at said first extremity adjacent said first steel layer and a second explosive charge at said second extremity adjacent said second steel layer, and a trigger screen configured to detonate said first and second explosive charges in a timed manner in response to an incoming projectile in order to create a scissoring explosive effect.
15. The reactive armour module of claim 14, wherein said first and second. explosive charges are shaped charges.
16. The reactive armour module of claim 14 or claim 15, further comprising a layer of rigid particles, the particles arranged in relation to said explosive layer to form a particle cloud for disrupting an incoming jet following detonation of the explosive layer.
17. The reactive armour module of claim 16, wherein at least some of the rigid particles in the particle layer comprise a rigid core surrounded by a relatively less rigid shell.
18. Reactive armour module comprising a plurality of explosive layers, each of said explosive layers being triggerable in response to an incoming projectile, each of said explosive layers being constructed from an explosive material having a different rate of detonation.
19. The reactive armour module of claim 18, further comprising at least one layer of rigid particles, the particles arranged in relation to said plurality of explosive layers to form a particle cloud for disrupting an incoming jet following detonation of the explosive layer.
20. The reactive armour module of claim 20, wherein at least some of the rigid particles in the particle layer comprise a rigid core surrounded by a relatively less rigid shell.
21. The reactive armour module of any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein at least one of said explosive layers comprises a shaped charge.
22. The reactive armour module of any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein at least one of said explosive layers comprises at least one explosive lens.
23. The reactive armour module of any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein at least one of said explosive layers is unevenly distributed over said module, thereby to form a disruptive wavefront.
24. The reactive armour module of any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein at least one of said explosive layers comprises at least one shaped region comprising at least one cavity or at least one groove.
25. Reactive armour module according to any one of claims 7 to 24, comprising at least one explosive layer which is shaped into a plurality of explosive lenses, the lenses being triggerable to provide a shear force against an incoming projectile.
26. Reactive armour module according to any one of claims 7, to 25, further comprising a triggering screen for triggering said explosive layer or at least one of said explosive layers.
27. Reactive armour module according to claim 26, wherein the screen is divided into at least two triggering parts, each part triggered by a different approach angle of an incoming projectile and each part configured to initiate an explosion in a different part of said explosive layer.
28. Reactive armour module according to any one of claims 7 to 27, configured to detonate different explosive layers or different parts of respective explosive layers in a timed sequence.
29. Reactive armour module according to any one of claims 7 to 28, the module having a planar surface and comprising at least one steel plate, the steel plate having at least one layer of high explosive attached thereto, the steel plate being angled with respect to said planar surface.
30. Reactive armour module according to any one of claims 7 to 28, the module having at least one explosive layer sandwiched on either side by steel plates.
31. Reactive armour module according to claim 30, comprising two explosive layers, each sandwiched on either side by steel plates, one of said layers being placed outwardly on said module and one of said layers being placed inwardly on said module, said outer layer comprising an explosive material with a detonation rate that is lower than a corresponding detonation rate of said inner layer.
32. Reactive armour module of claim 31, comprising a third explosive layer sandwiched on either side by steel plates, said third explosive layer being placed outwardly of both of said two explosive layers and having a detonation rate which is faster than both of said two explosive layers.
33. Reactive armour module comprising an explosive layer, the layer being shaped into a plurality of explosive lenses, the lenses being triggerable to provide a shear force against an incoming projectile.
34. Reactive armour module comprising an explosive layer and a triggering screen, the screen divided into at least two triggering parts, each part triggered by a different approach angle of an incoming projectile and each part configured to initiate an explosion in a different part of said explosive layer.
35. An explosive reactive armour module comprising a protective cover, a first triggering screen behind said protective cover, and an explosive layer.
36. Reactive armour comprising:
- an explosive reactive armour module comprising a protective cover, a first triggering screen behind said protective cover, and an explosive layer; and
- at least one explosive module placed in proximity to said reactive armour module.
37. The reactive armour of claim 36, wherein said explosive module comprises a first shaped charge.
38. The reactive armour of claim 36 or claim 37, wherein the explosive reactive armour module comprises a second shaped charge.
39. The reactive armour of claim 37 or claim 38, wherein at least one of the first and second shaped charge comprises at least one cavity or at least one groove.
40. The reactive armour of any one of claims 36 to 39, further comprising a layer of rigid particles, the particles arranged to form a particle cloud for disrupting an incoming jet.
41. The reactive armour of any one of claims 36 to 40, wherein at least some of the rigid particles in the particle layer comprise a rigid core surrounded by a relatively less rigid shell.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 30, 2016
Publication Date: Oct 18, 2018
Inventor: David Cohen (Herzeliya)
Application Number: 15/768,636