Abstract: A penetration device including a casing, a propellant positioned in the casing, and a flyer plate. The flyer plate is coupled to the casing and adjacent to the propellant. The flyer plate includes a center portion having a substantially constant first thickness and includes a peripheral portion around the center portion and defining an edge. The peripheral portion includes one or more recesses in a first surface of the peripheral portion.

Abstract: Described herein is a munition to be exploded in the air at a position above an intended target. The munition includes an explosive, a matrix of fragmentation material, a body part with a convex shaped support element and a detonator. The layered structure of the munition is such that when detonated, a directional explosion code of fragmentation material is formed in a delimited distribution pattern. The munition can be arranged within a takeoff canister with a takeoff charge.

Abstract: An initiation device and method allowing power output to be switched between blast generation and splinter generation. The device and method include a cylindrical warhead with a cylindrical, central explosive charge and a tubular perforated mask surrounding the explosive charge, and also with at least two ignition devices, the first ignition device arranged in a region of one of the head sides of the cylindrical charge, and the second ignition device arranged in a region around a center of a longitudinal axis of the warhead, and having a splinter-generating casing surrounding the perforated mask.

Abstract: A series of small explosive charges are used to preferentially crack the casing of a warhead to provide for a controlled fragmentation of the warhead. During detonation of the warhead's explosive fill, the casing will break early in the process along predetermined lines resulting in very large fragments that are projected toward the ground and away from innocent civilians. A fragmentation control collar which contacts these charges can be fitted on the outside of existing warheads. An annular liner within the warhead aids in the controlled fragmentation.

Abstract: A series of small explosive charges are used to preferentially crack the casing of a warhead to provide for a controlled fragmentation of the warhead. During detonation of the warhead's explosive fill, the casing will break early in the process along pre-determined lines resulting in very large fragments that are projected towards the ground and away from innocent civilians. A fragmentation control collar which contacts these charges can be fitted on the outside of existing warheads. An annular liner within the warhead aids in the controlled fragmentation.

Abstract: A case for a warhead having a plurality of elongated wires which are braided or woven together to form a mesh which is formed into the shape corresponding to the warhead case. The mesh is impregnated with a polymer matrix which, upon curing, forms a rigid warhead case. At least some of the elongated wires include notches at selected locations which form fracture points which shape a blast from a subsequent explosion of the warhead.

Abstract: A cylindrical warhead is divided into a conical central segment and peripheral segments. The central segment has a disk-shaped liner bounding a cavity with high explosive and forming a penetrating projectile. The peripheral segments are hingedly attached to the central segment and have outer segment faces bounding respective cavities with high explosive, the segment faces forming sidewalls of the warhead in a closed position. The peripheral segments can be released to an open position in which the segment faces point in the forward direction for detonation. The warhead may be used in the closed position for single hardened targets such as armored vehicles and in the open position for area targets such as lighter vehicles and personnel. Opening of the warhead may be enabled at a time of launch of the warhead, or at a time of target acquisition after launch.

Abstract: Initiator systems for warheads include a first initiation device configured to detonate at least a portion of an explosive material contained in an explosive device and a second initiation device configured to deflagrate at least a portion of an explosive material of a warhead. Scalable output explosive devices include an explosive material at least partially disposed within a housing and an initiator system including a first initiation device configured to detonate at least a portion of the explosive material and a second initiation device configured to deflagrate at least another portion of the explosive material. Methods of igniting warheads include deflagrating a portion of an explosive material disposed within the warhead and detonating at least another portion of the explosive material disposed within the warhead.

Abstract: A case for a warhead having a plurality of elongated wires which are braided or woven together to form a mesh which is formed into the shape corresponding to the warhead case. The mesh is impregnated with a polymer matrix which, upon curing, forms a rigid warhead case. At least some of the elongated wires include notches at selected locations which form fracture points which shape a blast from a subsequent explosion of the warhead.

Abstract: A projectile's payload is oriented (independently or by orientation of the projectile itself) toward a target just prior to firing (e.g., detonation of the payload), e.g., for munitions providing an increased kill and casualty area and a fire “in defilade” (left, right, backwards or at any angle) capability.

Abstract: A fragmentation warhead includes a cylindrical fragmenting body, a pair of concentric cylindrical liners within, made of plastic, and an explosive charge disposed within the innermost liner. In one embodiment, one liner provides various “legs” of liner material and the other liner provides various open receptacle areas, into which such legs may come to rest when the liners are slid together and/or rotated relative to one another. Various recessed and/or raised areas of liner material can thus be randomly created by such adjustments, which lead to select fragmentation of the warhead upon detonation.

Abstract: A simple, inexpensive, device and method of use thereof for disrupting the jet of a shaped charge and thereby significantly reducing the penetrating capability by over 90% thereof; thus providing a means to mitigate the damage caused by the premature or accidental jetting of the shaped charge. The device has a central support, along which radiate a plurality of increasing radius, generally hemi-circular, thin discs—such that the outline of the disc edges thereof form a cone that models the interior of the hollow open mouth of the shaped charge—importantly, the discs are staggered along the length of the central support. The device, which can be molded of inexpensive plastic, must be lodged fully within the hollow open mouth of the shaped charge at the time of the premature or accidental jetting—to provide the desired mitigation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively varying the yield of an explosive device is provided. The apparatus generally comprises a main charge that may selectively be consumed and/or detonated to achieve the selected yield ranging from about 0% to about 100%.

Abstract: A high impulse fuze booster includes a booster explosive charge positioned within an explosive charge cavity of a booster housing. A substantially planar flyer plate is coupled with the booster housing, and a detonation waveshaper is positioned within the booster explosive charge. A low-sensitivity explosive charge is opposed to the substantially planar flyer plate. The booster explosive charge is configured to generate a detonation wave and the detonation waveshaper shapes the detonation wave into a planar detonation wave, the planar detonation wave is parallel to the substantially planar flyer plate. The planar detonation wave interacts with the substantially planar flyer plate in two or more stages including a planar striking stage and a planar contact stage where the planar detonation wave carries the substantially planar flyer plate into planar contact with a plurality of surfaces of the low-sensitivity explosive charge to initiate the low-sensitivity explosive charge.

Abstract: A fragmentation warhead includes a cylindrical body, a pair of concentric cylindrical liners made of plastic, and an explosive charge disposed within the innermost liner. The innermost liner includes patterns formed thereon of recessed areas and solid liner elements. The outermost liner's interior surface includes patterns formed thereon of raised areas and solid liner elements. The outermost cylindrical liner is arranged to be adjustable relative to the innermost liner through rotation or translation. The explosive charge is disposed adjacent to the interior of the innermost cylindrical liner. Upon detonation of the explosive charge and because of the random dampening and temporal delay in transmitting the detonation energy through various locations of the randomly aligned cylindrical liners, the warhead body is caused to shear and break into fragments with different sizes.

Abstract: A method for detonating a munition comprising the steps of providing a plurality of micro-detonators and microprocessors in said munition and initiating said micro-detonators in a predetermined sequence by means of said microprocessor. Depending on the specific predetermined sequence which is selected, one of a variety of explosive modes may be achieved.

Abstract: The invention in one variation is a stand-off disrupter apparatus that includes a delivery vessel having an enlarged rounded front end with an apex and an elongate cylindrical section that in part serves to fit the apparatus onto the barrel of a shotgun. The shotgun provides propulsion. The apparatus has fins, a sighting system, a firing pin system that fires on impact, a shell loaded with shot housed in a shell chamber, and a layer of disruption medium sealed in a dish forward of the shell and set-back from the apex. The disruption medium is energized on impact by the shot from the shell and a force of the impact. The energized disruption medium can neutralize an improvised explosive device.

Abstract: An aimable kinetic energy rod warhead system includes a plurality of rods and explosive segments disposed about the plurality of rods. There is at least one detonator for each explosive segment. A target locator system is configured to locate a target relative to the explosive segments. A controller is responsive to the target locator system and is configured to selectively detonate specified explosive segments at different times dependent on the desired deployment direction of the rods to improve the aiming resolution of the warhead.

Abstract: A warhead system for a projectile-intercepting munition, the warhead system includes a fuselage having an axis and one or more explosively-formed-projectile charge. The explosively-formed-projectile is with a length and configured to generate one or more explosively formed blade projectile propagating substantially perpendicular to the length, the explosively-formed-projectile charge assuming a deployed state wherein the length of the explosively-formed-projectile charge is non-parallel to the axis, the deployed state and the explosively-formed-projectile charge configured such that, when the explosively-formed-projectile charge is detonated in the deployed state, the explosively formed blade projectile propagates in a direction non-coplanar with the length of the explosively-formed-projectile charge and the axis of the fuselage.

Abstract: An explosive device that can generate a projectile from the opposite side of a wall from the side where the explosive device is detonated. The projectile can be generated without breaching the wall of the structure or container. The device can optionally open an aperture in a solid wall of a structure or a container and form a high-kinetic-energy projectile from the portion of the wall removed to create the aperture.

Abstract: A method for effecting physicochemical transformations and detonation properties in a material using super-compressed detonation includes: providing an insensitive energetic material to be compressed; super-compressing the material by exposure to at least one of a normally or obliquely oriented cylindrical imploding shock wave, generated from a first detonation; effecting transformations from the super-compression in the material including increasing at least material density, structural transformations and electronic energy gap transitions relative to a material unexposed to the super-compression; exposing the super-compressed material to a second detonation; and effecting transformations from the second detonation in the material including increasing at least detonation pressure, velocity and energy density relative to a material unexposed to the super-compression and second detonation.

Abstract: A munition includes a casing, the casing formed at least in part from a material comprising (i) a meltable or phase-changing material, and (ii) an energetic material; an explosive payload contained within the casing; and a fuze arrangement, the fuze arrangement comprising a main fuze configured and arranged to ignite the high explosive, and at least one secondary fuze configured and arranged to cause the casing material to melt or undergo a phase change.

Abstract: The present invention provides a high-lethality low collateral damage fragmentation warhead. The case is formed of a material that is pulverized upon detonation of the explosive. As a result, the lethality radius of the pulverized case fragments is no greater than that of the gas blast, thus reducing potential collateral damage. Warhead lethality is improved by placing a pattern shaper between the fragment assembly and the explosive. The explosive and pattern shaper have a conformal non-planar interface that shapes the pressure wavefront as it propagates there through to expel metal fragments from the fragmentation assembly with a desired pattern density over a prescribed solid angle.

Abstract: A Dual Initiation Strip Charge (DISC) apparatus is initiated by a single initiation source and detonates a strip of explosive charge at two separate contacts. The reflection of explosively induced stresses meet and create a fracture and breach a target along a generally single fracture contour and produce generally fragment-free scattering and no spallation. Methods for making and implementing a DISC apparatus provide numerous advantages over previous methods of creating explosive charges by utilizing steps for rapid prototyping; by implementing efficient steps and designs for metering consistent, repeatable, and controlled amount of high explosive; and by utilizing readily available materials.

Abstract: A method for detonating a munition comprising the steps of providing a plurality of micro-detonators and microprocessors in said munition and initiating said micro-detonators in a predetermined sequence by means of said microprocessor. Depending on the specific predetermined sequence which is selected, one of a variety of explosive modes may be achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detonation of a super-compressed insensitive energetic material by cylindrical implosion followed by an axial detonation to a detonation velocity several times that of TNT and a detonation pressure in excess of ten times that of TNT. The device provides a conical metal flyer shell within which is disposed a cylindrical anvil surrounded by explosive. The anvil retains an insensitive energetic material to be compressed and detonated. A first detonation of explosive by impact of the flyer shell generates a reverberating oblique shock wave system for sample compression. Axial detonation of the compressed sample through any length of a sample is achieved following the principal of matching the axial velocity and compression time of the oblique shock wave system to the detonation velocity and induction delay time of the compressed sample. The method and apparatus are also applicable to enhancing the effect of anti-armor and anti-hard-target munitions.

Abstract: A method for destruction of hostile projectiles and a design of a low velocity cannon firing projectiles that contain directional ammunition. The method includes: firing from a low velocity cannon at least one projectile containing directional ammunition and detonating this directional ammunition at the optimal distance away from the target.

Abstract: A munition includes a casing, the casing formed at least in part from a material comprising (i) a meltable or phase-changing material, and (ii) an energetic material; an explosive payload contained within the casing; and a fuze arrangement, the fuze arrangement comprising a main fuze configured and arranged to ignite the high explosive, and at least one secondary fuze configured and arranged to cause the casing material to melt or undergo a phase change.

Abstract: A penetration-capable projectile has a casing and a fuze with a fuze housing lower part. An interface area between the casing of the projectile and the fuze housing lower part is formed with a shape and/or strength modification which prevents the fuze housing lower part from being pushed into the casing on impact with a target that is to be penetrated.

Abstract: A missile guidance system and method for guiding a missile, mainly horizontally flying, to pass a target at a desired passage height.

Abstract: The material or fragment discharge is controlled by means of a device (4) in connection to the triggering, such as by means of an initiation charge (5), of the main charge (3) in the ammunition unit (1). The liner is devised as being exposable for effect from the explosive charge or charges (6) that are devised as being able to be initiated upon or shortly prior to the triggering of the main charge. The explosive charge achieves, upon initiation a pre-deformation of the liner (4) prior to the liner being affected by the triggering of the main charge for the material or fragment discharge The fragment forms can be rendered more effective in relation to design solution known by prior art by means of the choice explosive charge form and placement.

Abstract: A warhead configuration for forming a hole through a wall of a target, the warhead configuration comprising a charge of explosive material and a liner. The charge has an axis and a front surface. The front surface includes two annular front surface portions, an inner and an outer annular portion, circumscribing the axis. Each of the annular front surface portions is configured so as to exhibit a concave profile as viewed in a cross-section through the charge parallel to the axis. The liner includes a first liner disposed adjacent to the inner annular portion and a second liner disposed adjacent to the outer annular portion such that, when the charge is detonated, material from the first liner is formed into a first expanding explosively formed ring and material from the second liner is formed into a second explosively formed ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detonation of a super-compressed insensitive energetic material by cylindrical implosion followed by an axial detonation to a detonation velocity several times that of TNT and a detonation pressure in excess of ten times that of TNT. The device provides a conical metal flyer shell within which is disposed a cylindrical anvil surrounded by explosive. The anvil retains an insensitive energetic material to be compressed and detonated. A first detonation of explosive by impact of the flyer shell generates a reverberating oblique shock wave system for sample compression. Axial detonation of the compressed sample through any length of a sample is achieved following the principal of matching the axial velocity and compression time of the oblique shock wave system to the detonation velocity and induction delay time of the compressed sample. The method and apparatus are also applicable to enhancing the effect of anti-armour and anti-hard-target munitions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for detonation of a super-compressed insensitive energetic material by cylindrical implosion followed by an axial detonation to a detonation velocity several times that of TNT and a detonation pressure in excess of ten times that of TNT. The device provides a conical metal flyer shell within which is disposed a cylindrical anvil surrounded by explosive. The anvil retains an insensitive energetic material to be compressed and detonated. A first detonation of explosive by impact of the flyer shell generates a reverberating oblique shock wave system for sample compression. Axial detonation of the compressed sample through any length of a sample is achieved following the principal of matching the axial velocity and compression time of the oblique shock wave system to the detonation velocity and induction delay time of the compressed sample. The method and apparatus are also applicable to enhancing the effect of anti-armour and anti-hard-target munitions.

Abstract: A seeking fused munition (10), which at the front end thereof, has a projectile-forming insert (12). In order to define an optimally effective projectile-forming insert (12), even in a configuration of relatively small caliber, the seeking fused munition (10) is of a full-caliber configuration without a casing. A tail portion (24) is provided at the rear end of the seeking fused munition (10). The tail portion (24) is connected to the seeking fused munition (10) along a peripherally extending specified rupture portion (26).

Abstract: An ammunition unit, for combating targets (10) with or without using shaped charge effect, that incorporates an openable or removable and replaceable hull or outer casing (2). The explosive charge in the ammunition unit comprises a charge section (3) with shaped charge function arranged to be able to assume either of two freely selectable positions in the ammunition unit, the first of which enables the charge to exert its shaped charge function and the second of which disables the shaped charge function and enables a different effect to be triggered.

Abstract: An interceptor device for protecting a platform against an incoming threat is provided. The interceptor device comprises a housing and a countermeasure device. At least one detonating charge is capable of deploying the countermeasure device. A controller device housed by the housing is capable of directing the detonating charge(s) to deploy the countermeasure device at least partially radially outward of the housing, corresponding to the threat trajectory. A sensor device is in communication with the controller device, and comprises a range-finding apparatus including one of a LADAR, a RADAR, and a LIDAR device, capable of sensing the threat and/or a range thereof, at least partially radially outward of the housing, and notifying the controller device if the threat is sensed, to cause the controller device to direct the detonating charge(s) to deploy the countermeasure device to impact the threat in the intercept zone. Associated systems, and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A solid explosive munition casing for an explosive charge, the inner surface of the casing including a material that is highly reflective in the optical and infrared spectrum. Through this reflectivity, electromagnetic radiation generated by the detonation process is redirected back into the interior of the munition to increase its explosive output.

Abstract: An interceptor device adapted to protect a platform associated therewith against an incoming threat having a trajectory by intercepting the threat in an intercept zone is provided. Such an interceptor device comprises a housing defining an axis and a countermeasure device operably engaged with the housing. At least one detonating charge is housed by the housing and is operably engaged with the countermeasure device. A controller device is in communication with the at least one detonating charge, wherein the controller device is housed by the housing and is configured to direct the at least one detonating charge to deploy the countermeasure device at least partially radially outward with respect to the axis of the housing and in correspondence with the trajectory of the threat to thereby cause the countermeasure to impact the threat in the intercept zone. Associated apparatuses, systems, and methods are also provided.

Abstract: A kinetic energy rod warhead with imploding charges for isotropic firing of penetrators including a hull, a core in the hull including a plurality of individual penetrators, explosive charge sections in the hull about the core, and a detonator for each explosive charge section arranged to implode the core and isotropically deploy the penetrators.

Abstract: A shaped charge explosive device which includes an axially symmetric body of explosive material, a liner lining the forward end of the body, and a detonator disposed at the bottom of the body. The liner has an apex disposed along the symmetry axis of the body and the forward end of the body contains a gas filled cavity which overlaps the apex of the liner. When the detonator detonates the explosive material, a detonation wave is produced that collapses the liner into a plurality of liner parts which are projected against an external target. The gas filled cavity shapes the detonation wave so that the detonation wave impacts the liner at the most favorable angle to transfer energy to the liner and maximize the effective penetration of the external target by the projected liner parts.

Abstract: A kinetic energy rod warhead with aligned projectiles includes a projectile core in a hull including a plurality of individual projectiles and an explosive charge in the hull about the core. The individual projectiles are aligned when the explosive charge deploys the projectiles. The projectiles may also be aimed in a specific direction.

Abstract: A vehicle-borne system for countering an incoming threat, the system including a sensing device configured to sense an incoming threat, and an active protection system including a maneuverable interceptor incorporating a plurality of kinetic energy rods and an aimable explosive charge configured to deploy the kinetic energy rods in a predetermined direction; the active protection system further including a detection subsystem configured to maneuver the interceptor to intercept the incoming threat, the detection subsystem further configured to determine if the interceptor will miss the threat, and then initiate the explosive charge to aim the kinetic energy rods into a disbursed cloud in the trajectory path of the incoming threat and between the incoming threat and the vehicle.

Abstract: A kinetic energy rod warhead includes a projectile core in a hull including a plurality of individual uniquely shaped and densely packaged projectiles and an explosive charge in the hull about the core. The individual projectiles are preferably aligned when the explosive charge deploys the projectiles. The projectiles may also be aimed in a specific direction.

Abstract: Encapsulated shaped charge for efficient initiation of hydrodynamic velocity detonation of explosives column. A water tight capsule with angled sides containing sufficient quantities of explosive and a detonator means where the capsule substantially occupies the cross-section of the bore-hole. The capsule contains up to 30 pounds of explosives. The capsule efficiently and sufficiently initiates a column of explosives whereby the amount of Nitrogen Dioxide is substantially decreased.

Abstract: A solid explosive munition casing for an explosive charge, the inner surface of the casing including a material that is highly reflective in the optical and infrared spectrum. Through this reflectivity, electromagnetic radiation generated by the detonation process is redirected back into the interior of the munition to increase its explosive output.

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 anti-missile missile (10) includes a missile configured to track and intercept an incoming missile travelling along path (12). Missile (10) includes at least one barrel assembly (13) having a multiplicity of projectiles stacked axially within barrel assembly (13), together with discrete selectively ignitable propellant charges for propelling the multiplicity of projectiles sequentially through the muzzle of barrel assembly (13). The multiplicity of projectiles produce a fragment column (20) along path (12) to destroy the incoming missile. Alternatively, anti-missile missile (10) can be guided to produce a direct hit at point (18) on the incoming missile. Barrel assembly (13) can include an aiming mechanism so that barrel assembly (13) can be rotated through sector (15, 16) to target path (12).

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 method is provided for destroying a target that includes dispersing submunition fragments in an array that is directed to intercept the target, and engaging said fragments to collide against an outer shell of the target, wherein said array distributes said fragments as having a ratio between a characteristic length of said fragments and a separation distance of at most 2.5 and a collision velocity of between 1.8 km/s 2.0 km/s. The ratio is preferably at most 1.9. The characteristic length corresponds to a spherical radius of the fragment. Each fragment has a mass between 150 grains and 300 grains. The array is preferably aligned to intercept the target at an angle offset by between 15° and 45° from perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the target. Each fragment has a preferable shape of a prism, a trapezoid or a pyramid.