Abstract: The present invention relates to a firearm projectile capable of releasing a secondary payload mid-flight through a pyrotechnic timing mechanism. Once the firearm is fired, the powder in the casing pushes out the projectile as a typical round. In addition, the powder ignites the delay column. The formulation and amount of delay pyrotechnics determines the delay time. When the delay column is burned, the final portion ignites an expelling charge. The expelling charge builds pressure in the projectile casing and separates the base plug from the main projectile housing. The expelling assembly pushes out the secondary payload out the rear of the projectile. Although the payload exits the rear of the projectile at minimum velocity, the net velocity of the payload is still in the forward direction.

Abstract: A targeting munition for a targeting system and method includes a payload including a plurality of shards. At least one of the shards includes a laser diode configured to emit targeting emission in response to the targeting munition impacting an area at or proximate to a target.

Abstract: A mass reducing projectile is provided. The mass reducing projectile includes a shell, one or more weights, and a low melt fusible alloy. The one or more weights are disposed within the shell. The low melt fusible alloy is disposed within the shell so as to encase the one or more weights within the shell.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a firearm projectile capable of releasing a secondary payload mid-flight through a pyrotechnic timing mechanism. Once the firearm is fired, the powder in the casing pushes out the projectile as a typical round. In addition, the powder ignites the delay column. The formulation and amount of delay pyrotechnics determines the delay time. When the delay column is burned, the final portion ignites an expelling charge. The expelling charge builds pressure in the projectile casing and separates the base plug from the main projectile housing. The expelling assembly pushes out the secondary payload out the rear of the projectile. Although the payload exits the rear of the projectile at minimum velocity, the net velocity of the payload is still in the forward direction.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of an ignition apparatus are disclosed herein. Each ignition apparatus is configured for use in a projectile, such as an artillery projectile, rocket, missile, drone, and other similar projectiles. In each exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, the ignition apparatus initiates an ignition sequence that is the reverse of the ignition sequences implemented by conventional ignition devices that utilize pre-loaded or pre-compressed spring-operated firing pins. Each exemplary embodiment of the ignition apparatus disclosed herein utilizes the extreme axial acceleration of the projectile to arm and initiate the ignition sequence.

Abstract: A payload adapter configured to removably attach to one or more payload bridges. The payload adapter includes a forward open end defined by a forward ring, an aft open end defined by an aft ring, a plurality of truss supports connecting the forward ring and the aft ring to one another, and a plurality of mounting fixtures disposed around a circumference the payload adapter. The mounting fixtures are each configured to releasably attach to a secondary payload bridge.

Abstract: A method of identifying a target vehicle in a system includes providing a sensor within a system. Motion data of a plurality of vehicles within the system is detected with the sensor. Broadcast motion data is received from a vehicle unit within the system. Which of the plurality of vehicles is a target vehicle is determined based on a comparison of the detected motion data and the broadcast motion data.

Abstract: The munition employs an energetically initiated electromagnetic pulse through a coil which induces a voltage intended to be used for the operation of an electronic time delay circuit and subsequent ignition of a detonation device. Explosive energy from a primer is employed to move a generator core through a generator coil to induce the voltage. The voltage is supplied to a delay circuit. After a set time, the delay circuit supplies power to a laser igniter which detonates the munition. A striker assembly, in addition to initiating the primer, functions as an out of line safety as well as an electric safety.

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: A technique is directed to launching an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The technique involves attaching a UAV launcher to a hand-held weapon, and installing a UAV onto the UAV launcher while the UAV launcher is attached to the hand-held weapon. The technique further involves activating the hand-held weapon to launch the UAV into flight from the UAV launcher. Since a user already may be carrying the hand-held weapon for firing ammunition, the user simply needs to further carry the UAV launcher and the UAV which, in some situations, can be packaged into an easy-to-carry container such as a backpack, a carrying case, and so on.

Abstract: There is provided in one embodiment an imaging and sensing assembly. The imaging and sensing assembly has a disc shaped aerodynamic member configured to spin and self-position in flight, a plurality of pulsed thrusters positioned on the member, and a plurality of imaging and sensing devices positioned along a perimeter of the member. The imaging and sensing assembly further has one or more antenna devices positioned on the member and in communication with a first processor device on the member. The first processor device receives data obtained by the plurality of imaging and sensing devices and wirelessly transmits the data to a second processor device not positioned on the member. The imaging and sensing assembly further has a power supply powering the imaging and sensing assembly.

Abstract: A cluster munition may include a plurality of submunitions that are ejected from a delivery vehicle. Each submunition is single target discriminating and includes electronic self-destruct and self-deactivate capability. Each submunition includes a microprocessor and a wireless communication device connected to the microprocessor. Each submunition includes a deployable antenna/stabilizer that functions as an antenna for the wireless communication device and as a stabilizer to stabilize the descent of the submunition. Optionally, the deployable antenna/stabilizer may also facilitate ejection of the submunition from the delivery vehicle. The submunitions may wirelessly communicate with each other and with other entities.

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: An inert axisymmetric projectile is provided for launching from a shipboard gun and dispersing submunitions at a target. The projectile includes a base plug, a sabot housing, a submunitions package, and a retainer ring. The sabot housing includes a plurality of sabot petals angularly arranged and attached to the plug. The housing includes a payload portion and a nose portion, with a passage corridor between these portions. The submunitions package is contained within the payload portion and constrained radially by the housing. The retainer ring constrains the petals for joining together. Upon launch aerodynamic pressure fractures the ring and causes the petals to unfurl, thereby releasing the submunitions package for dispersal.

Abstract: An inert axisymmetric projectile is provided for launching from a shipboard gun and dispersing submunitions at a target. The projectile includes a base plug, a sabot housing, a submunitions package, and a retainer ring. The sabot housing includes a plurality of sabot petals angularly arranged and attached to the plug. The housing includes a payload portion and a nose portion, with a passage corridor between these portions. The submunitions package is contained within the payload portion and constrained radially by the housing. The retainer ring constrains the petals for joining together. Upon launch aerodynamic pressure fractures the ring and causes the petals to unfurl, thereby releasing the submunitions package for dispersal.

Abstract: A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead having an outer casing that forms an internal chamber and a dart within the internal chamber. The dart includes a main body formed with a non-explosive material and is configured to exit the internal chamber via an opening therein.

Abstract: Exemplary multi-shell structured blast effect charges as well as shaped charge or shaped-charge-like explosive charges are disclosed which contain metal carbonyls in the form of pure substances, granulates, mixtures with inorganic fuels, or as granulates of mixtures with inorganic fuels integrated in suitable closed containers. The metal carbonyls serve in the form proposed herein as fuel, which during the intended conversion of the total charge exhibit an undirected (multi-shell structured blast effect charges) or at least partially directed (shaped charges or shaped-charge-like explosive charges) pressure enhancing effect.

Abstract: A kinetic fireball incendiary munition is provided having an outer shell or bomb casing, one or more incendiary submunitions therein, and an igniter therefore. Each of the submunitions includes an incendiary portion, at least one rocket motor that propels the submunition inside of a target volume, and an oxidizer for the incendiary portion and rocket motor. The submunitions liberate sufficient heat to produce elevated temperatures inside of a target structure to thermalize the contents thereof without creating a substantial overpressure or explosive effect. The incendiary portion includes a solid propellant and, optionally, one or more energetic materials selected from the group consisting of phosphorous, boron, magnesium, aluminum, Fluorinert™-aluminum and BKNO3. The incendiary submunition may be in the shape of a ball or a circular disk with a rocket motor therein.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for defeating a target containing a flammable or explosive fill and an incendiary penetrating projectile for use in the method and the system. The incendiary penetrating projectile contains a non-detonating incendiary composition that is ignited prior to penetrating a target.

Abstract: Some embodiments pertain to a projectile that includes a propellant and a casing that encloses the propellant such that the casing acts as a reaction chamber during flight of the projectile. The casing includes a plurality of flechettes. When the projectile strikes (or is near) a target, a large internal sheer pressure forms within the casing. This sheer pressure causes the flechettes to sheer apart at the thinnest sections of the casing. Once the thin sections of the casing are sheered apart, the flechettes will be unconstrained such that the flechettes take individual flight paths.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a submunition is contemplated having a submunition body, an explosive payload housed within said submunition body and an elongated delay member housed within the submunition body, the elongated delay member coated with at least one reactive material that provides a controlled time delay between submunition impact and detonation of the explosive payload. The submunition may also comprise an elongated pendulum having a hollow core sized to receive said elongated delay member, the elongated pendulum adapted to be movable between a locked position that mitigates likelihood of inadvertent detonation of the explosive payload and an unlocked position that enables detonation of the explosive payload.

Abstract: The invention relates to a warhead comprising a first and a second part, the parts being arranged relative to one another along a longitudinal axis, the first part comprising a first explosive section, a casing, and a plurality of projectiles enclosed in the casing. The second part comprises an element designed to control the working of the warhead as a function of a control signal. The fact that the functioning of the warhead can be controlled means that the warhead can defeat a plurality of different targets, which makes the warhead versatile.

Abstract: This invention relates to a penetrating projectile, particularly an anti-infrastructure penetration bomb. The invention also relates to a penetration method applied to the above mentioned projectile. The penetrating projectile includes an inner tube inside which a perforating projectile is placed comprising at least one body provided with a pyrotechnic charge and a propulsion body, the body of the perforating projectile being ejected outside the tube by firing the propulsion body; and a system for controlling firing of the propulsion body before the impact of the penetrating projectile on a target. The invention is particularly applicable for passing through very thick walls made of a non-metallic material for example such as concrete.

Abstract: A spreader box and method form a bi-laminar paintball shell material. Walls of a box body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a first gel. Walls of a gate body define a reservoir containing, and an aperture dispensing, a second gel. Within the box, the first gel is kept separate from the second gel. The box body aperture dispenses the first gel as a continuous first layer. The gate body aperture dispenses the second gel as a continuous second layer that is adjacent and juxtaposed with the first layer, such that the first gel bonds with the second gel to form the bi-laminar paintball shell material. A paintball, containing a fill material, has a frangible bi-laminar shell including an exterior shell that completely surrounds and contains an interior shell. The paintball is adapted to withstand the normal range of forces sustained in being fired from a paintball gun.

Abstract: A multi-stage hyper-velocity kinetic energy missile (HVKEM) uses a ‘missile in a missile’ architecture in which the HVKEM includes a 1st stage flight missile and a 2nd stage kill missile that includes a KE-rod penetrator. The flight missile cruises at a relatively low velocity (less than Mach 1.5, typically less than Mach 1) to conserve propellant (weight) and to allow for effective guidance and maneuvering until the missile is in close proximity to the target. When the missile is within the lethal range of the KE-rod penetrator, the kill missile separates and boosts to a much higher velocity (greater than Mach 3, typically greater than Mach 5) and flies unguided to impact the target in less than a second. Waiting to boost the KE-rod until “the last second” reduces the total propellant (weight) needed to deliver the KE-rod on target and simplifies the guidance.

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: A missile includes several subvehicles that are initially mechanically coupled to a missile main body, and a separation system for separating the subvehicles from the missile main body. The separation system has a single triggering mechanism to simultaneously provide energy to separate all of the subvehicles. This advantageously provides only a single shock to the system by actuating the system to separate the subvehicles. By limiting the shocks to the single shock of actuating the energy system and the shocks of the mechanical disengagement of the individual subvehicles, the disengagement system has improved performance. The subvehicles may be separated from the main body in radial directions substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the main body. This may provide for smoother disengagement, with less tipping, and may provide for greater, more uniform spacing between the disengaged subvehicles.

Abstract: A cargo round (e.g., 155 mm high explosive projectile) is provided for dispensing submunitions. The round includes a nose tip, a casing attached thereto forming a chamber, a tail and a payload in the chamber between the tip and tail. The payload includes a plurality of axi-symmetric darts mounted on a plurality of front and rear tandem plates. Each dart has fore and aft ends along a polar axis. Each dart is shaped as a cone at its fore end and includes a cavity at its aft end. Each plate has a plurality of orifices arranged in a regular pattern. Each orifice receives a corresponding dart to protrude from both obverse and reverse sides of the plate. Each fore end of its dart in the rear plate inserts into the cavity of a counterpart dart in the front plate, and each plate shears apart on release of the payload to disperse the darts.

Abstract: A projectile is provided for simulating multiple sequential ballistic impacts. The projectile has a plurality of relatively dense loading layers spaced along the firing direction of the projectile. Each pair of nearest-neighbor loading layers is separated by a less dense support element which maintains the spacing of the loading layers. The projectile may be suitable for simulating bird slurry impacts on stator vanes of an aero gas turbine engine.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of penetrative projectiles capable of penetrating buildings whose structures are reinforced such as anti-aircraft shelters for example. The invention consists in a projectile comprising a solid penetrative body designed to perforate a wall of the building, the roof for example. Inside the projectile according to the invention are housed sub-munitions enclosing the charge in the form of bomblets, a device for plugging the hole formed in the wall by the passage of the projectile, and a sequencing and command device. When the wall is penetrated, the rear portion of the penetrative body is separated from the rest of the penetrative body and the plugging device is deployed so as to block the hole that has been passed through. After penetration, the front portion of the penetrative body continues its route toward the ground while the sub-munitions enclosing the bomblets remain suspended in the air under the wall.

Abstract: The disclosed system, device and method for deploying a sub-module from a carrier vehicle generally includes: a sub-module projectile (100) housed within a carrier vehicle; a rolling diaphragm (115) sealed between a first pressure chamber volume (145) and a second sub-module containment volume (e.g., substantially formed on the opposing side of rolling diaphragm 115 relative to pressure chamber 145); and a release mechanism (500), wherein the sub-module projectile (100) is secured until releasable deployment from the carrier vehicle. Disclosed features and specifications may be variously controlled, adapted or otherwise optionally modified to improve ejection, deployment and/or dispersal of a variety of sub-modules from a variety of carrier modules. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention generally provide for the ejection and dispersal of kinetic energy rod warheads from a kill-vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a penetration assistance kit fitted to a bomb, notably an anti-infrastructure bomb. The kit includes launch tubes mechanically secured to the bomb. In each of the launch tubes is positioned a detonating projectile and its propulsive charge. A detonating projectile can be ejected from its tube by initiation of its propulsive charge. A system is provided for controlling the initiation of each propulsive charge prior to impact of the bomb with a target. The invention applies notably to the penetration of very thick walls made of non-metallic material such as concrete, for example. The invention also relates to a penetrating projectile equipped with such a kit and to a method of getting such a projectile to penetrate a target.

Abstract: The invention relates to a subprojectile (1) comprising a body, which is provided with a borehole (5) and consists of hard metal or heavy metal, an energy component (3) with or without a firing means (4) being incorporated into the borehole (5). The energy component (3) with or without a pressure-sensitive firing means (4) is fired or activated by air friction, by an ignition in the carrier bullet together with a firing charge, or at the latest when the target is hit.

Abstract: An anti-mine dart includes a body containing an explosive payload and having a flyer-plate port. The dart is operable responsive to the payload being detonated to propel through the flyer-plate port a flyer plate having sufficient energy to detonate an explosive material surrounding the dart. The darts may include a plurality of explosive payloads, flyer-plate ports and flyer plates. The darts may be formed in a stack arrangement within a missile such that the flyer-plate port of each dart is not aligned with the flyer-plate ports of any of the adjacent darts in the stack arrangement. The darts may contain a simplified safe-and-arm mechanism or no safe-and-arm mechanism at all.

Abstract: A dispenser system provides a means to automatically deploy systems using a controlled dispense approach capable of providing desired operational flexibility. Components such as unattended ground sensors (UGS) are deployed according to a method which includes incorporating the components into an elongated ejection system to form a payload assembly, the ejection system including axially-displaced ejector bays each for holding respective components. Each ejector bay retains the respective components until a respective ejection event upon which the ejector bay ejects the components in a radial direction. The payload assembly includes a stabilizer such as a drogue parachute that substantially prevents the payload assembly from rotating about its elongated axis. A timing sequence for the ejection events is programmed into the ejection system to achieve a desired coverage pattern of the components after deployment.

Abstract: The object of the inventive method and device for controlling and/or extinguishing fires is to extend the range of means for transporting devices to a fire site, substantially reduce the time for the operating preparation thereof and to exclude a fragmentation field caused by the device explosion which ensures the momentary conversion of a fire-extinguishing composition into a fine cloud associated with a simultaneous airblast effect produced to a fire area and a maximum distribution of said fire-extinguishing composition through the fire volume. Said method for controlling and/or putting out a fire consists in effecting the fire area by an airblast and the high-speed flow of the air-dispersed mixture of the fire-extinguishing composition (7) produced by the explosion of a fire-suppressing device (2) which comprises a dispersing charge (8) and a container (6) with the fire-extinguishing composition (7).

Abstract: At least some of the segments of a segmented rod projectile are provided with a mechanism that causes them to divert away from the projectile's original line of flight after the segments are separated during flight to the target. That mechanism is illustratively a notched flare. The segments illustratively divert in a predetermined dispersion pattern. In order to ensure that each segment flies in the desired direction after separation, the disclosed projectile includes a mechanism that, just prior to segment separation, arrests spin of the projectile. Thus the segments are essentially non-spinning after separation and thus the desired diversion will not be counteracted by post-separation spin of the segments.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sub-munition unit (1) having a warhead (2) that comprises an antenna (3) on the bow side, as seen in the direction of flight, for target acquisition, and is connected on the aft side to a releasably attached parachute cartridge (4). In order to protect the antenna (3) sufficiently against both mechanical loads and aerodynamic stresses using a simple protective device, and without thereby negatively affecting the function of the antenna (3), an antenna protection cover (5) is releasably disposed on the warhead in front of the antenna (3) so as to protect the antenna (3), and the warhead (2) comprises an operating mechanism causing the antenna protection cover (5) to be ejected when the parachute cartridge (4) is released from the warhead (2).

Abstract: A method is disclosed for packaging sub-munitions within stacks of same, in a cylindrical payload space, such that the sub-munitions emerge into a circular delta grid pattern when deployed.

Abstract: A method for protecting a second location against a first projectile fired from a first location at the second location. The method including: firing at least one second projectile toward the first projectile; and increasing a footprint of the second projectile via a deployment from the second projectile to prevent the first projectile from striking the second location.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for packaging sub-munitions within stacks of same, in a cylindrical payload space, such that the sub-munitions emerge into a circular delta grid pattern when deployed.

Abstract: A warhead includes a barrel operatively associated with the vehicle, the barrel being extendable from and retractable into the vehicle; a penetrator disposed in the barrel; and means for expelling the penetrator from the barrel. A vehicle includes a barrel extendable from and retractable into the vehicle; a penetrator disposed in the barrel; and means for expelling the penetrator from the barrel. A method includes transporting a warhead to a position proximate a target; angularly or translationally positioning a barrel of the warhead; and expelling at least one penetrator from the barrel toward the target. A vehicle includes an airfoil; a barrel operably associated with the airfoil; a penetrator disposed in the barrel; and means for expelling the penetrator from the barrel.

Abstract: A method of destroying mines in a minefield buried under the surface includes deploying a munition including a plurality of kinetic energy rods each having a stabilizer into a position above the minefield and deploying the rods above the minefield to fall towards the minefield each aligned along a velocity vector to penetrate the surface and destroy the mines.

Abstract: A wide area dispersal warhead including a housing defining a cavity, an explosive charge in the housing, and a large plurality of individual munitions in the cavity of the housing about the explosive charge. The explosive charge is configured to deploy the munitions upon detonation into a hemispherical dome shaped pattern.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ammunition arrangement. The ammunition arrangement comprises at least two active parts (2, 3), each with its own active charge (4, 6), arranged axially one behind the other. In order to make large holes in walls and the like without problems of great weight, the second active charge (6) is designed to act essentially in the radial direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the active charge.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a submunition is contemplated having a submunition body, an explosive payload housed within said submunition body and an elongated delay member housed within the submunition body, the elongated delay member coated with at least one reactive material that provides a controlled time delay between submunition impact and detonation of the explosive payload. The submunition may also comprise an elongated pendulum having a hollow core sized to receive said elongated delay member, the elongated pendulum adapted to be movable between a locked position that mitigates likelihood of inadvertent detonation of the explosive payload and an unlocked position that enables detonation of the explosive payload.

Abstract: A submunition is formulated for destroying a target in a target area. Accommodated in a casing are a signal processing unit connected to a radar antenna and/or an infrared sensor and/or another target-detecting sensor. The submunition further has target recognition software and a charge provided with a covering. To increase the versatility of use and to simultaneously improve detection and decision certainty and reliability, the target recognition software has a software interface for the transfer of at least one parameter specific to the target area.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of penetrative projectiles capable of penetrating buildings whose structures are reinforced such as anti-aircraft shelters for example. The invention consists in a projectile comprising a solid penetrative body designed to perforate a wall of the building, the roof for example. Inside the projectile according to the invention are housed sub-munitions enclosing the charge in the form of bomblets, a device for plugging the hole formed in the wall by the passage of the projectile, and a sequencing and command device. When the wall is penetrated, the rear portion of the penetrative body is separated from the rest of the penetrative body and the plugging device is deployed so as to block the hole that has been passed through. After penetration, the front portion of the penetrative body continues its route toward the ground while the sub-munitions enclosing the bomblets remain suspended in the air under the wall.

Abstract: A projectile for penetrating hardened targets is provided to include a shell having a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to an impact surface of the target; and a plurality of penetrator elements disposed in tandem in the shell along the longitudinal axis. The penetrator elements may be composed of ceramic, which has high compressive strength relative to most metals. Selected portions of the penetrator may be composed of heavy metals. The penetrator elements may be separated from each other by gaps, which may be filled with foam or other shock-absorbing material. An alternate projectile provides a unitary penetrator element composed of ceramic.

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.