A projectile incorporates one or more spoiler-tabbed spinning disks to effect flow around the projectile and thus impart steering forces and/or moments. The spoiler tabs may be deployed only during steering phases of travel thus minimizing the drag penalty associated with steering systems. The disks are driven by motors and informed and controlled by sensors and electronic control systems. The spoiler tabs protrude through the surface of the projectile only for certain angles of spin of the spinning disk. For spin-stabilized projectiles, the disks spin at substantially the same rate as the projectile, but the disks may function in fin-stabilized projectiles as well. Any number of such spinning flow effector disks may be incorporated in a projectile, with the manner of functional coordination differing slightly for even and odd numbers of disks.

A projectile incorporates one or more spoiler-tabbed spinning disks to effect flow around the projectile and thus impart steering forces and/or moments. The spoiler tabs may be deployed only during steering phases of travel thus minimizing the drag penalty associated with steering systems. The disks are driven by motors and informed and controlled by sensors and electronic control systems. The spoiler tabs protrude through the surface of the projectile only for certain angles of spin of the spinning disk. For spin-stabilized projectiles, the disks spin at substantially the same rate as the projectile, but the disks may function in fin-stabilized projectiles as well. Any number of such spinning flow effector disks may be incorporated in a projectile, with the manner of functional coordination differing slightly for even and odd numbers of disks.

Kits or sub-systems that include sensors to measure a projectile's condition at muzzle exit. The kits or sub-systems are coupled to ballistic calculators or fire control systems that calculate aiming and programming solutions to improve shot placement, reduced dispersion and improve terminal performance. Where airburst munitions are used, the projectile is programmed when reaching a programming station beyond the barrel and the projectile is programmed with a solution that adjusts the burst location based on the measured muzzle velocity. Sub-systems, processes and sub-routines optimize post-shot programming using certain non-linear methods that are incorporated into fire control systems and ballistic calculators. These non-linear sub-routines are useful in establishing the optimum terminal effect of such airburst projectiles. The sub-systems are used separately or are incorporated into the weapons, to reduce dispersion and improve the terminal effects of the projectiles.

Systems, devices, and methods including a bullet; a retroreflector array adhered to a base of the bullet, the retroreflector array having prism facets with a periodicity between 0.2 mm-2.0 mm; and a cover disposed over the retroreflector array and hermetically sealed at the base of the bullet; where the cover is disposed over the retroreflector array in a first position prior to firing, and where the cover is released from the base of the bullet in a second position after firing.

Improvements in a less-lethal force device are disclosed. The less-lethal projectile device generally comprising a projectile, such as a rubber-encapsulated metal block, that is mated to a docking base by way of a mounting pins or base. The projectile may be made with a cavity located in its rearward section for enabling the projectile to fit onto the mounting pins portion of the docking base through compression or interference fit. The projectile captures a fired bullet and is propelled along the original path of the bullet at a less lethal velocity. The disclosed system results in converting a normally lethal weapon into a less-lethal blunt impact system. The mounting pins are configured to provide clearance to the sighting mechanism on the firearm.

The archery arrow having improved flight characteristics of the present invention is designed to improve the accuracy of the arrow which is equipped with a dampening medium within the central bore of the arrow shaft. The dampening materials in an embodiment may include, but not be limited to, silicon, epoxies or urethanes and selection of various dampening materials may provide for varying degrees of stiffness. The dampening effects of internal dampening materials decrease the initial deflection distance of the arrow and also serves to decrease the deflection with each oscillation. In addition, the dampening medium adopted in the present invention provides for an arrow having a selectable center of gravity location that has improved flight characteristics. Thus, the dampening materials adopted in the present invention provide for a selected location of center of gravity and a desired attnuation of oscillations.

The archery arrow having improved flight characteristics of the present invention is designed to improve the accuracy of the arrow which is equipped with a dampening medium within the central bore of the arrow shaft. The dampening materials in an embodiment may include, but not be limited to, silicon, epoxies or urethanes and selection of various dampening materials may provide for varying degrees of stiffness. The dampening effects of internal dampening materials decrease the initial deflection distance of the arrow and also serves to decrease the deflection with each oscillation. In addition, the dampening medium adopted in the present invention provides for an arrow having a selectable center of gravity location that has improved flight characteristics. Thus, the dampening materials adopted in the present invention provide for a selected location of center of gravity and a desired attnuation of oscillations.

This application discloses a shaped charge firearm projectile that includes a two-piece jacket that defines an internal cavity with an opening in the front side of the jacket that is part of the internal cavity, a detonator positioned in the internal cavity, a striker passing through the opening with one end positioned outside of the internal cavity and the other end positioned near the detonator inside of the internal cavity positioned to detonate the detonator when the striker impacts a target with sufficient force, and a main charge positioned in the internal cavity with the main charge and the jacket defining an air-filled chamber located between the front side of the jacket and the main charge, where the striker extends into the main charge.

An improved bullet disclosed includes a blend radius disposed between a first tangent thereof intersecting a shank of the bullet and a second tangent thereof intersecting one of a cone ogive and a boattail ogive of the bullet. The bullet also includes at least one dimple formed into a base of the bullet adjacent the boattail ogive, a curved segment joining the dimpled base and the boattail cone and a truncated cone ogive with a meplat end and a shank end, the truncated cone ogive adapted to produce less drag and friction in air than a secant or a tangent ogive. The improved bullet extends an effective flight range and a Coanda effect there around reducing air turbulence and drag on the bullet in flight. A cartridge adapted to receive the improved bullet is necked down and shortened for a COAL (cartridge overall length) nominally the same as conventional cartridges.

A tail boom for a gun-launched projectile includes a boom housing and a cap fixed to a rear end of the boom housing. A piston is translatable in the housing by the force of a compression spring. A plurality of fins are rotatably fixed to the boom housing. Each fin includes a protruding portion that extends into a translation path of the piston. The cap includes a guide bore for the piston stem to maintain alignment of the piston. The piston presses on the protruding portion of the fins, causing the fins to rotate about their hinge points into a deployed position.