Various embodiments of optimized subsonic projectiles are provided along with related methods. For example, one exemplary subsonic projectile can include an elliptical nose cone, a cylindrical body and a boattail with various design features that can be used in a subsonic ammunition cartridge where the subsonic projectile is stabile throughout at least a segment of a flight allowing for better accuracy, maintaining low drag, maximizing range and achieving desired performance while ensuring the projectile stays below the speed of sound and lowering a noise profile of projectile and a launcher firing the projectile.

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 to measure muzzle exit conditions of for ammunition improve fire control solutions and reduce shot-to-shot dispersion in both conventional and air-burst programmable ammunition. A first system measures muzzle velocity and, when firing post-shot programmable ammunition, the system calculates a unique time-of-flight optimized for the actual muzzle velocity and transmits the time to detonate signal by using either optically or radio-frequency signals that represent an optimized time of burst to a projectile. A second system measures muzzle velocity coupled to a ballistic calculator and, when used with ammunition having ferrous characteristics, the force is applied to exiting ammunition to slow or increase the muzzle velocity to a consistent, standardized target velocity. The systems are separately or in combination incorporated into kits that readily improve the performance of weapon systems.

Systems to measure muzzle exit conditions of for ammunition improve fire control solutions and reduce shot-to-shot dispersion in both conventional and air-burst programmable ammunition. A first system measures muzzle velocity and, when firing post-shot programmable ammunition, the system calculates a unique time-of-flight optimized for the actual muzzle velocity and transmits the time to detonate signal by using either optically or radio-frequency signals that represent an optimized time of burst to a projectile. A second system measures muzzle velocity coupled to a ballistic calculator and, when used with ammunition having ferrous characteristics, the force is applied to exiting ammunition to slow or increase the muzzle velocity to a consistent, standardized target velocity. The systems are separately or in combination incorporated into kits that readily improve the performance of weapon systems.

A weapon system includes a cartridge and a fire control apparatus have been developed for generating a projectile with a selectable launch velocity. The cartridge includes multiple primers and propellant chambers which may be individually selected by the fire controller so as to fire the projectile at a selected launch velocity. Additionally after firing the selected primers and propellant charges, the fire controller sends a second firing signal to all remaining primers after a suitable delay. The second firing signal ensures that all remaining propellant is initiated and consumed, thus rendering the cartridge safe to eject. The delay between the first firing signal and the second firing signal is sufficient to allow the projectile to be expelled from the cartridge so that the launch velocity is not affected by the combustion of the remaining propellant.

A weapon system includes a cartridge and a fire control apparatus have been developed for generating a projectile with a selectable launch velocity. The cartridge includes multiple primers and propellant chambers which may be individually selected by the fire controller so as to fire the projectile at a selected launch velocity. Additionally after firing the selected primers and propellant charges, the fire controller sends a second firing signal to all remaining primers after a suitable delay. The second firing signal ensures that all remaining propellant is initiated and consumed, thus rendering the cartridge safe to eject. The delay between the first firing signal and the second firing signal is sufficient to allow the projectile to be expelled from the cartridge so that the launch velocity is not affected by the combustion of the remaining propellant.

A closed, self-contained ballistic apogee detection module for use in a projectile, such as a rocket, mortar round, or artillery round, fuses data from multiple built-in sensors, such as an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope, and processes the data using a microprocessor through a custom quaternion extended Kalman filter to provide accurate state and orientation information about the projectile so as to accurately predict apogee. The module outputs a signal indicating apogee detection or prediction which they projectile uses to initiate fuze arming, targeting control, airbody transformation, maneuvering, flow effector deployment or activation, payload exposure or deployment, and/or other mission activity. Because the system and method of the invention does not rely on external environmental data to detect apogee, it need not use a pressure sensor and can be completely sealed in and closed without requiring access to air from outside the projectile for barometric readings.

A closed, self-contained ballistic apogee detection module for use in a projectile, such as a rocket, mortar round, or artillery round, fuses data from multiple built-in sensors, such as an accelerometer, a magnetometer, and a gyroscope, and processes the data using a microprocessor through a custom quaternion extended Kalman filter to provide accurate state and orientation information about the projectile so as to accurately predict apogee. The module outputs a signal indicating apogee detection or prediction which they projectile uses to initiate fuze arming, targeting control, airbody transformation, maneuvering, flow effector deployment or activation, payload exposure or deployment, and/or other mission activity. Because the system and method of the invention does not rely on external environmental data to detect apogee, it need not use a pressure sensor and can be completely sealed in and closed without requiring access to air from outside the projectile for barometric readings.