Hardened target sensors and systems are described herein. An example system includes a projectile defining an ogive, a body, and a base. The body of the projectile is arranged between the ogive and the base. The system includes a sensor assembly including a nose member and a plurality of strain gauges. The nose member defines a nose portion, a shaft, portion, and a threaded portion. The strain gauges are attached to the shaft portion. The system includes a shroud member, which is mechanically coupled with the sensor assembly and the body. The system further includes a smart fuze arranged within the body. The smart fuze is operably coupled to the strain gauges. The strain gauges measure the compression/tension of the shaft portion, which is part of the nose member. The load measured by the strain gauges can be used to detect hardened target layers and/or voids.

An ammunition round comprises an optimized projectile incorporating a hardened penetrator and an explosive self-destruct mechanism for a medium caliber high rate of fire round. The ammunition round incorporates a hardened segment penetrator followed by a pyrotechnically initiated high explosive warhead that substantially increases the effective range and terminal performance against RAM targets. The hardened segment penetrator localizes the kinetic energy of the projectile to increase target penetration prior to the initiation of the high explosive warhead.

An ammunition round comprises an optimized projectile incorporating a hardened penetrator and an explosive self-destruct mechanism for a medium caliber high rate of fire round. The ammunition round incorporates a hardened segment penetrator followed by a pyrotechnically initiated high explosive warhead that substantially increases the effective range and terminal performance against RAM targets. The hardened segment penetrator localizes the kinetic energy of the projectile to increase target penetration prior to the initiation of the high explosive warhead.

A passive impact sensor for a projectile configured to explode, destroy with kinetic energy, embed or pass through an object with a closing velocity greater than 1,000 m/s. The passive impact sensor includes an energy generating system comprised of a crystalline structure that stores latent polarized electrical energy. The crystalline structure is responsive to an impact generated shock wave that propagates at least partially through the crystalline structure to consume and depolarize the crystalline structure and release at least a portion of the stored energy to generate a voltage pulse across output terminals. An onboard antenna is configured to transmit an RF pulse responsive to the voltage pulse (direct or integrated) external to the impact sensor (and projectile) before the sensor is destroyed by the shock wave. Multiple energy generating systems can be positioned either together or fore and aft and their voltage pulses summed to transmit the RF pulse. The benefits of this device include the ability to determine impact force, impact velocity, impact angle, target mass, target density, and direct or glancing impact.

A passive impact sensor for a projectile configured to explode, destroy with kinetic energy, embed or pass through an object with a closing velocity greater than 1,000 m/s. The passive impact sensor includes an energy generating system comprised of a crystalline structure that stores latent polarized electrical energy. The crystalline structure is responsive to an impact generated shock wave that propagates at least partially through the crystalline structure to consume and depolarize the crystalline structure and release at least a portion of the stored energy to generate a voltage pulse across output terminals. An onboard antenna is configured to transmit an RF pulse responsive to the voltage pulse (direct or integrated) external to the impact sensor (and projectile) before the sensor is destroyed by the shock wave. Multiple energy generating systems can be positioned either together or fore and aft and their voltage pulses summed to transmit the RF pulse. The benefits of this device include the ability to determine impact force, impact velocity, impact angle, target mass, target density, and direct or glancing impact.

A method for detecting hardened bunkers within a target, the method including: producing a first output from a sensor fired to travel through the hardened bunkers, the first output being different from a second output when the sensor travels in a void between the hardened bunkers or encounters other objects outside of the hardened bunkers; and determining one or more of the number of hardened bunkers, a thickness of the hardened bunkers and a strength of the hardened bunkers based on the first and second outputs of the sensor over time. The sensor can include one of a piezoelectric generator for producing a voltage output and a circuit input by the voltage output or an accelerometer having a locking member for locking a proof mass during periods of impact with the one or more hardened bunkers.

Hardened target sensors and systems are described herein. An example system includes a projectile defining an ogive, a body, and a base. The body of the projectile is arranged between the ogive and the base. The system includes a sensor assembly including a nose member and a plurality of strain gauges. The nose member defines a nose portion, a shaft, portion, and a threaded portion. The strain gauges are attached to the shaft portion. The system includes a shroud member, which is mechanically coupled with the sensor assembly and the body. The system further includes a smart fuze arranged within the body. The smart fuze is operably coupled to the strain gauges. The strain gauges measure the compression/tension of the shaft portion, which is part of the nose member. The load measured by the strain gauges can be used to detect hardened target layers and/or voids.

Hardened target sensors and systems are described herein. An example system includes a projectile defining an ogive, a body, and a base. The body of the projectile is arranged between the ogive and the base. The system includes a sensor assembly including a nose member and a plurality of strain gauges. The nose member defines a nose portion, a shaft, portion, and a threaded portion. The strain gauges are attached to the shaft portion. The system includes a shroud member, which is mechanically coupled with the sensor assembly and the body. The system further includes a smart fuze arranged within the body. The smart fuze is operably coupled to the strain gauges. The strain gauges measure the compression/tension of the shaft portion, which is part of the nose member. The load measured by the strain gauges can be used to detect hardened target layers and/or voids.

A passive impact sensor for a projectile configured to explode, destroy with kinetic energy, embed or pass through an object with a closing velocity greater than 1,000 m/s. The passive impact sensor includes an energy generating system comprised of a crystalline structure that stores latent polarized electrical energy. The crystalline structure is responsive to an impact generated shock wave that propagates at least partially through the crystalline structure to consume and depolarize the crystalline structure and release at least a portion of the stored energy to generate a voltage pulse across output terminals. An onboard antenna is configured to transmit an RF pulse responsive to the voltage pulse (direct or integrated) external to the impact sensor (and projectile) before the sensor is destroyed by the shock wave. Multiple energy generating systems can be positioned either together or fore and aft and their voltage pulses summed to transmit the RF pulse. The benefits of this device include the ability to determine impact force, impact velocity, impact angle, target mass, target density, and direct or glancing impact.

A passive impact sensor for a projectile configured to explode, destroy with kinetic energy, embed or pass through an object with a closing velocity greater than 1,000 m/s. The passive impact sensor includes an energy generating system comprised of a crystalline structure that stores latent polarized electrical energy. The crystalline structure is responsive to an impact generated shock wave that propagates at least partially through the crystalline structure to consume and depolarize the crystalline structure and release at least a portion of the stored energy to generate a voltage pulse across output terminals. An onboard antenna is configured to transmit an RF pulse responsive to the voltage pulse (direct or integrated) external to the impact sensor (and projectile) before the sensor is destroyed by the shock wave. Multiple energy generating systems can be positioned either together or fore and aft and their voltage pulses summed to transmit the RF pulse. The benefits of this device include the ability to determine impact force, impact velocity, impact angle, target mass, target density, and direct or glancing impact.