A projectile propulsion system comprises a housing defining a chamber, a propulsive charge including a propulsive charge material loadable into the chamber, a projectile loadable into the chamber proximate to the propulsive charge material, an electric pulse discharge subsystem that provides an electric pulse having a specified pulse amperage for a specified pulse period, a current delivery subsystem electrically connecting the electric pulse discharge subsystem to the chamber to deliver the electric pulse to the propulsive charge material, wherein the specified pulse amperage and the specified pulse period are sufficient to cause at least a portion of the propulsive charge material to generate a propulsive force that is at least partially directed onto the projectile to drive the projectile out of the chamber, and a barrel in fluid communication with the chamber configured to receive the projectile as it is driven from the chamber.

An electronic initiator unit for the electrical firing of a charge in an energetic device is described. The unit includes an actuation module comprising electrically in series a first conductor, an electronic actuator, and a second conductor; an engagement module including a first electrical connector conductively connected to the first conductor and defining a first connector contact portion spaced remotely from the first conductor and a second electrical connector conductively connected to the second conductor and defining a second connector contact portion spaced remotely from the second conductor; a shunt module including a first shunt connector defining a first shunt contact portion, a second shunt connector defining a second shunt contact portion, and a conductive shunt connection between the first and second shunt connector spaced remotely from the shunt contact portions; wherein the engagement module and the shunt module are co-operably configured so as to be engageable together such as to effect when so engaged an electrical connection between the first connector contact portion and the first shunt contact portion and between the second connector contact portion and the second shunt contact portion. A system and method for the electrical firing of a charge in a plurality of energetic devices in a controlled manner from a remote location are also described.

An interruptible electronic trigger system for firearms includes a trigger unit comprising an electromagnetic actuator operably coupled to the firing mechanism and a programmable trigger microcontroller. The actuator is changeable between a non-powered unactuated position and powered actuated firing position. Upon detecting user initiated trigger activity, the trigger microcontroller transmits a shot initiated signal to an adaptive optics unit of a fire control targeting system mounted to the firearm when the trigger activity exceeds a preprogrammed trigger setpoint. A targeting microcontroller returns a shot authorization signal to the trigger microcontroller after performing ballistics computations based on sensor input and displaying a corrected reticle on the optics unit sight for user visual alignment with the target. Multiple trigger setpoints may be programmed to confirm continued intent to fire. The trigger microcontroller may deactivate the actuator and permit manual firing when preprogrammed maximum trigger force/displacement limits are exceeded.

Implementations of an accessory mount for a machine gun spade grip are provided. A machine gun spade grip includes twin handles that are disposed on opposite sides of, and adjacent to, a thumb pad trigger mechanism for a firearm, a machine gun in particular. The accessory mount is attached to the upper arm of the spade grip, adjacent one of the twin handles. One or more control devices (or remote switches), used to operate weapon-mounted electrical accessories, can be attached to the accessory mount. An example accessory mount for a machine gun spade grip comprises: a bridge member having a top and a bottom, the top of the bridge member includes a mounting interface and the bottom of the bridge member includes a cutout adapted to receive a portion of a spade grip arm therein; and a clamp member removably attached to the bottom of the bridge member.

A firearm has a trigger shield that is a protective loop surrounding a first and second switch of the firearm and the switches actuate the function of the firearm when activated by a finger to start the firing process. The first switch is on a first side of the protective loop and the second switch is on a second side of the protective loop. The protective loop is vertically aligned having the first and second switches on respective shorter sides of the protective loop. The firearm further has a first emitter mounted on the trigger shield that propagates a first light beam to a first receiver mounted on an opposite side of the trigger shield and a second emitter mounted on the trigger shield that propagates a second light beam to a second receiver mounted on an opposite side of the trigger shield. When a finger depresses one of the switches, his/her finger is blocking the light beam and the firearm will not activate and when the finger is moved away from the light beam, the firearm discharges.

A firearm has a trigger shield that is a protective loop surrounding a first and second switch of the firearm and the switches actuate the function of the firearm when activated by a finger to start the firing process. The first switch is on a first side of the protective loop and the second switch is on a second side of the protective loop. The protective loop is vertically aligned having the first and second switches on respective shorter sides of the protective loop. The firearm further has a first emitter mounted on the trigger shield that propagates a first light beam to a first receiver mounted on an opposite side of the trigger shield and a second emitter mounted on the trigger shield that propagates a second light beam to a second receiver mounted on an opposite side of the trigger shield. When a finger depresses one of the switches, his/her finger is blocking the light beam and the firearm will not activate and when the finger is moved away from the light beam, the firearm discharges.

A firearm has a trigger shield configured as a protective loop surrounding at least one switch and the at least one switch actuates the function of the firearm when activated by a finger to start the firing process. The firearm further has at least one receiver, at least one position beam emanating horizontally that determines a position of a finger by the finger blocking or not blocking the position beam, and at least one emitter that propagates a beam of light, the beam of light incident on the at least one receiver. Further, when a finger activates the switch, the firearm activates, and when the finger breaks the beam of light, the firearm discharges.

A firearm has a trigger shield configured as a protective loop surrounding at least one switch and the at least one switch actuates the function of the firearm when activated by a finger to start the firing process. The firearm further has at least one receiver, at least one position beam emanating horizontally that determines a position of a finger by the finger blocking or not blocking the position beam, and at least one emitter that propagates a beam of light, the beam of light incident on the at least one receiver. Further, when a finger activates the switch, the firearm activates, and when the finger breaks the beam of light, the firearm discharges.

A firearm has a trigger shield configured as a protective loop surrounding a first and second switch of the firearm. Each switch actuates the function of the firearm when activated by a finger to start the firing process. The first switch is on a first side of the protective loop and the second switch is on a second side of the protective loop. Further, the firearm has an emitter mounted on the trigger shield that propagates a light beam to a receiver mounted on an opposite side of the trigger shield. When a finger depresses one of the switches, his/her finger is blocking the light beam and the firearm will not activate and when the finger is moved away from the light beam, the firearm discharges.

A firearm has a trigger shield configured as a protective loop surrounding a first and second switch of the firearm. Each switch actuates the function of the firearm when activated by a finger to start the firing process. The first switch is on a first side of the protective loop and the second switch is on a second side of the protective loop. Further, the firearm has an emitter mounted on the trigger shield that propagates a light beam to a receiver mounted on an opposite side of the trigger shield. When a finger depresses one of the switches, his/her finger is blocking the light beam and the firearm will not activate and when the finger is moved away from the light beam, the firearm discharges.