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.

Provided is a barrel insert for use with a barrel containing a plurality of axially stacked projectiles. The barrel insert has a proximal and a distal end, the distal end adapted to engage a proximally disposed projectile disposed in the barrel. The barrel insert also defines an expansion volume for propellant gases for launching the proximally disposed projectile at a predetermined velocity.

Herein we describe shotgun shells each having a degradable wad comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer, as well as methods for ensuring that such wad degrades quickly after landing in an aquatic environment. Plastic, aquatic debris has a negative economic and ecological impact, and thus it is advantageous to use implements that will degrade into environmentally benign compounds. Incorporating a degradable wad into shotgun shells provides an effective, economical solution. Suitable degradable shotgun wads and methods are described herein.

Herein we describe shotgun shells each having a degradable wad comprising a polyhydroxyalkanoate polymer, as well as methods for ensuring that such wad degrades quickly after landing in an aquatic environment. Plastic, aquatic debris has a negative economic and ecological impact, and thus it is advantageous to use implements that will degrade into environmentally benign compounds. Incorporating a degradable wad into shotgun shells provides an effective, economical solution. Suitable degradable shotgun wads and methods are described herein.

A cassette for deploying one or more entangling projectiles includes a pair of sockets, each socket being in fluid communication with a pressure source. An entangling projectile includes a pair of anchors connected by a tether, each of the pair of anchors being positionable within one of the sockets and the tether being carried by the cassette. Each socket carries a slidable piston positionable in a respective socket between an entangling projectile and the pressure source such that each slidable piston is propelled along a respective socket in response to a pressure wave generated by the pressure source to thereby expel the anchor from the socket. Each of a pair of retaining clips is engageable with an anchor and with a socket to aid in retaining the respective anchor in the respective socket prior to generation of the pressure wave.

A cassette for deploying one or more entangling projectiles includes a pair of sockets, each socket being in fluid communication with a pressure source. An entangling projectile includes a pair of anchors connected by a tether, each of the pair of anchors being positionable within one of the sockets and the tether being carried by the cassette. Each socket carries a slidable piston positionable in a respective socket between an entangling projectile and the pressure source such that each slidable piston is propelled along a respective socket in response to a pressure wave generated by the pressure source to thereby expel the anchor from the socket. Each of a pair of retaining clips is engageable with an anchor and with a socket to aid in retaining the respective anchor in the respective socket prior to generation of the pressure wave.

A multi-part projectile accelerator to be used in the single or multiple projectile mode, constructed of the hollow and tubular body which may either self-disconnect, once the projectile leaves the barrel, or stay with the projectile for the duration of the flight; which may also include the ring member designed to fit into the grooves of the rifled barrel in order to assist in maintaining the rotation of an accelerator.

A multi-part projectile accelerator to be used in the single or multiple projectile mode, constructed of the hollow and tubular body which may either self-disconnect, once the projectile leaves the barrel, or stay with the projectile for the duration of the flight; which may also include the ring member designed to fit into the grooves of the rifled barrel in order to assist in maintaining the rotation of an accelerator.

A cassette for deploying one or more anchors can include at least one socket in fluid communication with a pressure source and at least one anchor being positionable within the at least one socket. At least one slidable piston can be positionable in the at least one socket between the anchor and the pressure source such that the slidable piston is propelled along the socket in response to a pressure wave generated by the pressure source to thereby expel the anchor from the socket. The slidable piston can include a first, relatively rigid component coupled to a second, relatively pliable component. A portion of the piston can be seated in intimate contact with a portion of the anchor when the anchor and piston are positioned within the socket.

A cassette for deploying one or more anchors can include at least one socket in fluid communication with a pressure source and at least one anchor being positionable within the at least one socket. At least one slidable piston can be positionable in the at least one socket between the anchor and the pressure source such that the slidable piston is propelled along the socket in response to a pressure wave generated by the pressure source to thereby expel the anchor from the socket. The slidable piston can include a first, relatively rigid component coupled to a second, relatively pliable component. A portion of the piston can be seated in intimate contact with a portion of the anchor when the anchor and piston are positioned within the socket.