F42B12/04

Small smart weapon and weapon system employing the same
10458766 · 2019-10-29 · ·

A weapon and weapon system, and methods of manufacturing and operating the same. In one embodiment, the weapon includes a warhead including destructive elements and a guidance section with a seeker configured to guide the weapon to a target. The seeker includes a detector configured to receive a distorted signal impinging on an objective lens from the target, memory configured to store target criteria and a correction map, and a processor configured to provide a correction signal based on the distorted signal, the target criteria and the correction map to guide the weapon to the target.

Armor-piercing projectile
10436557 · 2019-10-08 · ·

A projectile for piercing armor includes an outer jacket built around a penetrator assembly. The penetrator assembly includes an inner jacket, a penetrator, and an incendiary charge. The inner jacket includes a leading part and a trailing part. The incendiary charge is carried by the leading part of the inner jacket. The penetrator is made of an armor-piercing material and includes an armor-piercing leading extremity, a trailing extremity, and an outer surface. The armor-piercing leading extremity extends into the trailing part of the inner jacket, and the inner jacket bears against the outer surface of the penetrator between the armor-piercing leading extremity and the trailing extremity. An empty space within the inner jacket is between the armor-piercing leading extremity of the penetrator and the incendiary charge.

Armor-piercing projectile
10436557 · 2019-10-08 · ·

A projectile for piercing armor includes an outer jacket built around a penetrator assembly. The penetrator assembly includes an inner jacket, a penetrator, and an incendiary charge. The inner jacket includes a leading part and a trailing part. The incendiary charge is carried by the leading part of the inner jacket. The penetrator is made of an armor-piercing material and includes an armor-piercing leading extremity, a trailing extremity, and an outer surface. The armor-piercing leading extremity extends into the trailing part of the inner jacket, and the inner jacket bears against the outer surface of the penetrator between the armor-piercing leading extremity and the trailing extremity. An empty space within the inner jacket is between the armor-piercing leading extremity of the penetrator and the incendiary charge.

Penetrator munition with enhanced fragmentation

A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or reinforced building or other structure, with the penetrator casing having reduced-thickness portions. The reduced-thickness portions provide weak points to the casing that facilitate the casing being transformed into fragments of a desired size/quantity when an explosive within the casing is detonated after the penetration occurs, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the munition. In addition, the warhead may have lethality-enhancing materials, such as additional fragments and/or energetic materials, at the reduced-thickness portions of the penetrator casing. The reduced-thickness portions may be holes, such as longitudinal holes, in the casing, or may be grooves on an inner and/or outer surface of the casing. The munition may be a dual-use munition, with the explosive able to be detonated at a burst height for use of the warhead as a non-penetrating area fragmentation weapon.

Penetrator munition with enhanced fragmentation

A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or reinforced building or other structure, with the penetrator casing having reduced-thickness portions. The reduced-thickness portions provide weak points to the casing that facilitate the casing being transformed into fragments of a desired size/quantity when an explosive within the casing is detonated after the penetration occurs, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the munition. In addition, the warhead may have lethality-enhancing materials, such as additional fragments and/or energetic materials, at the reduced-thickness portions of the penetrator casing. The reduced-thickness portions may be holes, such as longitudinal holes, in the casing, or may be grooves on an inner and/or outer surface of the casing. The munition may be a dual-use munition, with the explosive able to be detonated at a burst height for use of the warhead as a non-penetrating area fragmentation weapon.

Munitions with increased initial velocity projectile
10302402 · 2019-05-28 ·

A cartridge casing having an open neck at one axial end and a closed rear portion at the other axial end to form an interior cavity for propellant. A projectile within the open neck to seal the cavity so the bullet is released when the propellant is primed and ignited. The projectile has a proximate end releasably secured within the neck of the casing facing the cavity and exposed to the forces generated by ignited propellant. The remote end of the projectile is formed by a lead core while the proximate end has a transverse surface and is at least partially formed of an amorphous metallic alloy having properties of bulk metallic glass (BMG). Liquid metal alloy can also be used at the interface of a propellant chamber in a bore of a cannon and a cartridge-free projectile.

Munition with outer enclosure

A munition may include a warhead, such as a penetrator warhead, enclosed in airframe. The airframe may enable connection to standard mountings, and/or to standard nose kits or tail kits. The airframe may have preformed fragments in it, packed between the airframe and the warhead. The preformed fragments may be loose, may be packed in a potting material, or may be in flexible bags. The fragments may enhance performance of the munition. The warhead may also contain preformed fragments.

Munition with outer enclosure

A munition may include a warhead, such as a penetrator warhead, enclosed in airframe. The airframe may enable connection to standard mountings, and/or to standard nose kits or tail kits. The airframe may have preformed fragments in it, packed between the airframe and the warhead. The preformed fragments may be loose, may be packed in a potting material, or may be in flexible bags. The fragments may enhance performance of the munition. The warhead may also contain preformed fragments.

Munition with nose kit connecting to aft casing connector

A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or reinforced building or other structure. The penetrator casing has a relatively thick nose, and a relatively thin aft section extending back from the nose. A cable interface is in the aft section, and an electrical harness extends from the cable interface, external of the casing, and forward to a nose kit. The penetrator casing may have reduced-thickness portions, to provide weakness points to the casing that facilitate the casing being transformed into fragments of a semi-controlled and desirable size when an explosive within the casing is detonated after the penetration occurs, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the munition.

Munition with nose kit connecting to aft casing connector

A munition, such as a warhead, includes a penetrator casing for penetrating hard targets, such as a fortification or reinforced building or other structure. The penetrator casing has a relatively thick nose, and a relatively thin aft section extending back from the nose. A cable interface is in the aft section, and an electrical harness extends from the cable interface, external of the casing, and forward to a nose kit. The penetrator casing may have reduced-thickness portions, to provide weakness points to the casing that facilitate the casing being transformed into fragments of a semi-controlled and desirable size when an explosive within the casing is detonated after the penetration occurs, thus enhancing the effectiveness of the munition.