A captive piston projectile (40) comprising a payload housing (43), a piston assembly attached to the payload housing (43), and actuation means (46) for urging the piston assembly from a stowed configuration to an extended configuration. The piston assembly comprises a tubular piston member (41) attached around the periphery of the payload housing (43), the attachment optionally being in the form of a circumferential groove (42) within which the piston member (41) can slide. This provides increased thrust whilst maintaining payload volume. Particularly suited to use with barrelled weapons, and also relates to a method of manufacture.

A caseless cartridge with a projectile, a propellant, and an ignition source. The ignition source is configured to ignite the propellant in response to an activation of the firearm. The propellant is molded around the projectile and is configured to propel the projectile from the firearm upon ignition. When the firearm is activated, the propellant is consumed, and the projectile and the ignition source are discharged from the firearm. The projectile has a bullet, an ignition housing, and a shaft. The bullet is positioned on a leading end of the projectile, while the ignition housing is positioned on a trailing end opposite the leading end. The shaft extends between the projectile and the ignition housing. The projectile may also have a plurality of fins to stabilize the projectile during flight and a plurality of ignition ports. The ignition source may ignite the propellant through the plurality of ignition ports.

A caseless cartridge with a projectile, a propellant, and an ignition source. The ignition source is configured to ignite the propellant in response to an activation of the firearm. The propellant is molded around the projectile and is configured to propel the projectile from the firearm upon ignition. When the firearm is activated, the propellant is consumed, and the projectile and the ignition source are discharged from the firearm. The projectile has a bullet, an ignition housing, and a shaft. The bullet is positioned on a leading end of the projectile, while the ignition housing is positioned on a trailing end opposite the leading end. The shaft extends between the projectile and the ignition housing. The projectile may also have a plurality of fins to stabilize the projectile during flight and a plurality of ignition ports. The ignition source may ignite the propellant through the plurality of ignition ports.

A launcher system includes a launcher having a sealed breech and a barrel adapted to receive a projectile with a charge of propellant and a mechanism to vary the launch velocity by selectively controlling the propellant gases vented out of the projectile and into the barrel. A collar can be repositioned through rotation or sliding movement to selectively allow propellant gases to vent out of the barrel or stop propellant gases from venting out of the barrel. When the collar is in a closed or non-venting configuration, propellant gasses build-up pressure behind the projectile, resulting in a relatively high launch velocity and, when the collar is in the open or venting configuration, a relatively low launch velocity is produced. A sliding breech face and energy-absorbing plug can also be provided to further decrease launch velocity.

A launcher system includes a launcher having a sealed breech and a barrel adapted to receive a projectile with a charge of propellant and a mechanism to vary the launch velocity by selectively controlling the propellant gases vented out of the projectile and into the barrel. A collar can be repositioned through rotation or sliding movement to selectively allow propellant gases to vent out of the barrel or stop propellant gases from venting out of the barrel. When the collar is in a closed or non-venting configuration, propellant gasses build-up pressure behind the projectile, resulting in a relatively high launch velocity and, when the collar is in the open or venting configuration, a relatively low launch velocity is produced. A sliding breech face and energy-absorbing plug can also be provided to further decrease launch velocity.

A launcher system includes a launcher having a sealed breech and a barrel adapted to receive a projectile with a charge of propellant and a mechanism to vary the launch velocity by selectively controlling the propellant gases vented out of the projectile and into the barrel. A collar can be repositioned through rotation or sliding movement to selectively allow propellant gases to vent out of the barrel or stop propellant gases from venting out of the barrel. When the collar is in a closed or non-venting configuration, propellant gasses build-up pressure behind the projectile, resulting in a relatively high launch velocity and, when the collar is in the open or venting configuration, a relatively low launch velocity is produced. A sliding breech face and energy-absorbing plug can also be provided to further decrease launch velocity.

A launcher system includes a launcher having a sealed breech and a barrel adapted to receive a projectile with a charge of propellant and a mechanism to vary the launch velocity by selectively controlling the propellant gases vented out of the projectile and into the barrel. A collar can be repositioned through rotation or sliding movement to selectively allow propellant gases to vent out of the barrel or stop propellant gases from venting out of the barrel. When the collar is in a closed or non-venting configuration, propellant gasses build-up pressure behind the projectile, resulting in a relatively high launch velocity and, when the collar is in the open or venting configuration, a relatively low launch velocity is produced. A sliding breech face and energy-absorbing plug can also be provided to further decrease launch velocity.

A caseless cartridge including a projectile. A bullet is positioned on a leading end of the projectile and sized to exit a firearm through a barrel of the firearm. An ignition housing is positioned on a trailing end of the projectile opposite the leading end. An ignition source is positioned within the ignition housing. A hollow shaft extends between the bullet and the ignition housing and joins the bullet to the ignition housing. A plurality of ignition ports extend through a wall of the shaft and through the ignition housing. An interior of the shaft is fluidly coupled to an interior of the ignition housing. The ignition source is configured to ignite a propellant through the plurality of ignition ports in response to an activation of the firearm. When the firearm is activated, each component of the caseless cartridge is either consumed or discharged from the firearm through the barrel.

A caseless cartridge including a projectile. A bullet is positioned on a leading end of the projectile and sized to exit a firearm through a barrel of the firearm. An ignition housing is positioned on a trailing end of the projectile opposite the leading end. An ignition source is positioned within the ignition housing. A hollow shaft extends between the bullet and the ignition housing and joins the bullet to the ignition housing. A plurality of ignition ports extend through a wall of the shaft and through the ignition housing. An interior of the shaft is fluidly coupled to an interior of the ignition housing. The ignition source is configured to ignite a propellant through the plurality of ignition ports in response to an activation of the firearm. When the firearm is activated, each component of the caseless cartridge is either consumed or discharged from the firearm through the barrel.