Embodiments are directed to a density gradient booster pellet having a proximal end, a distal end, and a central longitudinal axis spanning from the proximal end to the distal end. The density gradient booster has a plurality of density zones from the proximal end to the distal end. The proximal end is in adjacent contact with an insensitive explosive fill.

A device for the controlled initiation of a subdetonative reaction of an explosive charge arranged in a shell includes at least one explosive charge core extending in a region of a longitudinal axis of the explosive charge. A transverse dimension of the explosive charge core is adaptable to a radial extent of the shell in a longitudinal direction of the explosive charge, while a charging of the explosive charge core is set homogeneously or locally variably over a length of the explosive charge core with respect to a type of explosive material.

A very high brisance metal powder explosive is created by including a multitude of hollow aluminum/aluminum oxide micro-particle shells deposited within a high explosive composition matrix. The interior of such micro-particle shells may contain air, nitrogen, other gases, combinations thereof, or possibly even be a vacuum. The invention might be used on warheads that are fragmentation warheads, explosively formed penetrators, air blast warheads, shaped charge jets of shaped charge warheads, or other high explosive-driven devices.

An insensitive munitions (IM) primer for use with major caliber gun systems, including an elongate housing, a tube, an ignition assembly, and a booster assembly. The elongate housing has a proximal end and a distal end. The tube has a first end coupled within the distal end of the elongate housing. The ignition assembly is located within the proximal end of the housing. The booster assembly is located within the elongate housing adjacent the ignition assembly and including a booster holder providing a cylindrical structure defining an internal bore in which a first burst disk resides and is mechanically restrained by a booster disk lock.

An integrated propulsion and warhead system for an artillery round includes a propulsion, such as a solid rocket motor and/or an air-breathing jet engine, and an annular explosive concentrically arranged around at least a portion of the propulsion system. The integrated propulsion and warhead system is included in a propulsion section of the artillery round so that space in an adjacent guidance section is increased and the space allocation for the propulsion system and annular explosive is optimized.

A low-cost, reliable and easy to use kit for neutralizing surface exposed landmine and unexploded ordnance for humanitarian demining is based on a liquid fuel and a solid/soluble fuel. Both fuels are premeasured in separate, sealed containers. The addition of a small quantity of solid/soluble fuel into the liquid creates an explosive. The resulting mixture is capable of detonating with a standard No. 8 blasting cap. The solid/soluble fuel can be in the form of a powder, tablet, or its saturated solution in water. The solid/soluble fuel is hexamethylenetetramine. The liquid fuel, nitromethane, is provided in premeasured quantities. User is provided instructions for choosing the appropriate quantity of liquid fuel, the corresponding solid/soluble fuel required, the method of mixing, placement and detonation of the kits. Also disclosed is a simple wooden stand to hold the bottle of explosive in place. A special fuel, liquid 2-ethylhexylnitrate, is provided to desensitize the mixed and sensitized explosive.

A warhead device of an ordnance including a body of a high strength material, where the body includes a plurality of depressions; an explosive material, where the explosive material fills the body; and a plurality of reactive materials, where each reactive material fills a corresponding depression of the plurality of depressions on the body. The high strength material is configured to endure an internal stress, a first stress caused by the plurality of reactive materials, and a second stress caused by another component of the ordnance. The internal stress, the first stress, and the second stress are in response to acceleration of the ordnance.

A method of selectively increasing the sensitivity of an insensitive munition by inducing porosity or Joule heating in munitions assembly comprising a power source, an explosive apparatus and a fuze apparatus wherein the explosive apparatus contains a sensitized main explosive composition comprising a secondary explosive and a sensitizing agent. As a result, the otherwise insensitive munition is rendered sensitive to a propagating wave shock by approximately 10 to 25%. To this end, a voltage is applied across the main conductive explosive composition within the insensitive munition. Voltages above certain thresholds cause the decomposition of the explosive material or conductive binder, which leads to an increase in porosity, and therefore the shock sensitivity.

A fragmentation munition has a fragmentation canister containing preformed fragments, and an explosive cartridge that fits into a central hole in the fragmentation canister. The explosive cartridge includes an outer shell, and an explosive within the outer shell. The munition may be configured to precisely deliver fragments to a relatively small area, such as an area that is a few meters in radius. Toward that end the explosive may be configured primarily to rupture the housing and secondarily to spread fragments over a limited area. The main kinetic energy of the fragments is from the acceleration they gain as part of the munition falls from a launcher, such as a carrier aircraft. The dispersed fragments may have a similar downward velocity after controlled dispersal by the explosive, allowing them considerable kinetic energy (considerable penetrating power), but with a precisely controlled dispersal area.

The present disclosure generally relates to an improved penetrator design and associated arming generator relocator adaptor. In some embodiments, the arming generator relocator adaptor is positioned external to the penetrator, thereby removing the need to mount the FZU inside the warhead or include traditional internal plumbing. The arming generator relocator adaptor allows the FZU to be rotated to an optimal position to arm the penetrator. While the improved penetrator design and arming generator relocator adaptor can be used independently of each other, in the preferred embodiment, they are utilized together.