A plasma generator is provided for initiation of propellant charges in a weapons system, for example when launching projectiles from a barrel weapon, by electrical discharge between a rear electrode and a front electrode in a combustion chamber channel enclosed in a combustion chamber body and filled with filling gas, designed to ignite at least one propellant charge. An ammunition unit and a launching device including the plasma generator are also provided.

A plasma generator is provided for initiation of propellant charges in a weapons system, for example when launching projectiles from a barrel weapon, by electrical discharge between a rear electrode and a front electrode in a combustion chamber channel enclosed in a combustion chamber body and filled with filling gas, designed to ignite at least one propellant charge. An ammunition unit and a launching device including the plasma generator are also provided.

A smart round of ammunition includes a casing, a primer disposed at a bottom portion of the casing, a projectile mounted at a top portion of the casing and a propellant disposed within an interior portion of the casing between the projectile and primer. The primer includes a piezo generator transducing a mechanical force received at a firing pin portion of the primer into a stored charge, a switch coupling and decoupling a spark gap between the stored charge and the propellant, and a wireless sensor activating the switch responsive to a digital signal received from a component external to the casing. The activation permits a discharge of the stored charge into the spark gap and therefore detonates the propellant.

A smart round of ammunition includes a casing, a primer disposed at a bottom portion of the casing, a projectile mounted at a top portion of the casing and a propellant disposed within an interior portion of the casing between the projectile and primer. The primer includes a piezo generator transducing a mechanical force received at a firing pin portion of the primer into a stored charge, a switch coupling and decoupling a spark gap between the stored charge and the propellant, and a wireless sensor activating the switch responsive to a digital signal received from a component external to the casing. The activation permits a discharge of the stored charge into the spark gap and therefore detonates the propellant.

Microwave ignition systems with a launcher affixed to or located within a gun spindle. Use of a planar, impedance matched system that include a launcher affixed to or located within a gun spindle and a receiver affixed the propelling charge, where the receiver is engineered and impedance matched to efficiently deposit energy into the receiving igniter material, may result in significantly better timing and reliability than conventional mechanical gun ignition systems and other microwave ignition systems. A pressure-tolerant feed through system can route the microwave energy to the inside of the breech.

Microwave ignition systems with a launcher affixed to or located within a gun spindle. Use of a planar, impedance matched system that include a launcher affixed to or located within a gun spindle and a receiver affixed the propelling charge, where the receiver is engineered and impedance matched to efficiently deposit energy into the receiving igniter material, may result in significantly better timing and reliability than conventional mechanical gun ignition systems and other microwave ignition systems. A pressure-tolerant feed through system can route the microwave energy to the inside of the breech.

A firearm with electronic firing mechanism has a frame including a barrel chambered for a conventionally primed cartridge, a bolt operably connected to the frame and having a bolt face facing the chamber and defining a bolt face aperture, an electrode connected to the bolt and having a tip received in the bolt face aperture and facing the chamber, the tip being configured to contact a primer of a centerfire cartridge received in the chamber when the bolt is in a battery condition, the electrode being electrically isolated from the bolt and from the frame, an electric power delivery facility having a first connection to the electrode and a second connection to at least one of the barrel, the bolt and the frame, a trigger operably connected to the electric power delivery facility, and the electric power delivery facility operable such that the primer discharges the centerfire cartridge.

A firearm with electronic firing mechanism has a frame including a barrel chambered for a conventionally primed cartridge, a bolt operably connected to the frame and having a bolt face facing the chamber and defining a bolt face aperture, an electrode connected to the bolt and having a tip received in the bolt face aperture and facing the chamber, the tip being configured to contact a primer of a centerfire cartridge received in the chamber when the bolt is in a battery condition, the electrode being electrically isolated from the bolt and from the frame, an electric power delivery facility having a first connection to the electrode and a second connection to at least one of the barrel, the bolt and the frame, a trigger operably connected to the electric power delivery facility, and the electric power delivery facility operable such that the primer discharges the centerfire cartridge.

A plasma generator is provided for initiation of propellant charges in a weapons system, for example when launching projectiles from a barrel weapon, by electrical discharge between a rear electrode and a front electrode in a combustion chamber channel enclosed in a combustion chamber body and filled with filling gas, designed to ignite at least one propellant charge. An ammunition unit and a launching device including the plasma generator are also provided.

A plasma generator is provided for initiation of propellant charges in a weapons system, for example when launching projectiles from a barrel weapon, by electrical discharge between a rear electrode and a front electrode in a combustion chamber channel enclosed in a combustion chamber body and filled with filling gas, designed to ignite at least one propellant charge. An ammunition unit and a launching device including the plasma generator are also provided.