A method of increasing the performance of an aircraft, missile, munition or ground vehicle with plasma actuators, and more particularly of controlling fluid flow across their surfaces or other surfaces which would benefit from such a method, includes the design of an aerodynamic plasma actuator for the purpose of controlling airflow separation over a control surface of a aircraft, missile, or a ground vehicle, and a method of determining a modulation frequency for the plasma actuator for the purpose of fluid flow control over these vehicles. Various embodiments provide steps to increase the efficiency of aircraft, missiles, munitions and ground vehicles. The method of flow control reduces the power requirements of the aircraft, missile, munition or ground vehicle. These methods also provide alternative aerodynamic control using low-power hingeless plasma actuator devices.

A bullet including a drag-reducing assembly provided about its main body, and configured for being triggered upon a blast from a cartridge, in order to reduce a resulting base drag of the bullet during flight trajectory. The drag-reducing assembly includes at least one cavity being configured for receiving and containing a portion of gun gas from the cartridge and corresponding blast, and at least one peripheral orifice for releasing gun gas from the at least one cavity during the flight trajectory of the bullet, in order to fill a partial vacuum behind the bullet during flight trajectory, and thus reduce the resulting base drag, for an improved overall ballistic performance of the bullet.

A bullet including a drag-reducing assembly provided about its main body, and configured for being triggered upon a blast from a cartridge, in order to reduce a resulting base drag of the bullet during flight trajectory. The drag-reducing assembly includes at least one cavity being configured for receiving and containing a portion of gun gas from the cartridge and corresponding blast, and at least one peripheral orifice for releasing gun gas from the at least one cavity during the flight trajectory of the bullet, in order to fill a partial vacuum behind the bullet during flight trajectory, and thus reduce the resulting base drag, for an improved overall ballistic performance of the bullet.

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.

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.

An extended range, enhanced lethality 40 mm ammunition round. The round features controlled guidance and camera front end, which can be fired as fin stabilized with no appreciable spin, from an M320 grenade launcher. The round has a launching sleeve with an oversized propellant cup, to essentially double or triple conventional range, with sharp accuracy provided by the guidance system.

A streamlined projectile is disclosed that includes a base or rear having a plurality of concentric sections located within each other at the aft of the projectile and in successively smaller sizes. Within each concentric section is a chamber having a wall perpendicular to expanding combustion gasses, with the total area of these walls being greater than an area of the rear of the projectile itself. This creates a larger projectile base for a propellant to push against and for that explosion to be held within the section chamber for a longer period than that of a standard boattail or flat-tail projectile. In addition, the concentric sections at least partially negate atmospheric drag by occupying the region behind the projectile where a partial vacuum forms, resulting in a projectile that will go faster and further for a given propellant charge.

A streamlined projectile is disclosed that includes a base or rear having a plurality of concentric sections located within each other at the aft of the projectile and in successively smaller sizes. Within each concentric section is a chamber having a wall perpendicular to expanding combustion gasses, with the total area of these walls being greater than an area of the rear of the projectile itself. This creates a larger projectile base for a propellant to push against and for that explosion to be held within the section chamber for a longer period than that of a standard boattail or flat-tail projectile. In addition, the concentric sections at least partially negate atmospheric drag by occupying the region behind the projectile where a partial vacuum forms, resulting in a projectile that will go faster and further for a given propellant charge.

A projectile system has a projectile with a metal body having a first outside diameter, a forward end and a rearward end, a plastic base wad engaged at the rearward end, the plastic base wad of solid plastic having a first length and a second outside diameter, greater than the first outside diameter, and a rifled barrel having a third inside diameter at the tips of the rifling, the third inside diameter greater than the first outside diameter but less than the second outside diameter, and a fourth diameter at the root of the rifling greater than the second outside diameter. With the projectile translating along the rifled barrel, the metal body passes inside the rifling, avoiding metal to metal friction, while the plastic base wad fully engages the rifling, imparting rotation to the metal projectile.

A projectile system has a projectile with a metal body having a first outside diameter, a forward end and a rearward end, a plastic base wad engaged at the rearward end, the plastic base wad of solid plastic having a first length and a second outside diameter, greater than the first outside diameter, and a rifled barrel having a third inside diameter at the tips of the rifling, the third inside diameter greater than the first outside diameter but less than the second outside diameter, and a fourth diameter at the root of the rifling greater than the second outside diameter. With the projectile translating along the rifled barrel, the metal body passes inside the rifling, avoiding metal to metal friction, while the plastic base wad fully engages the rifling, imparting rotation to the metal projectile.