Various embodiments of optimized subsonic projectiles are provided. For example, one exemplary subsonic projectile can include an elliptical nose cone, a cylindrical body and a boattail with various design features that can be used in a subsonic ammunition cartridge where the subsonic projectile is stabile throughout at least a segment of a flight allowing for better accuracy, maintaining low drag, maximizing range and achieving desired performance while ensuring the projectile stays below the speed of sound and lowering a noise profile of projectile and a launcher firing the projectile.

Various embodiments of optimized subsonic projectiles are provided. For example, one exemplary subsonic projectile can include an elliptical nose cone, a cylindrical body and a boattail with various design features that can be used in a subsonic ammunition cartridge where the subsonic projectile is stabile throughout at least a segment of a flight allowing for better accuracy, maintaining low drag, maximizing range and achieving desired performance while ensuring the projectile stays below the speed of sound and lowering a noise profile of projectile and a launcher firing the projectile.

Methods involve using a guided munition (e.g., a mortar round or a grenade) that utilizes deployable flow effectors, activatable flow effectors and/or active flow control devices to extend the range and enhance the precision of traditional unguided munitions without increasing the charge needed for launch. Sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, IR sensors, rate gyros, and motor controller sensors feed signals into a controller which then actuates or deploys the flow effectors/flow control devices to achieve the enhanced characteristics.

Methods involve using a guided munition (e.g., a mortar round or a grenade) that utilizes deployable flow effectors, activatable flow effectors and/or active flow control devices to extend the range and enhance the precision of traditional unguided munitions without increasing the charge needed for launch. Sensors such as accelerometers, magnetometers, IR sensors, rate gyros, and motor controller sensors feed signals into a controller which then actuates or deploys the flow effectors/flow control devices to achieve the enhanced characteristics.

A cartridge with an expanding bullet that has advantageous terminal effects over an extended range. The expanding bullet including a bullet body including a metal jacket extending from a tail portion to a nose portion and surrounding an interior solid core and defining a forward opening and interior cavity. A tip has an exterior surface substantially flush with an exterior surface of the metal jacket. The tip has a main portion forward of the opening and a tip retention portion that at least partially fills the interior cavity. In certain embodiments the tip retention portion includes one or more fluid entry facilitation means such as a fracture regions configured to, upon impact of the bullet with a target, fracture or deform to expose one or more fluid pathways into the interior cavity and to a forward facing interior surface for initiating expansion of the expanding bullet.

A cartridge with an expanding bullet that has advantageous terminal effects over an extended range. The expanding bullet including a bullet body including a metal jacket extending from a tail portion to a nose portion and surrounding an interior solid core and defining a forward opening and interior cavity. A tip has an exterior surface substantially flush with an exterior surface of the metal jacket. The tip has a main portion forward of the opening and a tip retention portion that at least partially fills the interior cavity. In certain embodiments the tip retention portion includes one or more fluid entry facilitation means such as a fracture regions configured to, upon impact of the bullet with a target, fracture or deform to expose one or more fluid pathways into the interior cavity and to a forward facing interior surface for initiating expansion of the expanding bullet.

A method for making an improved projectile 360, 460 by defining a discontinuity, groove or trough in a distal ogive section of the projectile to provide an external ballistic. effect uniforming surface feature (e.g., nose ring groove 369, 469) which makes an unsupported gap in the ogive profile that beneficially affects the flow of air over the front half of the ogive. The improved bullet's external surface discontinuity feature (369 or 469) creates effects in the flowfield that dominate any dynamic effects from bullet-to bullet manufacturing inconsistency and resultant differences in dynamic behavior.

A method for making an improved projectile 360, 460 by defining a discontinuity, groove or trough in a distal ogive section of the projectile to provide an external ballistic. effect uniforming surface feature (e.g., nose ring groove 369, 469) which makes an unsupported gap in the ogive profile that beneficially affects the flow of air over the front half of the ogive. The improved bullet's external surface discontinuity feature (369 or 469) creates effects in the flowfield that dominate any dynamic effects from bullet-to bullet manufacturing inconsistency and resultant differences in dynamic behavior.

A projectile is provided for firing from a launcher, including an ogive nose; a cylindrical midsection joined to the nose; and a base curvature shaped as a modified aerospike nozzle. The aerospike base is created using a modified method of characteristics nozzle design process. The aerospike base allows for the efficient expansion of air behind the projectile to recover base pressure and reduce the overall drag of the projectile.

A projectile is provided for firing from a launcher, including an ogive nose; a cylindrical midsection joined to the nose; and a base curvature shaped as a modified aerospike nozzle. The aerospike base is created using a modified method of characteristics nozzle design process. The aerospike base allows for the efficient expansion of air behind the projectile to recover base pressure and reduce the overall drag of the projectile.