A method of modifying material properties of a fragmentation device, includes providing a fragmentation device with a first surface, a first section, a second section, a second surface spaced apart from the first surface, a third section, and a fourth section disposed between the first, second, and third sections. The method further includes positioning the fragmentation device within a carbon-rich environment, and absorbing carbon from the carbon-rich environment into the first and second surfaces of the fragmentation device. Additionally, the method further includes increasing a content of carbon at the first and second surfaces of 0.06 wt. % carbon to 1.0 wt. % carbon and maintaining an original content of carbon of 0.01 wt. % carbon to 0.05 wt. % carbon at the fourth section of the fragmentation device by controlling penetration of the carbon into the fourth section.

A munition includes a warhead having a warhead axis and axially opposed first and second warhead ends. The warhead includes: a tubular shock attenuation barrier including an axially extending passage extending from a first barrier end proximate the first warhead end to a second barrier end proximate the second warhead end; an explosive core charge disposed in the passage; an explosive main charge surrounding the shock attenuation barrier; projectiles surrounding the main charge; a core charge detonator; and a main charge detonator. The warhead is configured to be activated in each of a first projection mode and an alternative second projection mode. When the warhead is activated in the first projection mode, the main charge detonator detonates the main charge to thereby forcibly project the projectiles from the warhead with a first set of projection velocities and velocity profile. When the warhead is activated in the second projection mode, the core charge detonator detonates the core charge proximate the first barrier end such that a core charge detonation wave propagates through the passage to the second barrier end and, at the second barrier end, the core charge detonation wave detonates the main charge to thereby forcibly project the projectiles from the warhead with a second set of projection velocities and velocity profile. The second set of projectile velocities and velocity profile is different from the first set of projectile velocities and velocity profile.

The present invention provides a method of making a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge comprising the steps of: providing an ammunition cartridge mold comprising a bottom portion having a primer recess extending into the bottom portion adapted to receive a primer, a flash hole positioned in the primer recess through the bottom surface; side walls extending from the bottom portion to a nose end aperture, wherein a propellant chamber is formed between the nose end aperture and the bottom surface; injecting a metal composition into the ammunition cartridge mold to form a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge; and removing the metal injection molded ammunition cartridge from the ammunition cartridge mold.

Provided is a frangible munitions device optimized for a dome and cylinder that yields fragments having shapes corresponding to a predetermined embossment pattern upon explosive rupture. The embossment pattern includes a first set of inner regular hexagonal embossments formed into the dome and cylinder that are aligned with the axis of the cylinder, and a second set of outer pre-deformed hexagonal shapes that distort to produce regular hexagonal shapes after drawing into the cylinder wall. The second set of shapes are separated by sharp transition regions. The shapes are embossed in a repeated pattern around the hollow cylinder and the dome top. The dome yields a plurality of fragments having shapes corresponding to the first set of inner regular hexagonal embossments upon explosive rupture, while the cylinder yields a plurality of fragments having shapes corresponding to the second set of outer pre-deformed hexagonal embossments upon explosive rupture.

Provided is a frangible munitions device optimized for a dome and cylinder that yields fragments having shapes corresponding to a predetermined embossment pattern upon explosive rupture. The embossment pattern includes a first set of inner regular hexagonal embossments formed into the dome and cylinder that are aligned with the axis of the cylinder, and a second set of outer pre-deformed hexagonal shapes that distort to produce regular hexagonal shapes after drawing into the cylinder wall. The second set of shapes are separated by sharp transition regions. The shapes are embossed in a repeated pattern around the hollow cylinder and the dome top. The dome yields a plurality of fragments having shapes corresponding to the first set of inner regular hexagonal embossments upon explosive rupture, while the cylinder yields a plurality of fragments having shapes corresponding to the second set of outer pre-deformed hexagonal embossments upon explosive rupture.

The present invention provides a method of making a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge comprising the steps of: providing an ammunition cartridge mold comprising a bottom portion having a primer recess extending into the bottom portion adapted to receive a primer, a flash hole positioned in the primer recess through the bottom surface; side walls extending from the bottom portion to a nose end aperture, wherein a propellant chamber is formed between the nose end aperture and the bottom surface; injecting a metal composition into the ammunition cartridge mold to form a metal injection molded ammunition cartridge; and removing the metal injection molded ammunition cartridge from the ammunition cartridge mold.

Warhead (20) with asymmetric initiation comprising an inner explosive charge and a tubular structure (1) and being connectable to detonator means and target sensor (106) for activating the detonator means, whereby the tubular structure (1) comprises a wall (6) and a central cavity (7) for the inner explosive charge, an outer diameter D0) an inner diameter D.sub.I, a wall thickness T=0.5 (D.sub.O−D.sub.I), a front end (2), a rear end (4), a central axis (10) connecting the front end (2) and the rear end (4), a length L measured parallel to the central axis (10) and an inner surface (8) facing the central cavity (7) and an outer surface (9) and the warhead further comprises a fragmentable material adjacent to the outer surface (9) of the tubular structure (1), whereby the wall (6) comprises a plurality of bores (12) angularly and/or axially spaced from each other and extending from the outer surface (9) in direction to the inner surface (8), the bores (12) are filled with an explosive substance (19), the outer surface (9) of the wall (6) is provided with a plurality of channels (11) and/or a plurality of channels (11) is provided within the wall (9), whereby the plurality of channels (11) connects at least a part of the plurality of the bores (12) and is filled with an explosive substance and the plurality of bores (12) is connected to a detonator by means of an explosive substance provided in the plurality of channels (11).

Warhead (20) with asymmetric initiation comprising an inner explosive charge and a tubular structure (1) and being connectable to detonator means and target sensor (106) for activating the detonator means, whereby the tubular structure (1) comprises a wall (6) and a central cavity (7) for the inner explosive charge, an outer diameter D0) an inner diameter D.sub.I, a wall thickness T=0.5 (D.sub.O−D.sub.I), a front end (2), a rear end (4), a central axis (10) connecting the front end (2) and the rear end (4), a length L measured parallel to the central axis (10) and an inner surface (8) facing the central cavity (7) and an outer surface (9) and the warhead further comprises a fragmentable material adjacent to the outer surface (9) of the tubular structure (1), whereby the wall (6) comprises a plurality of bores (12) angularly and/or axially spaced from each other and extending from the outer surface (9) in direction to the inner surface (8), the bores (12) are filled with an explosive substance (19), the outer surface (9) of the wall (6) is provided with a plurality of channels (11) and/or a plurality of channels (11) is provided within the wall (9), whereby the plurality of channels (11) connects at least a part of the plurality of the bores (12) and is filled with an explosive substance and the plurality of bores (12) is connected to a detonator by means of an explosive substance provided in the plurality of channels (11).

A fragmentation warhead is provided, capable of being mounted in a carrier vehicle, the warhead having a longitudinal axis. In at least one example the warhead includes a shell that extends along the longitudinal axis. The shell includes a fixed shell portion and a fragmentation portion, and defines therebetween a cavity for accommodating therein an explosive charge. The fragmentation portion includes at least one set of serially adjacent fragments in correspondingly serially contiguous relationship in the fragmentation portion and in generally helical relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis. A corresponding carrier vehicle and a corresponding missile are also provided.

A fragmentation warhead is provided, capable of being mounted in a carrier vehicle, the warhead having a longitudinal axis. In at least one example the warhead includes a shell that extends along the longitudinal axis. The shell includes a fixed shell portion and a fragmentation portion, and defines therebetween a cavity for accommodating therein an explosive charge. The fragmentation portion includes at least one set of serially adjacent fragments in correspondingly serially contiguous relationship in the fragmentation portion and in generally helical relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis. A corresponding carrier vehicle and a corresponding missile are also provided.