An effector having an extendible range and a method for extending the range of an effector includes using an axially translatable center body that is movable from a stowed position, in which the center body is stowed in an outer body of the effector, to a deployed position in which the center body extends out of the outer body to extend the axial length of the effector. The effector includes a ramjet assembly and the subsystems of the effector are contained in the center body. The movement of the center body exposes radially positioned ramjet fuel in the outer body, such that the air entering the ramjet inlet may be heated by combusting the air with the fuel for additional fuel and propulsion of the effector.

An effector having an extendible range and a method for extending the range of an effector includes using an axially translatable center body that is movable from a stowed position, in which the center body is stowed in an outer body of the effector, to a deployed position in which the center body extends out of the outer body to extend the axial length of the effector. The effector includes a ramjet assembly and the subsystems of the effector are contained in the center body. The movement of the center body exposes radially positioned ramjet fuel in the outer body, such that the air entering the ramjet inlet may be heated by combusting the air with the fuel for additional fuel and propulsion of the effector.

A captive piston projectile (40) comprising a payload housing (43), a piston assembly attached to the payload housing (43), and actuation means (46) for urging the piston assembly from a stowed configuration to an extended configuration. The piston assembly comprises a tubular piston member (41) attached around the periphery of the payload housing (43), the attachment optionally being in the form of a circumferential groove (42) within which the piston member (41) can slide. This provides increased thrust whilst maintaining payload volume. Particularly suited to use with barrelled weapons, and also relates to a method of manufacture.

A captive piston projectile (40) comprising a payload housing (43), a piston assembly attached to the payload housing (43), and actuation means (46) for urging the piston assembly from a stowed configuration to an extended configuration. The piston assembly comprises a tubular piston member (41) attached around the periphery of the payload housing (43), the attachment optionally being in the form of a circumferential groove (42) within which the piston member (41) can slide. This provides increased thrust whilst maintaining payload volume. Particularly suited to use with barrelled weapons, and also relates to a method of manufacture.

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.

A ramjet projectile comprising: an outer assembly that is tubular and comprises first, second and third portions; solid ramjet fuel attached to and disposed inside the first portion of the outer assembly; an inner assembly disposed inside the outer assembly and comprising a first portion threadably coupled to the second portion of the outer assembly and a second portion surrounded by the third portion of the outer assembly to form an annular air passageway having an air inlet. The first portion of the inner assembly comprising a plurality of openings spatially distributed about a circumference. The inner assembly is rotatable relative to the outer assembly between first and second locations displaced by a distance from each other during travel along the gun barrel. The openings are not in flow communication with the annular air passageway when the inner assembly is at the first location and are in flow communication with the annular air passageway when the inner assembly is at the second location. Preferably the solid ramjet fuel comprises boron and a binder.

A ramjet projectile comprising: an outer assembly that is tubular and comprises first, second and third portions; solid ramjet fuel attached to and disposed inside the first portion of the outer assembly; an inner assembly disposed inside the outer assembly and comprising a first portion threadably coupled to the second portion of the outer assembly and a second portion surrounded by the third portion of the outer assembly to form an annular air passageway having an air inlet. The first portion of the inner assembly comprising a plurality of openings spatially distributed about a circumference. The inner assembly is rotatable relative to the outer assembly between first and second locations displaced by a distance from each other during travel along the gun barrel. The openings are not in flow communication with the annular air passageway when the inner assembly is at the first location and are in flow communication with the annular air passageway when the inner assembly is at the second location. Preferably the solid ramjet fuel comprises boron and a binder.

The present disclosure provides a projectile with a self-contained internal chamber. Reaction of propellant inside the internal chamber can generate high pressure and the resultant exhaust gases can be used for projectile linear acceleration, rotational acceleration or other purposes. Torque can be produced by exhausting the pressure via radially placed, tangential nozzles or other outlets and can be configured to induce sufficient projectile spin to stabilize the projectile without the need for barrel rifling. The internal chamber may be separate or integral to the projectile itself. The projectile may include two or more chambers or compartments internal to the chambers. The disclosed projectile allows for higher pressures in the internal chamber than in the barrel and greater flexibility on pressure manipulation in the barrel and the projectile, allowing for a more efficient propellant combustion and manipulation of projectile characteristics such as muzzle and rotational speeds.

A piston/rocket projectile for use within a launcher system having a barrel and method of firing such are presented herein. The projectile comprises a projectile body having a combustion chamber for propellant, a piston moveable to extend out a base of the projectile as a result of ignition of propellant in the combustion chamber, and vents for expulsion of combustion products from the ignition of propellant out of the projectile base after initial movement of the piston. A casing is secured to the base of the projectile body, enclosing the piston and vents prior to the ignition of propellant, and a frangible joint is disposed between the casing and the base of the projectile body. Upon ignition of propellant in the combustion chamber, the projectile piston is forced against the casing and causes the frangible joint to break, leaving the casing in the barrel. After the piston completes exertion of propulsion force against the casing, combustion products of the ignition of propellant are expelled through the vents out of a lower end of the projectile and solid combustion byproducts from the ignition of the propellant are collected in the casing.