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 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.

An extended range projectile includes an outer shell, a center projectile body axially moveable from a stowed position to a deployed position within the outer shell, and a pusher plate assembly variably locked to an aft end of the outer shell. The pusher plate assembly includes a check valve disposed at an aft end of the pusher plate assembly, the check valve being moveable from a closed position to an open position. In the open position of the check valve, the check valve is configured to permit entry of a gunfire pressure, created in a barrel of a gun from which the extended range projectile is configured to be projected, into the pusher plate assembly such that, when the extended range projectile exits the barrel, the gunfire pressure moves the center projectile body from the stowed position to the deployed position and propels the extended range projectile.

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 separable 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 down and the separable joint is caused to separate, leaving the casing in the barrel. After the piston completes exertion of propulsion force, 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.

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 separable 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 down and the separable joint is caused to separate, leaving the casing in the barrel. After the piston completes exertion of propulsion force, 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.

An extended range projectile includes an outer shell, a center projectile body axially moveable from a stowed position to a deployed position within the outer shell, and a pusher plate assembly variably locked to an aft end of the outer shell. The pusher plate assembly includes a check valve disposed at an aft end of the pusher plate assembly, the check valve being moveable from a closed position to an open position. In the open position of the check valve, the check valve is configured to permit entry of a gunfire pressure, created in a barrel of a gun from which the extended range projectile is configured to be projected, into the pusher plate assembly such that, when the extended range projectile exits the barrel, the gunfire pressure moves the center projectile body from the stowed position to the deployed position and propels the extended range projectile.

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 separable 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 down and the separable joint is caused to separate, leaving the casing in the barrel. After the piston completes exertion of propulsion force, 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.

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.

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.