PENETRATOR AND USE OF A PENETRATOR

Abstract

A penetrator for a projectile, in particular a subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator, comprising a tail unit and a main core having a front part and a rear part, the tail unit being arranged on the rear part of the main core. A predetermined breaking point is formed between the front part and the rear part of the main core, and the material of the predetermined breaking point is designed to be mechanically less resilient that the rest of the main core.

Claims

1. A penetrator comprising: a tail unit; a main core having at least one front part and at least one rear part, the tail unit being arranged on the rear part of the main core; and at least one predetermined breaking point being formed between the front part and the rear part of the main core, the at least one predetermined breaking point being designed such that it is mechanically less resilient than the at least one front part and the at least one rear part of the main core, wherein the main core is provided with a one-piece design, wherein the penetrator is manufactured from a tungsten heavy metal material, and wherein the predetermined breaking point has a lower density than the front part and the rear part of the main core.

2. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is configured to allow the rear part of the main core, together with the tail unit, to break off from the at least one front part of the main core upon striking a target, in particular a pre-target.

3. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein a length of the front part of the main core is at least 50%, 70%, 80%, or 90% of the length of the main core.

4. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is manufactured by primary forming and/or forming manufacturing methods.

5. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is an integral connection, which is formed from a mechanically less resilient material than main core.

6. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the penetrator is sintered from a tungsten heavy metal material.

7. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the main penetrator is inert.

8. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the main core is provided with a solid design.

9. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined breaking point is formed by a thermal heat treatment of the main core.

10. A projectile comprising a penetrator according to claim 1 and a sabot.

11. A cartridge munition comprising a projectile according to claim 10 and a cartridge casing.

12. The cartridge munition according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined breaking point is arranged inside of the casing.

13. The penetrator according to claim 1, wherein the penetrator is adapted for engaging an armored target having a reactive armoring or a tank having a reactive armoring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a penetrator according to the invention; and

[0043] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional representation of a penetrator according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a penetrator 10 according to the invention.

[0045] Penetrator 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a penetrator for a projectile 1. This projectile 1 is preferably a subcaliber kinetic energy penetrator including a sabot.

[0046] Penetrator 10 includes a tail unit 3 and a main core 2. Main core 2 comprises at least one front part 21 and at least one rear part 22. Tail unit 3 is arranged on rear part 22 of main core 2.

[0047] A predetermined breaking point 7 is formed between front part 21 and rear part 22 of main core 2. Predetermined breaking point 7 is designed to be mechanically less resilient than the rest of main core 2.

[0048] Predetermined breaking point 7 is configured to allow rear part 22 of main core 10, together with tail unit 3, to break off from the at least one front part 21 of main core 2 upon striking a target, in particular a pre-target.

[0049] Length L of the at least one front part 21 of main core 2 is at least 50%, preferably 70%, preferably 80%, further preferably 90% of the length of main core 2.

[0050] Predetermined breaking point 7 may be manufactured, for example, by primary forming and/or forming manufacturing methods.

[0051] Penetrator 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a main core 2 having a one-piece design.

[0052] Predetermined breaking point 7 may be, for example, an integral connection, which is formed from a mechanically less resilient material than main core 2.

[0053] Main core 2 of penetrator 10 is preferably provided with a solid design.

[0054] Penetrator 10 is manufactured, for example, from a tungsten heavy metal material. This material may be a sintering material. To design predetermined breaking point 7 to be mechanically less resilient, the latter may have a lower density in the case of a sintering material than the rest of main core 2.

[0055] Penetrator 10 is preferably an inert penetrator 10.

[0056] Predetermined breaking point 7 is formed by a thermal heat treatment of main core 2.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional representation of a penetrator 10. The example according to FIG. 2 is based on the example according to FIG. 1, only the differences with respect to FIG. 1 being explained below.

[0058] Main core 2 of penetrator 10 according to FIG. 2 is provided with a two-piece design.

[0059] Front part 21 of main core 2 and rear part 22 of main core 2 each have a thread, and front part 21 and rear part 22 of main core 2 are connected by a mechanically less resilient connecting element 25 to form predetermined breaking point 7.

[0060] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.