Projectile, and warhead assembly and deployment system therfor

A warhead assembly for a projectile, the warhead assembly comprising

• a forward module including a precursor warhead;
• an aft module including a main warhead;
• and
• a deployment system configured for selectively deploying the warhead assembly from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration, at predetermined conditions, to thereby provide a longitudinal displacement between the forward module and the aft module;
• wherein said deployment system includes an expansion member accommodated between the forward module and the aft module, the expansion member configured for being longitudinally expanded under said predetermined conditions to thereby increase a longitudinal dimension of the expansion member and thereby urge the forward module and the aft module away from one another to provide said longitudinal displacement,
• wherein said expansion member is in the form of an inflatable member;
• wherein said deployment system includes an actuation system for selectively inflating the inflatable member to provide said deployed configuration and
• wherein said inflatable member includes a bellows-type body;
• and
• wherein the forward module includes a first side wall, and said aft module includes a second side wall;
• wherein the forward module includes nose of the projectile, and wherein said nose and said first wall have an unchanged profile between the retracted configuration and the deployed configuration.

A warhead assembly for a projectile, the warhead assembly comprising

• a forward module including a precursor warhead;
• an aft module including a main warhead;
• and
• a deployment system configured for selectively deploying the warhead assembly from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration, at predetermined conditions, to thereby provide a longitudinal displacement between the forward module and the aft module;
• wherein said deployment system includes an expansion member accommodated between the forward module and the aft module, the expansion member configured for being longitudinally expanded under said predetermined conditions to thereby increase a longitudinal dimension of the expansion member and thereby urge the forward module and the aft module away from one another to provide said longitudinal displacement;
• wherein said forward module and said aft module are telescopically movable longitudinally with respect to one another;
• wherein said forward module includes a first side wall, and said aft module includes a second side wall;
• wherein the forward module includes a nose of the projectile, and said first side wall are exposed both in the retracted configuration and in the deployed configuration;
• and
• wherein said nose and said first side wall have an unchanged profile between the retracted configuration and the deployed configuration.

A deployment system for a warhead assembly for a projectile, the warhead assembly including a forward module having a precursor warhead and an aft module including a main warhead;

• said deployment system configured for selectively deploying the warhead assembly from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration, at predetermined conditions, to thereby provide a longitudinal displacement between the forward module and the aft module;
• wherein said deployment system includes an expansion member configured for being accommodated between the forward module and the aft module, and configured for being longitudinally expanded under said predetermined conditions to thereby increase a longitudinal dimension of the expansion member and thereby urge the forward module and the aft module away from one another to provide said longitudinal displacement;
• wherein said expansion member is in the form of an inflatable member;
• an actuation system for selectively inflating the inflatable member to provide said deployed configuration;
• wherein said inflatable member includes a balloon-type body;
• and
• wherein said forward module includes a first side wall, and said aft module includes a second side wall;
• wherein the forward module includes a nose of the projectile, and wherein said nose and said first side wall have an unchanged profile between the retracted configuration and the deployed configuration.

A warhead assembly for a projectile, the warhead assembly comprising

• a forward module including a precursor warhead;
• an aft module including a main warhead;
• and
• a deployment system configured for selectively deploying the warhead assembly from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration, at predetermined conditions, to thereby provide a longitudinal displacement between the forward module and the aft module;
• wherein said deployment system includes an expansion member accommodated between the forward module and the aft module, the expansion member configured for being longitudinally expanded under said predetermined conditions to thereby increase a longitudinal dimension of the expansion member and thereby urge the forward module and the aft module away from one another to provide said longitudinal displacement;
• wherein said forward module and said aft module are telescopically movable longitudinally with respect to one another;
• wherein said forward module includes a first side wall, and said aft module includes a second side wall;
• wherein the forward module includes a nose of the projectile, and wherein said nose and said first side wall have an unchanged profile between the retracted configuration and the deployed configuration.

A deployment system for a warhead assembly for a projectile, the warhead assembly including a forward module having a precursor warhead and an aft module including a main warhead;

• said deployment system configured for selectively deploying the warhead assembly from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration, at predetermined conditions, to thereby provide a longitudinal displacement between the forward module and the aft module;
• wherein said deployment system includes an expansion member configured for being accommodated between the forward module and the aft module, and configured for being longitudinally expanded under said predetermined conditions to thereby increase a longitudinal dimension of the expansion member and thereby urge the forward module and the aft module away from one another to provide said longitudinal displacement;
• wherein said expansion member is in the form of an inflatable member;
• an actuation system for selectively inflating the inflatable member to provide said deployed configuration;
• and
• wherein said inflatable member includes a bellows-type body;
• and
• wherein said forward module includes a first side wall, and said aft module includes a second side wall;
• wherein the forward module includes a nose of the projectile, and wherein said nose and said first side wall have a an unchanged profile between the retracted configuration and the deployed configuration.