Variable stiffness flyer plate for penetration device

A flight vehicle comprising:

• a component including a skin and a plurality of support structures;
• and
• a penetration device in proximity to the skin and one or more support structures of the plurality of support structures, the penetration device comprising:
• a casing;
• a propellant positioned in the casing;
• and
• a flyer plate coupled to the casing and adjacent to the propellant, the flyer plate comprising:
• a center portion having a substantially constant first thickness;
• and
• a peripheral portion around the center portion and defining an edge, the peripheral portion including one or more recesses in a first surface of the peripheral portion.

A method of terminating flight of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving a termination signal at a penetration device;
• triggering a propellant of the penetration device;
• propelling a variable stiffness flyer plate of the penetration device into a skin and one or more support structures of a propellant container of the vehicle, the variable stiffness flyer plate comprising:
• a center portion having a substantially constant first thickness;
• and
• a peripheral portion around the center portion and defining an edge, the peripheral portion including one or more recesses in a first surface of the peripheral portion.

A penetration device comprising:

• a casing;
• a propellant positioned in the casing;
• and
• a flyer plate coupled to the casing and adjacent to the propellant, the flyer plate comprising:
• a center portion having a first density;
• and
• a peripheral portion around the center portion and defining an edge, the peripheral portion including a plurality of filled recesses, wherein recesses of the filled recesses are filled with a material having a second density, and wherein the first density is different than the second density.