Interception missile and warhead therefor
AssigneeIsrael Aerospace Industries Ltd.
InventorJacob Rovinsky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fragmentation warhead is provided, capable of being mounted in a carrier vehicle, the warhead having a longitudinal axis. In at least one example the warhead includes a shell that extends along the longitudinal axis. The shell includes a fixed shell portion and a fragmentation portion, and defines therebetween a cavity for accommodating therein an explosive charge. The fragmentation portion includes at least one set of serially adjacent fragments in correspondingly serially contiguous relationship in the fragmentation portion and in generally helical relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis. A corresponding carrier vehicle and a corresponding missile are also provided.
Claims20
An interception missile, comprising:
- a fragmentation warhead configured for being maneuvered to a predicted interception point (PIP) for intercepting within a probability envelope a flying object having a kill zone of known dimensions, the fragmentation warhead being configured for selectively providing a plurality of fragments directed towards said probability envelope such that the spacing between any two adjacent said fragments within the probability envelope is less than at least one of said known dimensions to ensure that at least one said fragment impacts said kill zone within said probability envelope, wherein each said fragment is capable of neutralizing the flying object by impacting said kill zone;
- wherein the fragmentation warhead is configured for providing said plurality of fragments in the form of at least one set of serially adjacent said fragments in generally helical relationship with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fragmentation warhead.
A fragmentation warhead configured for being mounted in a carrier vehicle, the fragmentation warhead having a longitudinal dimension along a longitudinal axis and configured for selectively providing a plurality of fragments directed towards a target area spaced at an interception spacing from said warhead to provide a fragmentation pattern on the target area including at least one set of said fragments in a spaced linear relationship extending to a length dimension greater than said longitudinal dimension, wherein adjacent said fragments in each said set at the target area are spaced at a respective fragmentation spacing that is within the dimensions of a kill zone of an intended target, wherein each said fragment is capable of neutralizing the intended target by impacting said kill zone;
- wherein the fragmentation warhead is configured for providing said plurality of fragments in the form of at least one set of serially adjacent said fragments in generally helical relationship with respect to a longitudinal axis of the fragmentation warhead.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.