Fluid jet stabilizing projectile for enhanced IED disrupters

A propellant driven disrupter (PDD) for disrupting an explosive target, the PDD comprising:

• a disrupter barrel having a breech end and a muzzle end;
• a projectile gas positioned in the disrupter barrel and extending a longitudinal distance in the disrupter barrel;
• a jet stabilizing projectile (JSP) positioned in the disrupter barrel and in operable contact with the projectile gas, wherein the JSP has:
• a JSP proximal end facing toward the disrupter barrel breech end;
• a JSP distal end opposed to the JSP proximal end;
• wherein the JSP distal end is separated from the disrupter barrel muzzle end or from a distal end of an adapter connected to the disrupter barrel muzzle end;
• and
• a center of gravity that is distally located relative to a center of pressure to provide air-drag stabilization upon the JSP propelled out of the disrupter barrel.

A method of stabilizing a fluid-jet projectile, the method comprising steps of:

• loading a liquid projectile into a proximal portion of a disrupter barrel of a propellant driven disrupter (PDD) or leaving the proximal portion of the disrupter barrel filled with air;
• inserting a jet stabilizing projectile (JSP) into a distal portion of the disrupter barrel, such that a proximal end of the JSP is in contact with the liquid projectile and the JSP forms a fluidic plug in the disrupter barrel or the proximal end of the JSP is separated from a breech end of the PDD by air;
• and
• exploding an explosive cartridge in a breech of the PDD, wherein the breech is operably connected to a proximal end of the disrupter barrel thereby propelling the projectile liquid or gas and the JSP out of the disrupter barrel and toward a target;
• wherein the liquid of the liquid projectile forms a fluid-jet that continuously encapsulates at least a proximal portion of the JSP after the JSP is propelled out of the disrupter barrel, thereby improving flight stability of the JSP;
• and
• wherein after the JSP is propelled out of the disrupter barrel a center of gravity of the JSP is located distally relative to a center of pressure generated by airflow over the JSP, or the center of gravity of the JSP is located at the same point as the center of pressure generated by airflow over the JSP.