Projectile delivery systems and weaponized aerial vehicles and methods including same

A weaponized aerial vehicle comprising:

• an aerial vehicle;
• and
• a projectile delivery system mounted on the aerial vehicle for flight therewith, the projectile delivery system including:
• a kinetic projectile including:
• a projectile body;
• and
• an onboard steering system including:
• a steering mechanism operable to change an attitude, orientation, and/or direction of flight of the kinetic projectile;
• and
• a steering actuator operable to control the steering mechanism;
• and
• a base system including:
• a projectile holder securing the kinetic projectile to the aerial vehicle and configured to selectively release the kinetic projectile;
• a target tracking system;
• and
• a projectile guidance system including a projectile tracking system and a projectile control system;
• wherein the base system is configured to:
• release the kinetic projectile from the projectile holder such that the kinetic projectile is driven toward a target by gravity;
• track the target using the target tracking system;
• track the released kinetic projectile using the projectile tracking system;
• and
• automatically control the onboard steering system of the kinetic projectile using the projectile control system to adjust a trajectory of the falling kinetic projectile to steer the kinetic projectile to the target.

A method for damaging a target, the method comprising:

• providing a weaponized aerial vehicle including:
• an aerial vehicle;
• and
• a projectile delivery system mounted on the aerial vehicle for flight therewith, the projectile delivery system including:
• a kinetic projectile including:
• a projectile body;
• and
• an onboard steering system including:
• a steering mechanism operable to change an attitude, orientation, and/or direction of flight of the kinetic projectile;
• and
• a steering actuator operable to control the steering mechanism;
• and
• a base system including:
• a projectile holder securing the kinetic projectile to the aerial vehicle and configured to selectively release the kinetic projectile;
• a target tracking system;
• and
• a projectile guidance system including a projectile tracking system and a projectile control system;
• and
• using the base system to:
• release the kinetic projectile from the projectile holder such that the kinetic projectile is driven toward a target by gravity;
• track the target using the target tracking system;
• track the released kinetic projectile using the projectile tracking system;
• and
• automatically control the onboard steering system of the kinetic projectile using the projectile control system to adjust a trajectory of the falling kinetic projectile to steer the kinetic projectile to the target.