Preformed composite fragmentation warhead

A fragmentation warhead, comprising:

• a casing;
• an explosive within the casing;
• and
• a plurality of preformed composite fragments tightly packed around the casing, each said preformed composite fragment including an inner core encapsulated within an outer jacket, said inner core formed from a first metal material having a relatively high density and said outer jacket formed from a second metal material having a relatively low density, said relatively high density being higher than said relative low density, wherein the inner core has a center-of-gravity (Cg), wherein the outer jacket has a different shape than the inner core to shift the Cg.

A fragmentation warhead, comprising:

• a casing;
• an explosive within the casing;
• and
• a plurality of preformed composite fragments packed around the casing, each said preformed composite fragment including an inner core fully encapsulated within an outer jacket, said inner core formed from a first metal material having a relatively high density and said outer jacket formed from a second metal material having a relatively low density, said relatively high density being higher than said relative low density;
• wherein in each said preformed composite fragment the inner core is individually encapsulated within its discrete outer jacket,
• wherein upon detonation of the explosive, a detonation wave travels through the plurality of preformed composite fragments propelling the preformed composite fragments including both the inner core and the discrete outer jacket towards a target;
• wherein the outer jacket absorbs high pressure of the detonation wave to reduce spalling of the inner core;
• wherein upon striking the target, the outer jacket either widens thereby increasing the size of the preformed composite fragment to penetrate the target or erodes leaving the inner core to penetrate the target.

A plurality of preformed composite fragments for attachment to a warhead, each said preformed composite fragment comprising:

• an inner core formed from a first metal material having a relatively high density;
• and
• a discrete outer jacket that fully encapsulates the inner core, said discrete outer jacket formed from a second metal material having a relatively low density, said relatively high density being higher than said relative low density;
• wherein in each said preformed composite fragment the inner core is individualy encapsulated within its discrete outer jacket,
• wherein upon detonation of the warhead, the detonation wave travels through the plurality of preformed composite fragments propelling the preformed composite fragments including both the inner core and the discrete outer jacket towards a target.