Weapons and weapon components incorporating reactive materials and related methods

A warhead comprising:

• a plurality of discrete fragments disposed in a matrix material comprising a reactive material, the plurality of discrete fragments and the matrix material being cooperatively shaped into a reactive material fragmentation body;
• and
• an explosive charge cooperatively configured with the reactive material fragmentation body to cause fragmentation of matrix material upon detonation of the explosive charge, the explosive charge being further configured to fracture the matrix material so as to provide a plurality of reactive matrix material fragments and to propel the plurality of discrete fragments and the plurality of reactive matrix material fragments away from the warhead;
• wherein the reactive material fragmentation body and the explosive charge are cooperatively configured so as to propel the plurality of discrete fragments at a first average velocity over a defined distance and to propel the plurality of reactive matrix material fragments at a second velocity over the defined distance, the second velocity being less than the first velocity.

A missile comprising:

• a nose section;
• a rocket motor;
• a tail section;
• and
• a warhead, the warhead comprising:
• a plurality of discrete fragments disposed in a matrix material comprising a reactive material, the plurality of discrete fragments and the matrix material being cooperatively shaped into a reactive material fragmentation body;
• and
• an explosive charge cooperatively configured with the reactive material fragmentation body to cause fragmentation of the matrix material upon detonation of the explosive charge, the explosive charge being further configured to fracture the matrix material so as to provide a plurality of reactive matrix material fragments and to propel the plurality of discrete fragments and the plurality of reactive matrix material fragments away from the warhead;
• wherein the reactive material fragmentation body and the explosive charge are cooperatively configured so as to propel the plurality of discrete fragments at a first average velocity over a defined distance and to propel the plurality of reactive matrix material fragments at a second average velocity over the defined distance, the second average velocity being less than the first average velocity.