Low collateral damage bi-modal warhead assembly
AssigneeNostromo Holdings, LLC
InventorNICOLAS HORACIO BRUNO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A warhead assembly, comprising a cylindrical or conical metal body, having an inner wall with a plurality of channels or grooves extending parallel to a central longitudinal axis. Preformed fragments are inserted in the channels or grooves and a liner with an explosive fill is positioned within the metal body, retaining the preformed fragments in place. The warhead assembly on detonation produces a bimodal distribution of fragments with adequate mass and velocity with optimized mixed fragmentation that defeats or otherwise incapacitates a target or set of targets.
Claims14
A warhead assembly, adapted to be mounted at the head of a missile or projectile, designed to deliver the warhead to a target, said warhead assembly comprising, in combination:
- (a) a round metal body having an inner wall with a plurality of grooves extending parallel to a central longitudinal axis of the metal body;
- (b) a plurality of preformed fragments inserted in the grooves;
- and
- (c) a liner, housing an explosive fill, positioned within the metal body and retaining the preformed fragments in place;
- whereby the warhead assembly on detonation produces a bimodal distribution of fragments with adequate mass and velocity to create an optimized mixed fragmentation effect on that target that can defeat a target that is fitted with differing ballistic protection and/or mixed targets of both enemy vehicles and personnel.
A warhead assembly, adapted to be mounted at the head of a missile or projectile designed to deliver the warhead to a target, said warhead assembly comprising, in combination:
- (a) a round metal casing having an outer surface with an aeroballistic shape and an inner wall with a plurality of grooves extending parallel to a central longitudinal axis thereof, said grooves being of such a size as to contain and fit preformed fragmentation elements;
- and
- (b) a plurality of preformed metal fragmentation elements disposed in said grooves in the casing and balanced to provide for a stable gyroscopic spin of the warhead assembly and its delivery missile or projectile when in ballistic flight;
- wherein distances between the grooves along the casing surface and depths of the grooves produce fragmentation of the warhead body such that on detonation the fragmentation is substantially shaped by the grooves;
- whereby the combined effect of the metal casing fragmentation and the preformed fragmentation elements creates a terminal effect upon detonation, exhibiting a multimodal distribution of fragments with an optimized target effect that defeats a single target or a mixed target (enemy vehicles and personnel).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.