Overflying munitions device and system
AssigneeAvco Corporation
InventorsJohn V. Atanasoff, W. Kenneth Clark, David Henderson, Kenneth W. Wreghitt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a munitions system, a cylindrical canister is fired over a target. The canister carries a target sensing infrared device and, when a target is detected, a projectile is fired downward from the bottom of the overflying missile. A spinning motion is imparted to the missile to stabilize its flight, and a wobbling motion is imparted to the missile to provide a larger target area. The projectile forms a concave lower end to the missile and is fired by an explosive charge.
Claims24
A munitions system comprising:
- a missile having a projectile mounted for downward firing from the bottom of the missile;
- means for propelling the missile along a trajectory to overfly a target;
- stabilizing means for stabilizing the missile in flight with the projectile directed downward;
- means for imparting a lateral precession motion to the missile relative to the target;
- detector means carried by the missile for detecting a target below the missile;
- and
- means carried by the missile for propelling the projectile downward from the missile toward the target upon detection of the target.
A submunition to be launched along a trajectory to overfly a target, the submunition including:
- a generally circular missile to be propelled over a target with a spinning motion about a near vertical axis;
- means for imparting a lateral precession motion to the missile relative to the target;
- a projectile carried by the missile and to be fired downward from the bottom of the missile toward the target;
- detector means carried by the missile for detecting the target;
- and
- means for propelling the projectile downward from the bottom of the missile upon detection of a target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.