Priming system for the explosive charge of a submunition on board a carrier

A priming system adaptable for use to ignite an explosive charge of a sub-munition placed on board a carrier, comprising:

• a primer assembly including a housing containing a primer charge and movable from a safety position to an armed position, said housing initially and releasably disposed in the safety position yet resiliently biased towards the armed position;
• a firing pin movable between an initial retaining condition whereby said firing pin releasably engages and retains said housing in the safety position to isolate the primer charge from said firing pin and the explosive charge and a primed condition whereby said firing pin releases said housing so that said housing can move from the safety position to the armed position wherein the primer charge is exposed to said firing pin and the explosive charge, said firing pin operative in the primed condition to cause detonation of the primer charge when said housing is in the armed position;
• a self-destruct mechanism including an ignitable delay cord;
• and
• a cam pivotally movable from a cam safety position wherein said cam is releasably engaged with the primer assembly to a retracted position wherein said cam is released from said primer assembly to cause ignition of the delay cord, said cam initially and releasably disposed in the cam safety position yet resiliently biased towards the retracted position, so that when the sub-munition is ejected from the carrier, said cam can move to the retracted position to allow the housing to move to the armed position thereby priming said priming system for ignition of the explosive charge if said firing pin is in the primed condition.