Projectile for radially deploying sub-projectiles

Abstract

A projectile (10) for firing from a barrel, said projectile including a multiplicity of barrel assemblies (12, 13, 14) radially disposed from the centre of mass of the projectile, wherein each of said multiplicity of barrel assemblies includes a plurality of sub-projectiles (16) axially disposed within a barrel; each of said sub-projectiles associated with a discrete propellent charge (17) for propelling a respective sub-projectile from the barrel, wherein said projectile is capable of selectively firing sub-projectiles (16), suitably with the aid of primers (18) each coupled to an electronic controller (15). to provide a predetermined pattern of deployed sub-projectiles. A defence system employing projectiles of the type described is also disclosed, together with a method for disguising the launch location of a projectile utilising divert propulsion.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] This present invention relates to the deployment of objects in the nature of projectiles and in particular, although not exclusively, to the formation of a predetermined pattern of deployed sub-projectiles by a parent projectile and to a projectile launching method for masking the launch location of a projectile.[0003] 2. Discussion of the Background Art[0004] Projectiles that incorporate explosive charges have been used as fragmentation devices to deploy a plurality of fragments. In a simple form the casing of such a projectile fragments on detonation of the explosive charge such that individual fragments of the casing are deployed radially to form a fragmentation pattern roughly in the shape of the surface of a sphere.[0005] In other configurations, the shape of the charge and the configuration of the casing may be varied to control the fragmentation pattern. However, such fragmenting projectiles produce a relatively thin, shell like fragment...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] It is a further object of certain embodiments of the invention to provide a defence system that has improved control over deployment of projectiles and does not render the defended area unsafe for later civilian use.

[0068] The projectile of the present invention may deploy the sub-projectiles in a predetermined pattern that may be selected for particular applications. For example, in order to intercept and destroy an incoming missile, it is desirable to deploy the sub-projectiles in a manner that maximises the likelihood of the missile impacting with one or more of the sub-projectiles. Fragmentation systems have been employed to scatter fragments of a projectile in the path of an incoming missile. However, systems such as this that explode the projectile generally produce a band of fragments that disperse and form an expanding spherical shell. The projectiles may deploy the sub-projectiles of the invention in a more homogeneous manner throughout the space occupied by the predetermined pattern. By controlling the timing of the firing of the sub-projectiles it is possible to establish a three dimensional "frag" pattern having a substantially homogeneous distribution of sub-projectiles. Alternatively, the sub-projectiles may be concentrated in areas where the missile is more likely to be intercepted so as to increase the effectiveness of the deployed sub-projectiles.

Problems solved by technology

However, such fragmenting projectiles produce a relatively thin, shell like fragment casing pattern.

Images