Penetrating dual-mode warhead

A penetrating, dual-mode warhead having soft target, surface burst mode and a hard target, penetrating mode is provided. The warhead has a cylindrical outer fragmenting shell which contains an explosive surround. A long-rod penetrator with an explosive payload is located within the outer fragmenting...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors KUHNS; LUCIA D, WILSON; LEONARD T
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 24.10.2000
Edition7
Subjects
AMMUNITION
BLASTING
EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
HEATING
LIGHTING
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
WEAPONS
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Summary:A penetrating, dual-mode warhead having soft target, surface burst mode and a hard target, penetrating mode is provided. The warhead has a cylindrical outer fragmenting shell which contains an explosive surround. A long-rod penetrator with an explosive payload is located within the outer fragmenting shell. By arming selection prior to launch, the warhead can be configured for the surface burst mode which uses proximity sensor to initiate the outer shell explosive. The outer shell initiates the penetrator payload thereby detonating both explosives and fragmenting both the shell and penetrator casing. In the penetrating mode, the outer shell is stripped away on impact but is initiated just as the penetrator exits the shell. By this method the penetrator remains undamaged, but the outer shell nevertheless detonates to engage any surface targets. The penetrator continues into the hardened target, detonating on either a void sensor or on timing, whichever occurs first.
Bibliography:Application Number: US19980170971