Kinetic energy rod warhead with self-aligning penetrators

Abstract

A kinetic energy rod warhead with self-aligning penetrators includes a plurality of rods, an explosive for deploying the rods, and a detonator for detonating the explosive. A stabilizer is attached to all or selected rods for aligning said rods to strike a target at an optimal strike angle.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a Continuation-in-Part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 059,891 filed Feb. 17, 2005 and this application is a Continuation-in-Part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 060,179 filed Feb. 17, 2005, and the latter applications are each a Continuation-in-Part application of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 924,104 filed Aug. 23, 2004 and a Continuation-in-Part application of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 938,355 filed Sep. 10, 2004, and each of these latter two applications are a Continuation-in-Part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 456,777, filed Jun. 6, 2003 which is a Continuation-in-Part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 938,022 filed Aug. 23, 2001, issued on Jul. 29, 2003 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,534B2. All of these patent applications and patents are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This subject invention relates to improved kinetic energy ro...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an improved kinetic energy rod warhead with self-aligning penetrators that have better chance of penetrating and destroying a target. The warhead includes a stabilizer attached to all or selected rods for aligning the penetrators for optimal penetration. The stabilizer may include drag flaps, a parachute, a flare attachment, streamers, or other means for aligning the rods. The warhead also includes an explosive for deploying the rods and a detonator for detonating the explosive. The invention provides a unique way to improve rod penetrator alignment for achieving optimal penetration of a target.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, biological warfare bomblets and chemical warfare submunition payloads are carried by some “hit-to-kill” threats and one or more of these bomblets or chemical submunition payloads can survive and cause heavy casualties even if the “hit-to-kill” vehicle accurately strikes the target.

Blast fragmentation type warheads, unlike “hit-to-kill” vehicles, are not navigable.

The fragments, however, are not always effective at destroying the target and, again, biological bomblets and / or chemical submunition payloads survive and cause heavy casualties.

The projectiles, however, may tend to break and / or tumble in their deployment, and may approach the target at such a high oblique angle that they do not effectively penetrate the target.

However, apart from the foregoing ways of aligning projectiles or rod penetrators, the nature of kinetic energy rod deployment is such that the penetrators still may not be properly aligned and thus may not provide optimal penetration of a target.

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