Low-collateral damage directed fragmentation munition

US20160025468A1Inactive Publication Date: 2016-01-28RAYTHEON CO
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Patent Information

Authority / Receiving Office
US · United States
Current Assignee / Owner
Publication Date
2016-01-28
Estimated Expiration
Not applicable · inactive patent

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Abstract

A directed munition has a non-fragmentation casing, and an explosive within the casing that is configured to propel fragments out an opening of the casing when the explosive is detonated. The casing may be made of a material that does not produce lethal or injurious fragments when the explosive is detonated. The explosive may include an insensitive explosive portion that creates the shape of an explosive front, and a secondary explosive containing a more energetic explosive, which is closer to the fragments than the insensitive explosive portion. There may be more of the insensitive explosive than the relatively energetic explosive.
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Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to fragmentation munitions and warheads.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0002] Fragmentation warheads expel metal fragments upon detonation of an explosive. Fragmentation warheads are used as offensive weapons or as countermeasures to anti-personnel or anti-property weapons such as rocket-propelled grenades. A typical warhead includes an explosive inside a steel case. A booster explosive and safe and arm device are positioned in an aft section of the case to detonate the main explosive. A fragmentation assembly is placed in an opening in a fore section of the case against the flat leading surface of the explosive. The fragmentation assembly will typically include scored metal or individual fragments (pre-formed) such as spheres or cubes to control the size and shape of the fragments so that the fragments are expelled in a predictable pattern and speed. Scored metal produces about an 80% mass efficiency while individual fragments are exp...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0012]A directed munition has a non-fragmentation casing, and an explosive within the casing that is configured to propel fragments out an opening of the casing when the explosive is detonated. The casing may be made of plastic or a composite material, or another low density material that does not produce lethal or injurious fragments when the explosive is detonated. The explosive may include an insensitive explosive portion that creates the shape of an explosive front, and a secondary explosive containing a more energetic explosive, which is closer to the fragments than the insensitive explosive portion. There may be more of the insensitive explosive than the relatively energetic explosive, with the insensitive explosive for example constituting a majority of the circumferential surface area of the explosive.

[0013]FIGS. 1 and 2 show a munition 10 that uses an explosive 12 to direct fragments 14 out of an opening 16 in the front of a casing 20 that encloses the explosive 12 and the ...