MULTI-EFFECT TANDEM ACTIVANT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a tandem weapon, e.g., ammunition containing a main weapon, e.g., a main charge, and a precursor charge. The precursor charge or its components, e.g., a projectile or jet / spike formed from a coating, precedes the main weapon toward the target when the ammunition is deployed. An exemplary tandem weapon is known from DE 39 20 015 C.

[0002] EP 3 171 121 A1 discloses clearing a path through explosive reactive armor (ERA) in the event of an attack on an armored vehicle from a short standoff distance. A jet or EFP (explosively formed penetrator) barb of a subsequent warhead follows a precursor jet generated by a transformable warhead that cleared the ERA in the path of the attacking penetrator. The object of the present invention is to propose improvements with respect to a precursor charge.

[0003] The object is achieved by a tandem active agent according to patent claim 1. Preferred or advantageous embodiments of the invention and other categories of invention emerge from the further claims, the following description and the attached figures.

[0004] The invention is based on a tandem agent intended for use, containing a main agent and a precursor charge. "Intended" means that the precursor charge is system-technically (i.e., with respect to the entire tandem agent including the precursor charge) and / or structurally matched to a specific or specific type of tandem agent / main agent and is configured for use there; e.g., it is designed for the resulting geometric requirements, etc. In other words, a given tandem agent / main agent is assumed to be known with regard to its geometry / properties, etc.

[0005] The precursor charge extends along a longitudinal axis. The charge is designed to be mounted in front of the main active means, in a direction of flight of the tandem active means that coincides with the longitudinal axis. When the charge is properly assembled or deployed in the tandem active means, a complete tandem active means is created, in which the charge—as seen in the tandem active means's intended flight direction—is positioned in front of the main active means. Furthermore, the charge is attached to / in the main active means, in particular, to the main active means or to a common carrier of the tandem active means.

[0006] The precursor charge contains a casing and explosives arranged within the casing. The casing, in particular, forms the outer geometric shape of the precursor charge and / or acts as a housing for the other components of the precursor charge.

[0007] The precursor charge also contains a projectile attached to the casing. The projectile, in conjunction with the explosive, is designed to emit an armor-piercing projectile upon detonation. This occurs in such a way that the projectile is emitted along the longitudinal axis in the intended direction of flight of the main agent, and thus of the precursor charge, and then, after emission, precedes the main agent. "Precedes" means that it moves at a higher speed than the main agent and moves away from the main agent at a differential speed in the direction of flight.

[0008] The precursor charge also contains a fragmentation agent. This is also attached to the casing. The projectile agent, also in conjunction with the explosive, is designed to form and emit a focused spray of fragments upon detonation of the explosive. The spray is a spray composed of a large number of fragments and can also be referred to as a splinter cloud. Like the projectile, the spray also precedes the main agent in the direction of flight after formation and release. The focusing of the spray is achieved as follows: The radial velocity of the fragments is at most one-fifth of their axial velocity ("radial / axial" refers to the longitudinal direction and thus the direction of flight). In particular, the radial velocity is at most one-tenth, twentieth, fiftieth, or hundredth of the axial velocity.The velocity distribution is achieved through design measures of the precursor charge, as explained below. In other words, the burst forms a cloud of fragments that precedes the main agent.

[0009] In particular, fragments / explosive elements with different velocity characteristics may be created during the conversion of the explosive, but these are then not considered part of the sheaf.

[0010] In addition to conventional iron and non-ferrous alloys, materials that react when interacting with an effector / defense body emitted by an active protection system of the target and that release not only kinetic energy but also other forms of energy, such as heat or pressure, can be considered as fragmentation material.

[0011] The explosive is particularly one with a high detonation velocity to achieve high projectile / fragmentation velocities.

[0012] The comparatively low axial velocity results in a highly concentrated cloud of fragments that moves primarily along the longitudinal axis or direction of flight in front of the main weapon and barely diverges. In other words, the fragments are focused along the longitudinal axis or direction of flight.

[0013] The projectile means is, in particular, a projectile-forming means, in particular a projectile-forming hollow charge. The differential velocities of the projectile and the burst relative to the main active means may differ, but are generally identical—within the scope of the usual tolerances in this regard.

[0014] A "precursor" charge results from the fact that both the projectile and the fragments "precede" the main agent.

[0015] A corresponding armor-piercing projectile can be detonated at a distance of approximately 10-15 meters ("standoff") from the target. A weapon that uses a shaped charge spike instead of a projectile, for example, must be detonated at a maximum distance / standoff of approximately 1 meter from the target. This alone results in an increased standoff for the precursor charge proposed here.

[0016] The projectile can produce a primary effect, namely the penetration of armor, for example, the pre-armored or reactive armor of an armored target. The fragments produce a further effect, namely the destruction / inactivation / immobilization of effectors that the target deploys or sends as an active protective measure against the approaching tandem missile. In this respect, the proposed precursor charge exhibits a multi-effect.

[0017] The invention therefore assumes, in particular, that the effectors emitted by the target or its defense system / active protection system to protect against the tandem agent are ballistic defense devices. The effectors are designed to defend against incoming agents / munitions by triggering / defeating them upon impact with the effector at a safe distance from the target.

[0018] The invention thus results in a multi-effect precursor charge with increased standoff for defeating active protection systems. This results in a precursor charge (also called a "precursor warhead") with increased standoff for tandem active systems (tandem active agents). This enables the defeat of active protection systems of heavily armored targets by destroying approaching effectors of active protection systems with a focused spray of fragments before they reach the effective range of the main active agent (main charge) of the tandem warhead (tandem active agent). The invention thus allows the defeat of active protection systems with fired effectors.

[0019] The invention is based on the idea of ​​creating a technical solution for overcoming active protection systems. The invention is based on the realization that the possibilities known from practice include the following: To circumvent active protection systems, it is possible to exploit blind spots within the system's protection zone. It is also possible to increase the approach speed of the vehicle's own / attacking effectors (active agents) in order to reduce the available reaction time of the active protection system.

[0020] The invention is based on the following basic idea: The precursor charge is based on a precursor with increased standoff due to the projectile, in particular a projectile-forming charge. During the decomposition of the explosive in the charge, a fragmentation cloud / shroud is released or generated simultaneously with the projectile, in particular from the casing and / or structural fragments integrated for this purpose. The fragments (shroud / cloud) are generated in vectorial addition with the projectile velocity (original velocity of the entire tandem-action device) as a highly focused fragmentation shroud in the firing direction (longitudinal axis / direction of flight). The shroud, together with the emitted / forming projectile of the projectile device, precedes the undetonated part (main action device) of the tandem action system / device.The fragmentation spray acts as a protective shield, destroying or displacing oncoming effectors of active protection systems before they can reach critical proximity to the main charge (main agent) of the tandem effect system. The fragments are adapted—particularly in their spatial distribution and / or mass and / or speed—in such a way that they are not suitable for engaging the actual hardened / armored target, but rather can hit and destroy approaching effectors (emitted by the target's active protection system toward the approaching tandem agent) with the highest possible probability.

[0021] According to the invention, the effect of the precursor charge with increased standoff (projectile agent) is thus enhanced by a fragmentation effect (fragmentation agent), which, compared to the natural fragmentation effect, is specifically adapted in terms of effective range and fragmentation power, making it suitable for combating the effectors of active protection systems. The overall concept of a tandem effect system (tandem effect agent) with such a precursor (charge) thus creates the capability to overcome active protection systems with fired effectors.

[0022] The invention is particularly suitable for a tandem active agent in the form of a guided munition direct fire with a tandem active system consisting of precursor charge / main active agent.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the fragmentation means contains a fragmentation insert which has a shape of a cylindrical shell with respect to the longitudinal axis and / or which is arranged in particular on an inner surface of the casing.

[0024] This results in a radial fragmentation insert. This also reinforces the outer shell and casing, forming radially dispersed fragments of defined mass and geometry. These fragments can be pre-fragmented or loose individual fragments. The fragments of the radial fragmentation insert are designed (mass / size) such that they receive a relatively low radial velocity component upon detonation of the explosive. When vectorially added to the velocity of movement (before the explosive is deployed) of the entire tandem weapon, they achieve a strongly forward-directed flight direction (after the explosive is deployed) (see above-mentioned radial / axial velocity distribution of the fragments).

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the fragmentation agent contains a fragmentation body in the shape of a circular ring running transversely to the longitudinal axis. This results in an axial fragmentation body. This is located, in particular with respect to the longitudinal axis, on the end face of the precursor charge that is intended to point in the direction of flight (the "front" as seen in the direction of flight) and serves to generate a fragmentation effect directed along the longitudinal axis of the charge / direction of flight. It can be designed as a pre-fragmented body or as loose individual fragments. The fragmentation body is designed, particularly at the interface with the explosive, so that acceleration during detonation occurs along the longitudinal axis of the charge without significant dispersion (radial velocity of the fragments much smaller than their axial velocity, e.g., a factor of 1 / 100, 1 / 1000, or even smaller).

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the projectile means contains a coating forming the projectile in the form of a disc extending transversely to the longitudinal axis. The coating is, in particular, a flat / dome-like / conical metal insert that ejects as a continuous projectile upon detonation of the explosive. The coating thus forms the projectile for engaging the target or its pre-armor / reactive armor.

[0027] In a preferred variant of this embodiment, the disk is arranged concentrically within the aforementioned fragmentation body in the form of a circular ring. The coating (disk) and fragmentation body (circular ring) thus form a continuous disk at the same axial position (longitudinal axis), which, in particular, seals off the precursor charge at the front—as seen in the longitudinal direction or intended flight direction. This creates a particularly well-packed precursor charge.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the projectile means and the fragmentation means are coordinated in such a way that the projectile precedes the spray or cloud of fragments or moves with them in the forward direction of flight. Therefore, the projectile's flight toward the target is not hindered or disrupted by a possible collision between fragments and effectors of the target's active protection system, since it has already passed the corresponding collision zone at that time.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the precursor charge is round, particularly circular, and particularly rotationally symmetrical in cross-section relative to the longitudinal axis. This particularly applies to its outer contour. This allows for particularly good integration with the main or tandem active agent, which is generally also round or circular in shape. This particularly applies to the circular shape, especially in the form of ammunition / tandem active agents for firing from circular weapon barrels.

[0030] The tandem active agent according to the invention contains the precursor charge and the main active agent explained in this context, wherein the precursor charge or the precursor is arranged in front of the main active agent in a direction of flight of the tandem active agent that coincides with the longitudinal axis of the tandem active agent.

[0031] The tandem active agent and at least some of its possible embodiments as well as the respective advantages have already been explained in connection with the precursor charge.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, a transverse dimension transverse to the longitudinal axis, in particular an outer diameter of the precursor charge, corresponds to that, in particular the caliber, of the main active agent, in particular of the entire tandem active agent or the corresponding ammunition. This creates a particularly uniform tandem active agent.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the main means of action contains a main charge. As described above, the main charge can be delivered past the target's active defenses using the fragmentation pattern, and past the target's pre-armor / reactive armor using the projectile.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the main weapon contains a shaped charge. This is particularly effective against certain heavily armored targets. In particular, the projectile contains a comparatively small shaped charge as at least part of the projectile to form the projectile; the main weapon contains a larger, i.e., comparatively large, shaped charge to actually engage the target. If the active protective measure by the fragmentation pattern has been repelled and the projectile has been able to overcome the target's primary armor, the main weapon can be fired at the target, which is now unprotected or only protected by its primary armor. This can then be overcome by the main weapon, allowing the main weapon to take effect against the target.

[0035] The object of the invention is also achieved by a method according to patent claim 11 for engaging a target with the aid of the tandem active agent according to the invention. The method is based on the tandem active agent containing a main active agent and a precursor charge. The precursor charge, in turn, contains a projectile agent which, upon initiation, emits an armor-piercing projectile. The precursor charge also contains a fragmentation agent which, upon initiation, emits fragments in the form of a focused burst. Initiation is, in particular, the aforementioned conversion of an explosive in the precursor charge. As explained above, the radial velocity of the fragments in the burst is at most one-fifth of their axial velocity; the fragments in the burst are thus imparted a corresponding velocity.

[0036] In this method, the tandem weapon is fired at the target. At a specific point in time, prior to the tandem weapon hitting the target, the precursor charge is initiated, specifically the explosives it contains, detonated. This causes the projectile from the projectile weapon and the fragments, as a spray from the fragmentation weapon, to be fired toward the target, each ahead of the main weapon in the direction of flight.

[0037] The method and at least some of its possible embodiments as well as the respective advantages have already been explained in connection with the precursor charge according to the invention and the tandem active agent according to the invention.

[0038] The point in time is, in particular, the point at which the tandem agent reaches a certain distance from the target. Such a distance is particularly easy and precise to detect and therefore particularly suitable as a trigger criterion for the initiation described above.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the time point chosen is the time at which an active defense system of the target, emitting a defense element toward the munition, detects the munition or at least emits a defense element. This time point thus corresponds, in particular, spatially to the tandem active agent reaching / passing a detection point of the active defense system. This ensures particularly effective defense against the effectors emitted by the target.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the time is chosen so that the shard hits the defense bodies at a distance from the main agent that is greater than the effective range of the defense bodies. Thus, at the time the defense bodies are destroyed by the shard, the main agent is outside the effective range of the defense bodies and thus cannot be impaired or destroyed by them. The effective range also includes effects that arise from the combating / destruction of the defense bodies by the fragments. In other words, the defense bodies are combated at a safe distance from the main agent. The defense bodies and their behavior when combated by the fragments are assumed to be known.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the time is chosen to be the time at which the tandem active agent is located between 5 and 25 meters, in particular 10 and 15 meters, in particular 12.5 meters, from the target. Such distances have proven particularly advantageous in practice.

[0042] The following generally applies to the present invention: Details of the design of the precursor charge and / or main or tandem active agent depend heavily on the potential target to be attacked and its expected properties. In particular, these are properties of its armor (main / preliminary / reactive armor) and the active protection system. The aforementioned design concerns, among other things, the selection of materials, dimensions, geometries of the precursor charge, number, size and nature of fragments, projectile used, explosives, casing design, etc. Corresponding values ​​therefore depend on the planned use of the charge / tandem active agent and can or must be individually adapted and determined, for example, through tests, empirical considerations, estimates, etc. within the framework of standard designs.

[0043] The invention is based on the following findings, observations, and considerations and also includes the following embodiments. These embodiments are sometimes referred to as "the invention" for simplicity. These embodiments may also contain parts or combinations of the above-mentioned embodiments or correspond to them and / or may also include previously unmentioned embodiments.

[0044] The present invention can be summarized as follows: The invention particularly comprises the extension of an armor-piercing explosive charge (tandem active agent) with increased stand-off (achieved by the projectile-forming charge as projectile agent) by an additional effect in the form of a directed and focused fragmentation spray, which does not serve to combat the actual armored target, but is designed with regard to fragmentation density, fragmentation mass and fragmentation speed to eliminate effectors of active protection systems fired by the target.

[0045] By using such an explosive charge (explosive and fragmentation agent) as a precursor within a tandem agent consisting of precursor (charge) and main charge (main agent), the ability is created to simultaneously overcome a reactive armor of the target (projectile target position) with the initiation of the precursor charge, as well as to additionally deactivate existing active protection systems whose effectors are fired in the direction of the approaching tandem agent.

[0046] The function and effect of the invention can be summarized as follows: If the precursor is initiated at an increased distance from the target, it releases an armor-piercing projectile and a fragmentation spray that precedes the uninitiated portion of the tandem agent. The projectile-forming charge is designed to penetrate existing reactive armor, while the fragmentation spray acts as a protective shield for the slower-moving main charge / agent, destroying all effectors in the target's trajectory. This ensures that the main agent can be effective against the target's unprotected main armor.

[0047] Further features, effects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying figures. Each of these figures shows a schematic diagram: Figure 1 shows a tandem agent according to the invention, Figure 2 shows the tandem agent according to the invention when used in a method for combating a target.

[0048] Figure 1 shows a tandem active agent 2, which contains a main active agent 4, here a main charge only symbolically indicated, as well as a precursor charge 6 firmly attached to it. Precursor charge 6, main active agent 4, and tandem active agent 2 all have the same longitudinal axis 8 and extend along it. A designated flight direction 10 of the tandem active agent 2 coincides with the longitudinal axis 8 and is in Figure 1 indicated by an arrow. Viewed in the direction of flight 10, the precursor charge 6 is mounted in front of the main weapon 4. The direction of flight 10 is the direction in which the tandem weapon 2 flies during its intended use or operation.

[0049] The charge 6 has a casing 12 filled with explosive 14. The ignition of the explosive 14 is symbolically represented by an arrow 15. A fragmentation agent 16 is attached to the casing 12. This fragmentation agent is designed to form a focused sheaf 18 of a plurality of fragments 20, which advances in the direction of flight 10 of the main active agent 4, upon the detonation of the explosive 14. Figure 1 Four such splitters 20 are shown as examples.

[0050] The velocity V of each fragment 20 is composed of two components, namely the axial velocity VA parallel to the flight direction 10 and the radial velocity VR. The axial velocity VA, in turn, contains as its first summand the current basic velocity V0 of the tandem active agent 2 at the moment of detonation of the explosive 14 and thus also of the precursor charge 6 and the fragment 20 before or during detonation of the explosive 14. Added to this, as a second summand, is an additional axial velocity imparted to the fragments 20 by the detonation of the explosive 14, which leads to the axial velocity VA, which is greater than the basic velocity V0. The radial velocity VR is also imparted to the fragments 20 by the detonation of the explosive 14.The precursor charge 6 is dimensioned with respect to the explosive force of the explosive 14, in coordination with, among other things, the materials and geometry of the fragmentation agent 16 and the casing 12, such that the radial velocity VR is only one twentieth of the axial velocity VA. The ratios are shown in . Figure 1 presented qualitatively.

[0051] The fragmentation device 16 is constructed of two components. It includes, first, a fragmentation insert 22. This insert has the shape of a cylindrical shell relative to the longitudinal axis 8 and is arranged on a radially inward-facing inner surface 24 of the casing 12. Second, the fragmentation device 16 includes a fragmentation body 26, which has the shape of a circular ring 27 and runs concentrically and transversely to the longitudinal axis 8. The circular ring 27 thus extends in a transverse plane to the longitudinal axis 8.

[0052] The precursor charge 6 also contains a projectile means 28, which is also attached to the casing 12. Furthermore, it is designed to emit an armor-piercing projectile 30 upon detonation of the explosive 14, which then—like the fragments 20 in the sheaf 18—precedes the main agent 4 in the direction of flight 10. Figure 1 The projectile 30 is symbolically indicated. The projectile 30 then also has an axial velocity VA, which is composed of the above-explained basic velocity V0 of the projectile means 28 as the first summand and an additional velocity imparted by the conversion of the explosive 14 as the second summand. In this case, both axial velocities VA of fragments 20 and projectile 30 are equal.

[0053] In the present case, the projectile means 28 contains a coating 32 forming the projectile 30. This coating is designed here—similarly to the fragmentation body 26—as a disc 33 extending transversely to the longitudinal axis 8. The disc 33 is arranged concentrically within the circular ring 27; the fragmentation body 26 and the coating 32 are thus located at the same axial position along the longitudinal axis 8 and together form a continuous end face 34 of the precursor charge 6.

[0054] The projectile means 28 is therefore arranged / attached / held to the casing 12 by means of a part of the fragmentation means 16, namely the fragmentation body 26.

[0055] The entire precursor charge 6 is round in cross-section relative to the longitudinal axis 8, in this case circular. In the tandem active agent 2, a transverse dimension Q transverse to the longitudinal axis 8, in this case a diameter, of the precursor charge 6 corresponds to that of the main active agent 4. The main active agent 4 contains a main charge 36, indicated only symbolically here, which in turn contains a shaped charge 38.

[0056] Figure 2 shows - strongly symbolized - the use of the tandem agent 2 from Figure 1 against a target 40, here a main battle tank, which is equipped with both a front armour 42, here a reactive armour, in front of a main armour 43 and with an active protection system not shown further. Figure 2This shows a combat scenario with tandem weapon 2 with precursor charge 6, with increased standoff (thanks to projectile 30) and an extended effective spectrum (burst 18 of fragments 20). Upon detection of the attacking tandem weapon 2, the active protection system of the target 40 sends ballistic defense devices 44 toward the tandem weapon 2 to intercept it. Figure 2 symbolically shows only one of the defense bodies 44.

[0057] At a time t1, the tandem missile 2 has already been fired or launched towards the target 40 and is in flight towards the target 40 along the flight direction 10, which coincides with its longitudinal axis 8. The tandem missile 2 is therefore flying towards the target 40.

[0058] At a later time t2, the tandem agent 2 initiates its precursor charge 6 (indicated by an asterisk). In this case, initiation occurs by detonating the explosive 14. This initiates the fragmentation agent 16 to emit the fragments 20 and the projectile agent 28 to form and emit the projectile 30. The time t2 is chosen by the tandem agent 2 such that it is the time at which the target's active protection system 40 has detected the tandem agent 2 and initiates its countermeasure, namely, the release of the defense bodies 44 toward the tandem agent 2. At time t2, the tandem active agent 2 is located at the so-called detection point 48 of the target 40, i.e. at the distance from the target 40 at which the active protection system detects the tandem active agent 2 and initiates the countermeasure (emission of the defense bodies 44).

[0059] At a later time t3, the result of the ignition of the precursor charge 6 can be seen: Both the projectile 30 and the burst 18 (indicated here by dashed lines) of the fragmentation 20 (four fragmentation devices are shown) now precede the main weapon 4 in the direction of flight 10. Here, it can be seen that the projectile device 28 and the fragmentation device 16 are coordinated in such a way that the projectile 30 does not precede the burst 18, but moves with the burst 18 at its front end 46 as seen in the direction of flight 10. The defense body 44 is now moving opposite the direction of flight 10 towards the remaining main weapon 4 of the tandem weapon 2. The (P-charge) projectile 30, together with a dense (fragmentation) spray 18, thus precedes the main charge 36 (main active agent 4) and passes the point of encounter (interception point 50) of the active protection system of the target 40. The main charge 36 approaches the point of encounter (interception point 50).The interception point 50 is the distance from the target 40 at which the defense body 44 should, as planned, hit the skin agent 4 and intercept / destroy / neutralize it (see time t5, below).

[0060] However, at a later time t4, the leading burst 18 of fragments 20 and the defense body 44 collide. The defense body 44 is destroyed or intercepted by the fragments 20, which is again indicated by a star. The projectile 30 has now passed the interceptor body 44. The (fragment) burst 18 thus reaches the effector (defense body 44) of the active protection system before it reaches the point of impact (interception point 50). The effector (defense body 44) is destroyed by the (fragment) burst 18.

[0061] This prevents the following situation, which should have occurred at a later time t5 as planned, which is why it is Figure 2is only indicated by dashed lines. The purpose of the active protection system of target 40 would be for defense body 44 and main agent 4 to collide at interception point 50, and for main agent 4 to be destroyed by defense body 44; again symbolically indicated by a star. Main agent 4 would then no longer be able to reach target 40. In fact, however, defense body 44 had already been destroyed at the previous time t4, and the effects of the destruction had subsided—far enough away from main agent 4. Main agent 4 can continue flying towards target 40 unhindered. Thanks to the successful defense of defense body 44 by burst 18, main agent 4 is now actually approaching target 40.

[0062] At a later time t6, the projectile 30 arrives at the target 40 and penetrates its front armour 42, thus preparing a path 52 for the main weapon 4 through the front armour 42 on or along the direction of flight 10.

[0063] At a later time t7, the main weapon 2 then reaches the target 40 or its main armor 43 on the path 52 through the front armor 42 that has been destroyed or removed there, can overcome it and finally act against the target 40, again indicated by a star.

[0064] As a result, the (P-charge) projectile 30 successfully reaches the target 40 at time t6 and can act against the front armor 42. The target 40 is now unprotected or only protected by its main armor 43, and the main charge 36 can act against the main armor 43 of the target 40 at time t7. List of reference symbols

[0065] 2Tandem agent 4Main agent 6Precursor charge 8Longitudinal axis 10Flight direction 12Case 14Explosive 15Arrow 16Fragmentation agent 18Blade 20Fragment 22Fragmentation insert 24Inner surface 26Fragment body 27Annulus 28Projectile agent 30Projectile 32Coating 33Disk 34Face (precursor charge) 36Main charge 38Shaped charge 40Target 42Frontal armor 43Main armor 44Defensive body 46Front 48Acquisition point 50Interception point 52Path VElocity V0Base velocity VAAxial velocity VRRadial velocity QTransverse extent

Claims

1. Tandem effector (2) with a precursor charge (6) and with a main effector (4), - wherein the precursor charge (6) extends along a longitudinal axis (8) and is fitted as intended in front of the main effector (4) of the tandem effector (2) in a flight direction (10) thereof that is coincident with the longitudinal axis (8), wherein the precursor charge (6) has: - a casing (12), - an explosive (14) arranged in the casing (12), characterized in that the precursor charge has: - a projectile means (28) which is fitted on the casing (12) and is configured to respond to the explosive (14) being set off by sending out an armour-piercing projectile (30) which precedes the main effector (4) in the flight direction (10), - a fragmenting means (16) which is fitted on the casing (12) and is configured to respond to the explosive (14) being set off by sending out a focussed burst of fire (18) which precedes the main effector (4) in the flight direction (10) and is composed of a multiplicity of fragments (20), wherein the burst of fire (18) is focussed by a radial velocity (VR) of the fragments being at most a fifth of the axial velocity (VA) thereof.

2. Tandem effector (2) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fragmenting means (16) includes a fragmenting liner (22) which has the form of a cylindrical sheath with respect to the longitudinal axis (8) and / or is arranged on an inner surface (24) of the casing.

3. Tandem effector (2) according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fragmenting means (16) includes a fragmenting body (26) which has the form of a circular ring (27) running transversely to the longitudinal axis (8).

4. Tandem effector (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projectile means (28) includes a covering (32) which forms the projectile (30) and is in the form of a disc running transversely to the longitudinal axis (8).

5. Tandem effector (2) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the disc (33) is arranged concentrically within the circular ring (27).

6. Tandem effector (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projectile means (28) and the fragmenting means (16) are coordinated with one other in such a way that the projectile (30) precedes the burst of fire (18) or moves along with the front (46) thereof that is foremost in the flight direction (10).

7. Tandem effector (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the precursor charge (6) is of a round construction in cross section with respect to the longitudinal axis (8).

8. Tandem effector (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transverse extent (Q) transverse to the longitudinal axis (8) of the precursor charge (6) corresponds to that of the main effector (4).

9. Tandem effector (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the main effector (4) includes a main charge (36).

10. Tandem effector according to Claim 9, characterized in that the main charge (36) includes a hollow charge (38).

11. Method for engaging a target (40) with the aid of a tandem effector (2) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, which includes a main effector (4) and a precursor charge (6) which in turn includes a projectile means (28) which, on initiation, sends out an armour-piercing projectile (30) and a fragmenting means (16) which, on initiation, sends out fragments (20) in the form of a focussed burst of fire (18), in which method: - the tandem effector (2) is fired at the target (40), - at a specific point in time (t2) before striking of the target (40), the precursor charge (6) is initiated, as a result of which the projectile (30) and the fragments (20) in the form of the focussed burst of fire (18) are each sent out towards the target (40) so as to precede the main effector (2) in the flight direction (10), - wherein the burst of fire (18) is focussed by the fragments (20) being imparted with a radial velocity (VR) of at most a fifth of the axial velocity (VA) thereof.

12. Method according to Claim 11, characterized in that the selected point in time is the time at which an active defence system of the target which is sending out a defence body towards the munition detects the munition or at least sends out a defence body.

13. Method according to either of Claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the point in time is selected such that the burst of fire strikes defence bodies at such a distance from the main effector that is greater than an effective range of the defence bodies.

14. Method according to one of Claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the selected point in time is the time at which the tandem effector is between 5 and 25 metres away from the target.