Explosive reactive armor

Abstract

The present disclosure introduces an improved / special configuration of an explosive reactive armor (ERA), intended for use on armored vehicles and other protected structures. The ERA incorporates an explosive material that reacts upon impact by an incoming threat in order to disrupt, deflect, or degrade the effectiveness of that threat. The configuration described is specifically engineered to address limitations of conventional ERA systems when confronting modern anti-armor munitions, including shaped-charge and tandem-charge threats, while avoiding the need for external angling or geometric modification of the protected platform.

Description

[0001] EXPLOSIVE REACTIVE ARMOR TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of reactive armor, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a type of explosive reactive armor (ERA) that is suited for defending armored vehicles against anti-tank warhead.

[0003] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Armored vehicles are continuously subjected to evolving threats, necessitating advancements in protective technologies. One such innovation is explosive reactive armor (ERA), designed to counteract high-velocity penetrators and shaped charge warheads. Unlike passive armor, which relies solely on material strength and thickness, reactive armor incorporates explosive or dynamic components that actively disrupt incoming projectiles upon impact.

[0005] The fundamental principle of reactive armor is to introduce a counterforce against the attacking munition, thereby reducing its effectiveness. This is typically achieved through the explosive reactive armor (ERA), where a sandwich of explosive material between metal plates detonates upon impact, pushing the plates outward to alter the trajectory and dissipate the energy of the penetrator (Fig. 1).

[0006] A key factor influencing the effectiveness of ERA is the angle of the reactive plates relative to the incoming threat and the length of the plates that are disrupting the incoming threat. The angle determines how efficiently the armor’ s movement disrupts the penetrator’ s path, affecting parameters such as the degree of lateral deflection applied to the projectile; the velocity component of the reactive plate that interacts with the penetrator / jet; and the overall energy dissipation achieved through dynamic interaction. Optimal angling of reactive elements enhances protection by maximizing disruption and deflection, rather than merely absorbing kinetic energy.

[0007] As used in the present disclosure, the term “NATO angle” refers to an angle of inclination between the normal to the front plate of the ERA relative to the vector / trajectory of the attacking threat. Typically, ERA is mounted with a NATO angle that is well above zero. Studies found, for example, that NATO inclinations around 45° to 60° are particularly effective for disruption of incoming threats.One strategy that is known to be effective against explosive reactive armor is a tandem charge. A tandem charge is a weapon that explodes in two stages. The first stage of the weapon is typically a small front charge that detonates the armor, causing the metal plates to move and clear the area for the entry of the main charge. The second detonation from the same threat (which defines it as a tandem charge) attacks the same location as the first detonation where the reactive armor has been compromised. Since the structural armor plating is often the only defense remaining, the main charge (second detonation) has an increased likelihood of perforating the armor and the base structure.

[0008] PUBLICATIONS

[0009] [1] US Patent Publication No. 2018 / 0299229

[0010] [2] US Patent Publication No. 2020 / 0278181.

[0011] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present disclosure introduces an improved / special configuration of an explosive reactive armor (ERA), intended for use on armored vehicles and other protected structures. The ERA incorporates an explosive material that reacts upon impact by an incoming threat in order to disrupt, deflect, or degrade the effectiveness of that threat. The configuration described herein is specifically engineered to address limitations of conventional ERA systems when confronting modem anti-armor munitions, including shaped-charge and tandem-charge threats, while avoiding the need for external angling or geometric modification of the protected platform.

[0013] In accordance with the present disclosure, the ERA is configured to maintain high effectiveness even when mounted at a NATO impact angle of zero, meaning that the incoming threat impacts substantially normal to the front surface of the armor panel. As indicated above, a “NATO angle of zero” refers to an impact geometry in which the longitudinal axis of the incoming munition is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the front plate of the reactive armor. This capability is particularly advantageous because it allows the armor system to be integrated into existing vehicle geometries without increasing vehicle silhouette, altering exterior shaping, or relying on oblique mounting angles that are traditionally required for reactive armor effectiveness.

[0014] According to a first aspect, the invention provides a reactive armor panel comprising an enclosure defining an internal volume, a sheet of at least one reactive high-explosive material mounted to an internal wall of said enclosure, wherein the sheet is configured, upon detonation of the explosive material, to generate a focused shock wave, a focused jet, or both, directed toward an exterior-facing portion of the enclosure, and wherein a remainder of the internal volume comprises a filler material, as defined herein.

[0015] As will be further explained hereinbelow, the generation of a focused shock wave, a focused jet, or both, is achievable by a plurality of shaped features present on an inner-facing surface of the sheet of the at least one reactive high-explosive material.

[0016] Thus, the invention further provides a reactive armor panel comprising an enclosure defining an internal volume, a sheet of at least one reactive high-explosive material is mounted to an internal wall of said enclosure,

[0017] wherein the sheet comprises an inner-facing surface comprising a plurality of surface features projecting into and / or out from the sheet,

[0018] wherein said features comprising at least one material different from said high-explosive material, and / or wherein said features are mounted onto or associated to said inner-facing surface of the sheet of high-explosive material; and

[0019] wherein a remainder of the internal volume comprises a filler material.

[0020] The reactive armor panel of the invention is configured to be mounted on a vehicle or on an armor layer associated with the vehicle and is particularly directed to defeating shaped-charge munitions, including tandem shaped-charge threats. The system comprises an enclosure within which is positioned a sheet of an explosive material mounted to an internal wall of the enclosure. The enclosure defines an internal volume that, apart from the explosive sheet, is occupied by a filler, such as air, an inert gas, a foam material, or any inert filler material that does not itself contribute to the explosive function.

[0021] It should be understood that all components of panels of the invention are integral to and contained within said enclosure. None of the components of the panel are moveable or can transition within or out from the enclosure.

[0022] In some embodiments, the sheet of the explosive material is a single material sheet; namely it is not a stacked layer of multiple sheets of explosive materials.

[0023] The explosive sheet is characterized in that it does not present a planar inner-facing surface. Instead, the sheet comprises an inner-facing surface oriented toward the internal volume of the enclosure and an opposing outer-facing surface oriented toward the internal wall of the enclosure. The inner-facing surface comprises a plurality of outwardly facing features defined as bumps, protrusions, raised regions, or analogoussurface formations projecting away from the sheet and toward the internal volume. These outwardly facing features may be discrete or continuous and may vary in shape, size, and distribution across the sheet.

[0024] The inner-facing surface of the sheet also or alternatively comprises inwardly facing features defined as holes, recesses, or surface features having cavities formed therein. In some embodiments, the holes or cavities extend partially into the thickness of the explosive sheet, while in other embodiments the holes or cavities extend substantially through the sheet. The inwardly facing features may be aligned with, offset from, or independent of the outwardly facing protrusions and may themselves and independently be discrete or continuous, vary in shape, size, and distribution across the sheet.

[0025] A combination of inwardly facing and outwardly facing features results in a non-uniform internal geometry of the explosive sheet. This geometry is configured to influence detonation behavior of the explosive material such that, upon detonation, the explosive sheet generates focused shockwaves, jet-like effects, or a combination thereof. In particular, the interaction between the surface features causes detonation products and high-pressure gases to be preferentially directed rather than expanding isotropically.

[0026] In some embodiments, one or more, or a plurality, or all the herein described surface features may function as shaped cavities or may cooperate with the surrounding explosive material to produce a directed energy effect upon detonation. The outwardly facing protrusions further contribute to shaping the detonation front and concentrating energy within the internal volume of the enclosure. As a result, the explosive sheet itself acts as an energy-shaping element.

[0027] In some embodiments, the surface features are cavities, voids, recesses, or contoured volumes formed adjacent to or within the energetic material. These features may have a conical, hemispherical, arcuate, or otherwise non-planar geometry. In some embodiments, the features may include or be associated with a liner or shaped elements, or themselves be shaped elements. Where a liner is present, it may be formed from a dense, deformable material and is positioned along the surface of the feature or cavity. Upon detonation, the liner material is driven by a collapsing detonation front and forms a high-velocity jet or slug. In some embodiments, no separate liner is required, and the feature or cavity geometry alone is sufficient to produce a focused shockwave or jet-like effect from detonation products and surrounding material.The inwardly and outwardly features are not particles or a particulate material of any type. In fact, panels of the invention do not require presence and are free of solid or rigid particles of any type, shape and size.

[0028] In some embodiments, the inwardly and outwardly oriented features (collectively referred to as ‘features) are a plurality of charge elements mounted onto or associated with the sheet of high-explosive material.

[0029] In the context of a reactive armor panel of the invention, the charge elements may be explosive elements that upon detonation generate a focused detonation effect such as a focused shock wave or a focused j et.

[0030] In some embodiments, the charge elements are shaped charges, as known in the art.

[0031] The charge elements may be integrated into the explosive sheet, or formed on it as discrete, standalone warheads. In some embodiments, the charge elements may be formed directly in the explosive sheet. The effect by the charge element is then used not for penetration, but to disrupt, deflect, or destabilize the incoming munition.

[0032] In some embodiments, the sheet of the high-energy explosive material may be configured to be operatively associated with a plurality of charge elements distributed along or within the sheet. The sheet may be arranged such that activation of the explosive material upon detonation propagates along the sheet and induces activation of the associated charge elements in a coordinated or substantially simultaneous manner. The association between the sheet and the plurality of charge elements may be achieved through physical contact, embedded coupling, mechanical integration, adhesive means, and others, depending on the intended mode of activation.

[0033] In some embodiments, activation of the charge elements may be facilitated through an initiation architecture extending along at least a portion of the high-explosive sheet. The initiation architecture may comprise a propagation medium capable of transmitting an activation signal or energy impulse between regions of the sheet and the charge elements. The propagation media may include conductive pathways, signaltransmission lines, optical transmission elements such as fiber-based conduits, or other energy-delivery structures configured to deliver a triggering stimulus. In some embodiments, activation may be achieved through electrical signaling, optical stimulation such as a directed light source, laser-based triggering, or other remote or localized initiation mechanisms. In alternative or additional embodiments, activation may occur viaa distributed propagation element such as a blasting or a detonation cord arranged along the film that enables sequential or coordinated activation of the plurality of reactive elements.

[0034] In some embodiments, the activation of the high-explosive sheet and / or the charge elements is not by a triggering screen. In some embodiments, the reactive armor panel of the invention does not contain a triggering screen.

[0035] The sheet may be configured to ensure that activation of one region initiates activation of additional regions in a controlled manner, thereby providing coordinated response across multiple charge elements. The structural arrangement may include one or more embedded channels, coupling interfaces, or signal-routing structures that facilitate reliable activation transmission. The sheet of the high-explosive material and the associated charge elements may be arranged in a linear, planar, or patterned configuration, and may be adapted to conform to a surface or structure. Such a sheet assembly enables distributed activation across multiple charge elements through a unified triggering architecture, providing controlled synchronization and spatial coordination of the charge elements without requiring independent initiation of each charge.

[0036] In some embodiments, a reactive armor panel comprises the sheet of the high-energy explosive material operatively associated with a plurality of charge elements, such as shaped charges, that are distributed along or within the sheet; and wherein each of the plurality of charge elements is directly or indirectly associated with the sheet through physical contact, embedded coupling, mechanical integration, or adhesive means, and is activated by electrical signaling, optical stimulation such as a directed light source, laserbased triggering, or remote or localized initiation mechanisms.

[0037] In some embodiments, a reactive armor panel of the invention thus comprises an enclosure defining an internal volume, a sheet of at least one reactive high-explosive material mounted to an internal wall of said enclosure,

[0038] wherein the sheet having an inner-facing surface associated with a plurality of charge elements optionally comprising at least one liner material different from said high-explosive material; the sheet being arranged such that activation of the explosive material upon detonation propagates along the sheet and induces activation of the associated plurality of charge elements in a coordinated or a simultaneous manner; and wherein a remainder of the internal volume comprises a filler material.The internal volume of the enclosure provides a controlled space in which the focused shockwave or jet produced by the explosive sheet can form and propagate. The enclosure confines and guides the detonation effects such that the focused shockwave or jet is directed toward an exterior-facing portion of the enclosure and toward an incoming threat. When the reactive armor system is mounted on an external surface of a vehicle, or on a passive or active armor layer associated with the vehicle, the focused detonation effect is directed outwardly from the vehicle structure.

[0039] Upon interaction with a shaped-charge munition, the reactive armor panel of the invention generates concentrated shockwaves and / or jets that disrupt formation, coherence or alignment of the incoming munition. This disruption reduces the penetration capability of the munition before it can reach the underlying armor or vehicle structure. The panel is particularly effective against tandem shaped-charge munitions in which a precursor charge and a main charge are intended to defeat reactive armors and subsequently penetrate the vehicle. The focused detonation effect produced by the explosive sheet interferes with the intended operation of one or both charges, thereby degrading the effectiveness of the munition.

[0040] When used in combination with underlying passive or reactive armor layers, the system provides a staged protective response in which the incoming munition is first disrupted by the reactive armor panel of the invention and then further mitigated by the underlying armor. In this manner, the disclosed reactive armor panel employs an explosive sheet having surface features such as charge elements, e.g., shaped charges, to generate focused detonation effects, thereby providing enhanced protection against advanced shaped-charge munitions while remaining compatible with modular and retrofit vehicle armor architectures.

[0041] The sheet of the at least one reactive high-explosive material may be formed of or comprised of one or more high-explosive materials as known in the art. Such materials may be selected from hexahydro-1, 3, 5-trinitro-l, 3, 5-triazine (RDX), octahydro- 1,3, 5, 7-tetranitro-l,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), or polymer-bonded explosive formulations, as known in the art, or functional equivalents thereof.

[0042] In some embodiments, the sheet of the explosive material may have a thickness in the range of approximately 1 mm to approximately 20 mm, or between 1 and 10 mm; and wherein the thickness of the panel as a whole may be set accordingly.The sheet is mounted on an inner surface of the enclosure that is positioned closer to the vehicle or underlying armor structure when the reactive armor system is installed. In this configuration, a first surface of the sheet is secured to the inner surface of the enclosure, while an opposing surface of the sheet faces the internal volume of the enclosure. The enclosure may be arranged such that the surface of the sheet facing the internal volume is oriented away from the vehicle.

[0043] The enclosure may be formed of a field-durable material that is capable of maintaining structural integrity and functional performance when exposed to environmental and operational battel field conditions. Such conditions may include, without limitation, temperature fluctuations, humidity, precipitation, ultraviolet radiation, particulate exposure, mechanical vibration, mechanical impact, abrasion, corrosion and chemical exposure. The material may thus be selected to retain sufficient mechanical strength, dimensional stability and functional continuity as an enclosure, protecting its internal components to perform their intended purposes throughout a defined operational period without degradation or damage. Compositionally, the enclosure material may comprise a metallic material, a polymeric material, a ceramic material, a composite material, or combinations thereof. Metallic materials may include, for example, steels (including carbon steels and stainless steels) and aluminum alloys. Polymeric materials may include, for example, reinforced polymers. Ceramic materials may include, for example, oxides, carbides, nitrides, or other inorganic compounds. Composite materials may include, for example, fiber-reinforced polymers, metal-matrix composites, ceramicmatrix composites, and others.

[0044] In some embodiments, the enclosure is formed of a metallic material such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, armor steel or titanium; or any other metal or alloy thereof.

[0045] In contrast to conventional ERA systems that rely primarily on plate motion induced by detonation at oblique angles, the panel disclosed herein is designed to generate a concentrated and directed blast effect that remains effective at zero impact angle. Upon initiation by an incoming threat, the shaped sheet of the explosive material directs energy toward the threat in a controlled manner, thereby degrading or neutralizing the threat even when the angle of incidence would render traditional ERA ineffective. In some embodiments, the sheet is configured to produce a multi-directional blast or jet effect, meaning that energy is distributed along multiple vectors. This multi-directional effectincreases the likelihood of disrupting the threat regardless of its precise angle of approach and is particularly effective against threats impacting at or near a NATO zero-angle condition.

[0046] In some implementations, the reactive armor panel is part of a multi-layer protection system, which may comprise a combination of panels according to the invention and additional armor layers, which may include passive armor, non-explosive reactive armor, or additional reactive layers positioned behind the reactive armor panel(s) of the invention. These additional layers are configured to mitigate residual threats, fragments, or penetrators that may remain following detonation of the reactive elements.

[0047] In some implementations, the explosive material is configured to generate a sequential or overlapping blast effect when being hit by the threat, or upon engagement with an incoming threat. The sequential blast effect may exhibit a detonation sequence in which distinct explosive responses occur at different times or locations, with multiple blast or jet formations occurring in close temporal or spatial proximity. The sequential blast effect is particularly effective at neutralizing tandem-charge munitions, where a precursor charge is followed by a main charge. In such cases, the sequential response disrupts the precursor charge and the main charge.

[0048] The reactive armor configuration disclosed herein is engineered to provide effective protection across a wide range of impact angles while maintaining peak performance at a NATO zero-impact angle, a condition under which many conventional ERA systems exhibit reduced or negligible effectiveness. The panel of the invention may be implemented as part of a new vehicle design or used to upgrade existing passive or reactive armor systems already mounted on a vehicle, thereby enhancing survivability without significant structural modification.

[0049] In some embodiments, a protective system used for protecting armored vehicles against certain types of anti-armor threats, may comprise a single panel according to the invention or a plurality of such panels. An assembly comprising a plurality of discrete panels may be configured to be applied to an external surface of an armored vehicle in a distributed manner so as to provide surface coverage across a defined area. The panels may thus be planar in their undeployed state or may be configured to assume a three-dimensional shape upon application, such as through elastic deformation, thermoforming, pre-curvature, segmentation, articulation, or conformable substrate design. The panelsmay be arranged in overlapping, edge-abutting, tessellated or partially spaced configurations to collectively define a substantially continuous protective surface.

[0050] In some embodiments, the panels may be pre-shaped to approximate portions of a three-dimensional contour prior to installation.

[0051] A plurality of panels may be distributed laterally across a vehicle exterior such that, when applied, they collectively provide substantially complete coverage of the vehicle contour, including curved panels, edges, transitions between surfaces, and non-planar regions.

[0052] Accordingly, the invention further provides a protective system comprising a host structure (e.g., a vehicle, a turret, or a protective enclosure) and at least one reactive armor panel, as described herein, wherein when two or more panels are present, the panels are arranged in a tiled or overlapping pattern with other same or different panels to provide a contiguous coverage over a selected area.

[0053] In some embodiments, the system comprises a mounting interface configured to mechanically couple each of the at least one panels to an existing passive armor module or reactive armor array via mechanical means (such as replaceable fasteners, rails, brackets, clamps, or interlocking features), enabling field replacement without removal of the underlying armor structure.

[0054] In some embodiments, the system comprises one or more spacers, stand-offs, or compliant interface features establishing a controlled separation between the enclosure external wall and an outer surface of the host structure.

[0055] In some embodiments, the reactive armor panel is configured to be installed on passive armor types including metallic, ceramic-faced, composite, or layered passive arrays, with a base plate forming the back of the enclosure functioning as an interface layer distributing loads and mitigating local stress concentrations.

[0056] In some embodiments, the reactive armor panel is configured as an add-on or retrofit layer positioned outboard of an existing reactive armor array, such that the addon panel provides a first-stage reactive response and the underlying array provides a second-stage response.

[0057] Each of the at least one panels of the invention may be mounted substantially parallel to the underlying host or vehicle surface, corresponding to an orientation of approximately zero degrees relative to the local surface plane. In some embodiments, the panel(s) may be mounted at a defined angle relative to a reference plane, such as theground plane or horizon, depending on installation requirements and the geometry of the host. The mounting angle may be any angel relative to the ground of the horizon, as determined suitable by the practitioner. For example, in some cases, the angle may range from about 0° up to about 60° relative to the ground or horizon, including any intermediate angle therebetween. By way of example, the panel(s) may be mounted at approximately 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 30°, 45°, or 60°, or at any sub-range within 0° to 60°, depending on desired coverage characteristics and surface contour adaptation. The angular disposition may be uniform across the vehicle or may vary from region to region to accommodate complex geometries, including sloped panels, curved sections, or multifaceted surfaces.

[0058] In some embodiments, the panel(s) may be mounted at an angle relative to the ground while remaining substantially flush or conformal to the local vehicle surface, whereas in other embodiments, the panel(s) may be intentionally offset or tilted relative to the surface plane to achieve a desired spatial orientation. Accordingly, the mounting configuration encompasses planar alignment, angled alignment, and variable-angle alignment within the stated range, such that the distributed panels collectively conform to and cover the three-dimensional contour of the vehicle.

[0059] In some embodiments, the panels are oriented or angled relative to the host surface to provide optimized protection against anticipated approach vectors, while maintaining a defined zero-impact-angle performance capability for selected regions.

[0060] The invention further provides a method of mounting a reactive armor panel according to the invention on a host structure, as defined herein, the method comprising positioning at least one reactive armor panel enclosure on an exterior surface of the host structure; and mechanically securing the enclosure to the host structure or to an armor layer mounted on the host structure, wherein the reactive armor panel is mounted in a manner permitting replacement of the panel without removal of the host structure or the armor layer mounted on the host structure. In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a host structure selected from a vehicle, turret, or protective enclosure.

[0061] In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a reactive armor panel according to the invention.

[0062] In some embodiments, the mechanically securing the enclosure comprises attaching the enclosure directly to a passive armor layer mounted on the host structure. In some embodiments, the mechanically securing the enclosure comprises attaching thereofto an existing reactive armor module mounted on the host structure. In some embodiments, the mechanically securing the enclosure comprises engaging the enclosure with a mounting interface selected from brackets, rails, fasteners, clamps, or interlocking features.

[0063] In some embodiments, the positioning of the reactive armor panel comprises orienting the panel such that a direction of the focused shockwave and / or jet is substantially normal to an exterior surface of the host structure.

[0064] In some embodiments, the method further comprises aligning the reactive armor panel relative to an anticipated threat direction. In some embodiments, the method further comprises aligning the reactive armor panel relative to an anticipated threat direction corresponding to a nominal zero impact angle.

[0065] In some embodiments, the method further comprises mounting a plurality of reactive armor panels on the host structure to form an array providing a contiguous protective coverage.

[0066] In some embodiments, the adjacent reactive armor panels are mounted with overlapping edges or controlled gaps to reduce line-of-sight exposure between panels.

[0067] In some embodiments, the at least one reactive armor panel in the array is oriented at a different angle relative to the host structure than an adjacent panel.

[0068] In some embodiments, the host is a pre-existing vehicle, and the reactive armor panel is mounted as a retrofit without structural modification of the vehicle body.

[0069] In some embodiments, the host is a ground vehicle selected from a tank, infantry fighting vehicle, armored personnel carrier, or tactical vehicle.

[0070] In some embodiments, the reactive armor panel is mounted on at least one of a hull surface, turret surface, roof surface, side surface, or frontal surface of the host structure.

[0071] The invention further provides a host structure, such as an armored vehicle, the host structure comprising a surface defining a contour and at least one reactive armor panel mounted on the surface, wherein the at least one reactive armor panel is secured to the surface at an orientation that is parallel to the surface or at a non-zero angle relative to a reference plane.

[0072] In some embodiments, the host structure comprises an assembly or a plurality of panels.In some embodiments, the at least one panel is mounted on a mounted on an external surface of the host structure, or on a passive or active armor layer associated with the host structure.

[0073] In some embodiments, the host structure is an armored vehicle.

[0074] In some embodiments, the host structure is an armored vehicle having an armor layer mounted thereon.

[0075] The invention further provides:

[0076] A reactive armor panel comprising an enclosure defining an internal volume, a sheet of at least one reactive high-explosive material is mounted to an internal wall of said enclosure, wherein the sheet is configured, upon detonation of the explosive material, to generate a focused shock wave, a focused jet, or both, directed toward an exteriorfacing portion of the enclosure, and wherein a remainder of the internal volume comprises a filler material.

[0077] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the sheet comprises an inner-facing surface comprising a plurality of surface features projecting into and / or out from the sheet.

[0078] A reactive armor panel is provided which comprises an enclosure defining an internal volume, a sheet of at least one reactive high-explosive material is mounted to an internal wall of said enclosure, wherein the sheet comprises an inner-facing surface comprising a plurality of surface features projecting into and / or out from the sheet, wherein said features comprising at least one material different from said high-explosive material, and / or wherein said features are mounted onto or associated to said inner-facing surface of the sheet of high-explosive material; and wherein a remainder of the internal volume comprises a filler material.

[0079] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, wherein the panel being mounted on a vehicle or on an armor layer associated with the vehicle.

[0080] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, wherein the armor layer is a passive or a reactive layer.

[0081] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the panel is configured to defeat shaped-charge munitions, and tandem shaped-charge munitions.

[0082] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the filler material is air, an inert gas, or a foam material.In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the explosive sheet does not present a planar inner-facing surface.

[0083] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the inner-facing surface having a plurality of surface features being outwardly facing or inwardly facing features.

[0084] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the inner-facing surface oriented toward the internal volume of the enclosure comprises a plurality of outwardly facing features.

[0085] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the outwardly facing features are selected from bumps, protrusions, raised regions, or analogous surface formations projecting away from the sheet and toward the internal volume.

[0086] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the inner-facing surface of the sheet comprises inwardly facing features.

[0087] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the inwardly facing features are selected from holes, recesses, or surface features having cavities formed therein.

[0088] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the features are aligned with, offset from, or independent of each other and are independently discrete or continuous, vary in shape, size, and distribution across the sheet.

[0089] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the features are charge elements.

[0090] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, charge elements are shaped charges.

[0091] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the sheet of the at least one reactive high-explosive material is formed of or comprised of one or more high-explosive materials selected from RDX, HMX, PETN, TNT, or polymer-bonded explosive formulations.

[0092] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the sheet is mounted on an inner surface of the enclosure that is positioned closer to the vehicle or underlying armor structure when the reactive armor panel is installed.

[0093] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the sheet of the high-energy explosive material is configured to be operatively associated with a plurality of shaped charges distributed along or within the sheet.In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the sheet is arranged such that activation of the explosive material upon detonation propagates along the sheet and induces activation of the associated shaped charges in a coordinated or simultaneous manner.

[0094] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, association between the sheet and the plurality of shaped charges is achieved through physical contact, embedded coupling, mechanical integration, or adhesive means.

[0095] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, activation of the shaped charges is facilitated through an initiation architecture extending along at least a portion of the high-explosive sheet.

[0096] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the initiation architecture comprises a propagation medium capable of transmitting an activation signal or energy impulse between regions of the sheet and the shaped charges.

[0097] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the propagation medium comprises one or more of conductive pathways, signal-transmission lines, optical transmission elements and energy-delivery structures configured to deliver a triggering stimulus.

[0098] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the activation is achieved through electrical signaling, optical stimulation or a remote or a localized initiation mechanism.

[0099] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the activation is achieved via a distributed propagation element arranged along the sheet that enables sequential or coordinated activation of the plurality of reactive elements.

[0100] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the shaped charges associated with the sheet are arranged in a linear, planar, or patterned configuration.

[0101] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, a reactive armor comprises an enclosure defining an internal volume, a sheet of at least one reactive high-explosive material mounted to an internal wall of said enclosure,

[0102] wherein the sheet having an inner-facing surface associated with a plurality of charge elements optionally comprising at least one liner material different from said high-explosive material; the sheet being arranged such that activation of the explosive material upon detonation propagates along the sheet and induces activation of the associated plurality of shaped charges in a coordinated or a simultaneous manner; andwherein a remainder of the internal volume comprises a filler material.

[0103] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the charge elements are shaped charges.

[0104] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the enclosure is formed of a metallic material, a polymeric material or a composite material.

[0105] In some configurations of a panel according to the invention, the panel is configured as an add-on or retrofit layer positioned outboard of an existing reactive armor, such that the add-on panel provides a first-stage reactive response and the underlying reactive armor provides a second-stage response.

[0106] A protection system is provided, which comprises at least one panel according to any configuration of the invention.

[0107] In some configurations of a system according to the invention, the system comprising a combination of the reactive armor panels and additional armor layers, wherein said additional armor layers are configured to mitigate residual threats, fragments, or penetrators remaining following detonation of the reactive armor panel.

[0108] In some configurations of a system according to the invention, the system comprising a host structure and a plurality of reactive armor panels, wherein each of the panels are arranged in a tiled or overlapping pattern with other same or different panels to provide a contiguous coverage over a selected area.

[0109] A host structure is provided which comprises a surface defining a contour and at least one reactive armor panel mounted on the surface, wherein the at least one reactive armor panel is secured to the surface at an orientation that is parallel to the surface or at a non-zero angle relative to a reference plane; and wherein the panel is according to any configuration of the invention.

[0110] In some configurations of a structure according to the invention, the structure comprises an assembly or a plurality of panels.

[0111] In some configurations of a structure according to the invention, the at least one panel is mounted on an external surface of the host structure, or on a passive or active armor layer associated with the host structure.

[0112] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0113] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, byway of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0114] Fig- 1 demonstrates a system according to the state of the art. The upper drawing refers to the penetration reference of the threat in armor steel while the lower drawings show how efficiency of ERA is achieved by inclining the metal sandwich with respect to the threat trajectory.

[0115] Fig- 2 shows a reactive armor panel according to some embodiments of the invention.

[0116] Fig. 3 depicts a shockwave and jet formation against incoming threats at zero impact angle.

[0117] Fig- 4 demonstrates multi-directional shock wave / jet formation.

[0118] Fig. 5 shows a modular arrangement comprising a plurality of panels according to the invention.

[0119] Fig. 6 shows a system with a backing passive or reactive armor.

[0120] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0121] The present disclosure relates to the field of reactive armor, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to a type of explosive reactive armor that is suited for defending an armored vehicle / platform against a tandem warhead. In addition, the explosive reactive armor is configured to be applied onto the vehicle at zero NATO angle, thereby reducing the profile of the vehicle with respect to incoming munitions.

[0122] Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components and / or methods set forth in the following description and / or illustrated in Figs. 2 through 6 and / or the Examples. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

[0123] The present disclosure presents an improved configuration of explosive reactive armor (ERA). This configuration leverages high explosive (HE) with shaped features, e.g., cavities, and / or shaped elements, engineered to significantly enhance protection against modem anti-armor threats without the need to be angular to the threat. Advantageously, it is not necessary to angle the ERA relative to the vehicle. Rather, all that is required is to attach relatively thin panels to the vehicle’s wall.The ERA according to the present disclosure, achieves these objectives through the use of specific types of reactive elements within an enclosure or a housing. The reactive panel contains a high-explosive sheet that is configured to produce a focused blast wave or jet upon detonation.

[0124] The high-explosive sheet is configured to direct a concentrated shockwave and / or jet formation against incoming threats at zero impact angle. As a result, the charge is able to disrupt shaped-charge anti-tank warheads.

[0125] In some implementations, the high-explosive sheet is configured to create a multidirectional blast effect. For example, the multi-directional blast effect may extend radially outward in all directions. Advantageously, the multi-directional blast effect enables the blast to disrupt the incoming munition at any angle, including a zero-impact angle. The multi-directional blast effect also enables the neutralization of tandem-charge munitions.

[0126] Optionally, a reactive armor system includes multiple reactive panels arranged in a modular configuration. The modular configuration also enables any number of features, e.g., reactive shaped cavities or elements, to be included, in which the orientation of the different features is such that different elements explode in different directions. In addition, the modular configuration enables replacement of reactive panels in case of detonation of reactive elements.

[0127] One or more passive or reactive armor layers may be arranged behind the new reactive armor panels. The passive or reactive armor layers mitigate residual threats following detonation of the reactive elements.

[0128] Optionally, the intermediate high energy sheet is configured to generate a sequential or overlapping blast effect. The sequential blast effect is particularly effective at neutralizing tandem charges by neutralizing the main charge.

[0129] The system is engineered to provide optimal performance across a range of impact angles, while maintaining peak effectiveness at zero NATO angle. This marks a noted improvement over known explosive reactive armor systems, in which the NATO angle strongly impacts the effectiveness of the reactive armor against incoming munitions. Indeed, conventional reactive armor systems exhibit minimal or no effectiveness against incoming anti-tank munitions, when the reactive armor is arranged at a zero NATO angle relative to the body of the tank.

[0130] In sum, the system according to the present disclosure defines an innovative reactive armor panel and system that remains highly effective at near-normal impactangles, overcoming the limitations of traditional ERA while providing enhanced protection against modern anti-armor threats with minimal geometry (less than 100mm) at each side of the vehicle.

[0131] With reference to the figures:

[0132] As known in the art, a fundamental principle of reactive armor is to introduce a counterforce against the attacking munition, thereby reducing its effectiveness. This is typically achieved through an ERA formed as a sandwich of explosive material between metal plates, which is configured to detonate upon impact, pushing the metal plates outward to alter the trajectory and dissipate the energy of the penetrator.

[0133] Fig. 1 presents a comparative evaluation of different protective layer configurations against a shaped charge threat, showing the resulting effect on a steel structure behind the protection. Each row illustrates a different configuration, with the left side depicting the threat and protective arrangement, and the right side showing the resulting penetration profile in the steel structure.

[0134] At the top, labeled “Reference,” the shaped charge is shown impacting a bare steel structure with no additional protective layer. The corresponding steel structure image on the right shows a long, continuous penetration trace, indicating significant jet penetration through the steel. In the second example, labeled “20 mm HE (High Explosive),” a 20 mm high explosive layer is placed in front of the steel structure. The resulting penetration trace in the steel appears somewhat reduced compared to the reference, suggesting partial mitigation of the shaped charge jet but still substantial penetration. The third configuration, labeled “20 mm Mild Steel / 20 mm HE, 0°,” includes a 20 mm mild steel plate combined with a 20 mm high explosive layer arranged at 0° (i.e., perpendicular to the threat). The steel structure image shows a noticeably shorter penetration trace than the previous cases, indicating improved disruption of the shaped charge jet before it reaches the main structure. The fourth example, labeled “20 MS / 20 HE, 45°, ” presents the mild steel and high explosive layers oriented at a 45° angle relative to the incoming threat. The resulting penetration trace is significantly shorter and more localized, suggesting that the angled configuration further disrupts or deflects the jet, reducing its effectiveness. The final configuration, labeled “20 MS / 20HE / 20MS, 45°, ” adds an additional 20 mm mild steel layer in a layered configuration, also oriented at 45°. The resulting steel structure trace is minimal compared to the reference case, indicating the greatest reduction in penetration among the examples shown.Overall, Fig. 1 illustrates how different combinations and orientations of steel and high explosive layers affect the penetration performance of a shaped charge jet against a steel structure, with angled and layered configurations showing progressively improved mitigation.

[0135] Unlike an ERA panel of the art, a reactive armor panel according to the invention may be mounted onto a vehicle or any steel structure at any angle (Fig. 2). The panel may be directly amounted on the vehicle or on a passive or a reactive armor layer associated with the vehicle. Typically, but not necessarily, a dimensioned air gap is maintained between the vehicle or steel structure and the panel.

[0136] The panel shown in Fig. 2 comprises an enclosure that defines an internal volume. An internal surface of the enclosure is associated with a sheet of a high explosive material that is provided with a plurality of shaped cavities or shaped elements that act as charge elements. Upon interaction with a shaped-charge munition, the reactive armor panel generates a concentrated shockwave and / or jet that disrupts the munition. This disruption reduces the penetration capability of the munition before it can reach underlying armor or vehicle structure (Fig. 3). Because the focused shockwave or jet generated by the explosive sheet is directed substantially normal to the surface of the enclosure, the reactive armor panel remains effective against threats impacting at or near zero impact angle. When used in combination with underlying passive or reactive armor layers (Fig.

[0137] 6), the system provides a staged protective response in which the incoming munition is first disrupted by the reactive armor panel of the invention and then further mitigated by the underlying armor.

[0138] In contrast to conventional ERA systems that rely primarily on plate motion induced by detonation at oblique angles, the panel of the invention comprises a sheet of an explosive material that is configured to produce a multi-directional blast or jet effect (Fig. 4). In other words, the energy is distributed along multiple vectors. This multidirectional effect increases the likelihood of disrupting the threat regardless of its precise angle of approach and is particularly effective against threats impacting at or near a NATO zero-angle condition.

[0139] A system of the invention may comprise a protective system comprising a host structure (e.g., a vehicle, a turret, or a protective enclosure) and a reactive armor panel, as described herein, wherein the panel is arranged in a tiled pattern (as depicted in Fig. 5)or overlapping pattern (not shown) with other same or different panels to provide a contiguous coverage over a selected area.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A reactive armor panel comprising an enclosure defining an internal volume, a sheet of at least one reactive high-explosive material is mounted to an internal wall of said enclosure, wherein the sheet is configured, upon detonation of the explosive material, to generate a focused shock wave, a focused jet, or both, directed toward an exteriorfacing portion of the enclosure, and wherein a remainder of the internal volume comprises a filler material.

2. The panel according to claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises an inner-facing surface comprising a plurality of surface features projecting into and / or out from the sheet.

3. A reactive armor panel comprising an enclosure defining an internal volume, a sheet of at least one reactive high-explosive material is mounted to an internal wall of said enclosure, wherein the sheet comprises an inner-facing surface comprising a plurality of surface features projecting into and / or out from the sheet, wherein said features comprising at least one material different from said high-explosive material, and / or wherein said features are mounted onto or associated to said inner-facing surface of the sheet of high-explosive material; and wherein a remainder of the internal volume comprises a filler material.

4. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, the panel being mounted on a vehicle or on an armor layer associated with the vehicle.

5. The panel according to claim 4, wherein the armor layer is a passive or a reactive layer.

6. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, configured to defeat shaped-charge munitions, and tandem shaped-charge munitions.

7. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the filler material is air, an inert gas, or a foam material.

8. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the explosive sheet does not present a planar inner-facing surface.

9. The panel according to claim 8, wherein the inner-facing surface having a plurality of surface features being outwardly facing or inwardly facing features.

10. The panel according to claim 9, wherein the inner-facing surface oriented toward the internal volume of the enclosure comprises a plurality of outwardly facing features.

11. The panel according to claim 10, wherein the outwardly facing features are selected from bumps, protrusions, raised regions, or analogous surface formations projecting away from the sheet and toward the internal volume.

12. The panel according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the inner-facing surface of the sheet comprises inwardly facing features.

13. The panel according to claim 12, wherein the inwardly facing features are selected from holes, recesses, or surface features having cavities formed therein.

14. The panel according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the features are aligned with, offset from, or independent of each other and are independently discrete or continuous, vary in shape, size, and distribution across the sheet.

15. The panel according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the features are charge elements.

16. The panel according to claim 15, wherein the charge elements are shaped charges.

17. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet of the at least one reactive high-explosive material is formed of or comprised of one or more high-explosive materials selected from RDX, HMX, PETN, TNT, or polymer-bonded explosive formulations.

18. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sheet is mounted on an inner surface of the enclosure that is positioned closer to the vehicle or underlying armor structure when the reactive armor panel is installed.

19. The panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sheet of the high-energy explosive material is configured to be operatively associated with a plurality of shaped charges distributed along or within the sheet.

20. The panel according to claim 19, wherein the sheet is arranged such that activation of the explosive material upon detonation propagates along the sheet and induces activation of the associated shaped charges in a coordinated or simultaneous manner.

21. The panel according to claim 19 or 20, wherein association between the sheet and the plurality of shaped charges is achieved through physical contact, embedded coupling, mechanical integration, or adhesive means.

22. The panel according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein activation of the shaped charges is facilitated through an initiation architecture extending along at least a portion of the high-explosive sheet.

23. The panel according to claim 22, wherein the initiation architecture comprises a propagation medium capable of transmitting an activation signal or energy impulse between regions of the sheet and the shaped charges.

24. The panel according to claim 22, wherein the propagation medium comprises one or more of conductive pathways, signal-transmission lines, optical transmission elements and energy-delivery structures configured to deliver a triggering stimulus.

25. The panel according to claim 23, wherein the activation is achieved through electrical signaling, optical stimulation or a remote or a localized initiation mechanism.

26. The panel according to claim 23, wherein the activation is achieved via a distributed propagation element arranged along the sheet that enables sequential or coordinated activation of the plurality of reactive elements.

27. The panel according to any one of claims 19 to 26, wherein the shaped charges associated with the sheet are arranged in a linear, planar, or patterned configuration.

28. A reactive armor panel according to claim 1 comprising an enclosure defining an internal volume, a sheet of at least one reactive high-explosive material mounted to an internal wall of said enclosure,wherein the sheet having an inner-facing surface associated with a plurality of charge elements optionally comprising at least one liner material different from said high-explosive material; the sheet being arranged such that activation of the explosive material upon detonation propagates along the sheet and induces activation of the associated plurality of shaped charges in a coordinated or a simultaneous manner; and wherein a remainder of the internal volume comprises a filler material.

29. The panel according to claim 28, wherein the charge elements are shaped charges.

30. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the enclosure is formed of a metallic material, a polymeric material or a composite material.

31. The panel according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the panel is configured as an add-on or retrofit layer positioned outboard of an existing reactive armor, such that the add-on panel provides a first-stage reactive response and the underlying reactive armor provides a second-stage response.

32. A protection system comprising at least one panel according to any one of claims 1 to 31.

33. The system according to claim 32, comprising a combination of the reactive armor panels and additional armor layers, wherein said additional armor layers are configuredto mitigate residual threats, fragments, or penetrators remaining following detonation of the reactive armor panel.

34. The system according to claim 32 or 33, comprising a host structure and a plurality of reactive armor panels, wherein each of the panels are arranged in a tiled or overlapping pattern with other same or different panels to provide contiguous coverage over a selected area.

35. A host structure comprising a surface defining a contour and at least one reactive armor panel mounted on the surface, wherein the at least one reactive armor panel is secured to the surface at an orientation that is parallel to the surface or at a non-zero angle relative to a reference plane; and wherein the panel is according to any one of claims 1 to 31.

36. The structure according to claim 35 comprising an assembly or a plurality of panels.

37. The structure according to claim 35, wherein the at least one panel is mounted on an external surface of the host structure, or on a passive or active armor layer associated with the host structure.

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