Patent ID: 8006623
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: F42B

Abstract:
1. A dual-mass warhead, comprising: a case formed of a material that is pulverized upon detonation; an explosive containment structure inside the case, said containment structure having an aft section that defines a space between the case and the containment structure; an explosive in the explosive containment structure; an initiator to initiate detonation of the explosive; a side-firing fragmentation assembly including first metal fragments in the space that expels the first metal fragments in a side-firing pattern upon detonation of the explosive; and a forward-firing fragmentation assembly including second metal fragments positioned fore of the explosive that expels the second metal fragments in a forward-firing pattern upon detonation of the explosive, wherein the expulsion of said first metal fragments from the side-firing fragmentation assembly in the side-firing pattern is delayed with respect to the expulsion of said second metal fragments from the forward-firing fragmentation assembly in the forward-firing pattern, and wherein the expulsion of said first and second metal fragments creates a central region of the firing pattern between the forward and side-firing patterns largely devoid of said first and second metal fragments, occupied only by the pulverized casing materials.