Device with selectable units that are fired or launched

An ammunition unit, such as a missile, the casing of which contains at least one explosive charge as well as warhead modules arranged in or on the fuselage or casing that comprise a constituent part of the unit's warhead function when the explosive charge is actuated. The warhead effect modules are of modular design, and the various modules are secured to the fuselage or casing by securing devices and/or retention parts. The device includes a range of modules pertaining to different types of warhead effects. When engaging an actual type of target the ammunition unit is assembled with an array of modules-selected from the range of modules-matched to different types of targets or engagement situations, with the array of modules secured to the fuselage or casing by securing devices.

The present invention relates to a device for a launchable ammunition unit such as a missile or artillery shell. The fuselage or casing of the device comprises at least one explosive charge, and inside or on the fuselage or casing there are warhead effect modules that implement or are a constituent part of the warhead function when the explosive charge is actuated.

The use of ammunition units, such as missiles and artillery shells, for different types of warhead effects—operating with fragmentation, pellets, shaped charge effect and blast generating or fragmentation inhibiting agents, for example—is already known. Reference can thereby be made to a large number of patents and patent applications in this particular field. Missiles, shells or equivalent can thus comprise an explosive charge or charges and different warhead effect jackets and warhead devices which, when the explosive is detonated, produce fragmentation, incendiary agents, shaped charge effect, etc, which are actuated against the actual target when the explosive charge is triggered. Each missile or equivalent is equipped with and/or interacts with a target seeker and guidance system of various types during the actual engagement.

In the context of new weapon systems and types of ammunition there is a distinct need to be able to reduce the multiplicity of types of weapons. Consequently, there exists a desire that the reductions shall be possible without the techniques and handling around the weapon system becoming more complex. It is vital that the launch and engagement functions can remain optimised for the type of target in question, and that rapid, precise functions can be maintained in conjunction with actual target engagements and scenarios despite the said reductions. It is also important that a high level of service can be maintained, and that all requirements can be met within the financial constraints stipulated. It is also vital that the requirement for a high degree of safety be maintained.

The main objective of the present invention is to resolve these problems completely or partially.

The present invention exploits, among other things, the insight that efforts shall be focused on the most critical components—from a technical aspect—in current systems and that inroads and modifications, for example, shall not be necessary in complex units such as target seekers, guidance systems, etc.

As claimed in the present invention a significant reduction in the assortment of types of ammunition and warhead devices shall be enabled by using a modular approach to warhead function devices that basically represents a well proven and technically feasible technique which—from a cost aspect, for example—represents a relatively small value (e.g. 1–5%) of the total cost of the system (missile) as such.

The most characteristic features of the device as claimed in the present invention are, among other things, that the warheads have a modular design and that the various warhead modules are secured by securing devices or parts in or attached to the fuselage or casing. Other characteristics are that the device incorporates a range of warhead effect modules pertaining to different types of warhead and that the ammunition unit in question, when engaging a specific type of target or engagement situation, is comprised of a modular array selected from the range of warhead effect modules matched to different types of targets or engagement situations and secured to the fuselage or casing by securing devices or retention parts.

In design variants of the invention concept the ammunition unit can comprise warhead effect jackets arranged on the outside of the fuselage or casing, and consisting of a module array selected from the range of modules. The said design variants utilise modules with large pellets, small pellets, pre-fragmentation, incendiary elements, carbon fibre elements, fragmentation inhibiting and blast generating agents, etc. The range of modules also includes modules comprising shaped charges. Modules comprising agents that inhibit warhead effect in a specific direction are also included.

In another design variant one or more types of module can comprise explosive charge modules that are actuatable via an initiation function when one or more separation charges in the ammunition unit are initiated or actuated. In a preferred design variant the warhead device comprises a package unit in which the ammunition unit, such as a missile or shell, with associated explosive and/or separation charge(s) as well as a number of warhead effect modules are packed. The components incorporated in the package unit enable the configuration of an ammunition unit that is optimised for each specific type of target or engagement situation.

The above proposals enable major financial benefits by virtue of the fact that the number of different ammunition units or missiles or shells can be reduced. This reduction can be achieved without any degradation of safety aspects or effectiveness during an engagement. Another advantage with the proposed system or device is that a high degree of optimisation of the ammunition unit for the type of target or equivalent can be performed on site. Assembly of the various ammunition units on site requires no special knowledge, and use of the new types of ammunition can be realised by conventional training and learning.

FIG. 1shows a missile (or other unit of ammunition) designated1. The missile can be of an already known type containing an explosive charge2located in a casing generally designated3. The casing is fitted with a warhead effect jacket4consisting of a number of modules of which four modules5,6,7,8are illustrated. The warhead effect jacket extends around the entire casing3, which completely encloses the explosive charge2.

FIG. 2shows a package unit designated9. The package unit can comprise a missile10with an explosive charge inside (cf. 2 in the above). The missile can be of an already known type and, consequently, will not be described in any further detail herein. The package unit9also comprises cassettes11,12,13,14,15and16. Each cassette is charged with modules as per the above. Cassettes11–16thereby contain modules pertaining to different types of warhead. Thus cassette11in the design example incorporates modules17containing pellets of large dimension of which three pellets17a,17a′ and17a″ are illustrated inFIG. 2. Cassette13incorporates modules18containing pellets of small dimension designated18a. Furthermore, cassette16contains modules19with fragmentation inhibiting agent. Cassettes12,14,15can incorporate modules20containing incendiary elements, modules21containing carbon fibre elements, and modules22and23containing different shaped charge modules. Additional modules can occur and are thereby represented by module24inFIG. 2. Warhead effect inhibiting modules can also be included. These are designated25inFIG. 2. Effect inhibiting modules are used to constrain the effect in a specific direction, such as radially. This could be to avoid damage to objects near the target that one wishes to leave intact. InFIG. 2the number of cassettes differs from the number of modules illustrated. The same cassette can contain different types of modules and, similarly, the number of cassettes can be varied so that, for example, two cassettes can contain the same type of module, and so on.

Depending on the type of target or engagement situation, missile10or equivalent can be equipped with a warhead effect jacket or warhead effect modules as described above. Modules5–8inFIG. 1can thus alternatively consist of modules of types17,18,19,20, etc, or possibly a combination of the said modules.

FIG. 3shows a warhead casing designated26. The outside of the casing can thereby be designed as a rotating body, or with a continuous outer surface in the form of a number of flat facets on which flat warhead effect modules can be attached whereby each such module bears against one or more facets. This latter design is especially suited to mechanical mass production, and its specific design has not been shown to entail any negative effect whatsoever on the function of the assembled warhead.

The casing can also be fitted with panels27,28that are removable and can be replaced by specific warhead effect modules as per the above. The casing26is also equipped with a fixed, shaped charge liner29that leaves an unobstructed cavity29′ facing forwards in the intended direction of warhead effect. An effect enhancing liner30can be applied in this cavity. Such an effect enhancing liner can, for example, be added to provide an otherwise conventional shaped charge liner with a behind armour effect function that is considered to offset the reduced penetration in the target that such an increase in the original thickness of a liner inevitably causes. Panels27,28or alternatively applied modules (cf. 17–25 as per the above) are locked on the outside of the casing by the end-mounted securing devices31and32when they have been installed in their designated locations, and by additional securing devices101applied along the edges of the modules that are not in direct contact with securing devices31or32.

FIG. 4shows principally the same warhead as that illustrated inFIG. 3, but inFIG. 4the warhead is designated26′. However, warhead26′ has been furnished with a cruciform, removable front insert102whose task is to de-energise the shaped charge jet in the event of hazard initiation or when a shaped charge function is not desirable.

InFIG. 5the securing devices31,32and101are shown installed on the warhead26″. Moreover, warhead26″ has been supplemented in front of the shaped charge liner with a fragmentation jacket33containing heavy metal pellets. In addition, the space between the fragmentation jacket33and the fixed shaped charge liner29has been filled with an appropriate explosive charge29″. With these additions the original shaped charge warhead has been converted to a fragmentation warhead.

FIG. 6shows yet another alternative for modifying a shaped charge in a warhead. The shaped charge and casing26′″ illustrated in the Figure can, for example, be incorporated in a precision guided missile with which one desires effect in the target solely in the direction of impact. This may, for example, apply if sensitive civil objects that one does not wish to damage are in the immediate vicinity of the target. The shaped charge and its casing26′″ is surrounded by a tubular shield103that may, for example, consist of carbon fibre reinforced polyester mixed with an appropriate aggregate material such as heavy alloy powder. The task of the shield103is to completely eliminate all radial warhead effect. In other respects the shaped charge is of the same type as the one inFIG. 3, with an explosive charge105and an inner liner29′″ and an outer liner30′″.

FIG. 7shows an anti-aircraft shell1′ with an explosive charge2′ under whose removable outer casing106warhead effect modules of types17′,18′ and19′ can be installed in a space108, after which the outer casing106can be re-fitted prior to firing.

FIGS. 7a–7cshow partial sections through a part of the shell after various warhead effect modules have been installed.FIG. 7athus illustrates a fragmentation module with large heavy metal pellets17′. Each partial section also includes parts of the outer casing106, the inner casing107and the explosive charge2′.FIG. 7billustrates a similar fragmentation module with small pellets18′, andFIG. 7cillustrates a warhead effect module containing an incendiary or blast generating agent19′.

The present invention is not limited to the design examples described above, but can be subjected to modifications within the framework of the subsequent Patent claims and the invention concept.