Patent ID: 7380504

Claim:
A projectile comprising: a forward portion; and an aft portion mechanically coupled to the forward portion; wherein at least part of one of the portions is movable relative to the other of the portions such that: 1) a center of gravity of the projectile is forward of a center of pressure of the projectile when the at least part of the one of the portions is in a first relative position to the other of the portions; and 2) the center of gravity of the projectile is aft of the center of pressure of the projectile when the at least part of the one of the portions is in a second relative position to the other of the portions; wherein the forward portion and the aft portion remain mechanically coupled to each other both when in the first relative position and in the second relative position; wherein the forward portion includes: a conical nose; and a central body that is attached to the nose; wherein the aft portion includes a base that is slidably mounted around the central body; wherein the base has a truncated conical outer surface; and wherein the nose and the base form a single conical shape when the at least part of the one of the portions is in a second relative position to the other of the portions; and wherein shifting between the first relative position and the second relative position changes an overall length of the projectile.