EP0350821A2 - War head - Google Patents

Abstract

A warhead (18) which can be brought about by means of a carrier (13) should be designed to provide a more effective control of medium-hard to hard-armored target objects (11) under light natural or artificial protection (12) than the conventional use of a projectile or a missile spent shaped charge bomblets. For this purpose, one-piece warheads (18 ') or submunitions (20) accommodated in distribution units (19) are used, the walls (42) of which have projectile-forming coverings (43) with fire-mass backing (44) and which are constructive or detonatory for one against the wall Splitter compartments (46) rising along the longitudinal axis are designed. The ignition takes place by means of a fold-out or telescopic, downward-oriented plunger (32), which does not trigger when the protection (12) breaks through, but only when it hits hard in or next to the target object (11). If an aerodynamic braking device (29) of a one-piece warhead (18 ') or a submunition (20) gets caught in the protection (12), the splinter compartment (46) is reoriented downwards.

Description

The invention relates to a warhead according to the preamble of claim 1.

Warheads of this type are known in the form of carrier projectiles for bomblets with a beam-forming shaped charge insert (US Pat. No. 4,488,488) or as the artillery missile system MLRS-1 for moving bomblets over a pre-enlightened target area. The impact of every single bomblet on a medium-hard to hard-armored target is relatively small; with dense bomblet coverage of the target area, however, a multiple hit effect in a target object with a correspondingly increased total effect in the target can be expected.

A disadvantage of such a warhead concept is in particular that the desired multiple effect requires a very dense spreading of the bomblets over the target area, in which the target objects to be actually fought occur only at a distance. The dense movement can also cause misfires due to bomblet collisions when descending to the target area. Above all, however, the effect of such bomblet warheads with beam-forming hollow charge is reduced drastically if they are used against target objects in a protected state, e.g. against armored vehicles and traffic routes under light natural or artificial cover such as protective roofs (DE-OS 33 37 115). or trees.

Even the slight slatted cradle of a camouflage device or the branches of a tree lead to the initiation of a bomblet with a beam-forming shaped charge insert and thus to a deflagration of the ammunition effect above the target object that is actually of interest.

On the other hand, it can be assumed that enemy associations are preparing for their deployment in exit and staging areas, which are optimally protected against inspection by reconnaissance - and thus also against the effects of conventional bomblet ammunition - through forests, functional buildings in villages and camouflage measures. Even essential mass consumer goods (such as ammunition and operating materials) cannot be carried under massive protective structures in the event of an emergency, but are tied to field-based storage locations, for which the given natural and quickly erectable artificial light protection status is achieved as far as possible.

In recognition of these circumstances, the object of the invention is to create a warhead of the generic type which can be carried by means of a carrier such as, in particular, an introduced artillery rocket and which promises greater effectiveness when used against enemy target objects in the light protection state of the aforementioned type.

This object is essentially achieved in that the generic warhead is designed according to the characterizing part of claim 1.

From US Pat. No. 4,175,491, a warhead with radial projectile-forming lateral surface assignment, with aerodynamic braking means and with a telescopic trigger plunger, is already known as such; there, however, the simultaneous ignition of several individual P-charges with a corresponding constructive position relative to the plumb line on the central longitudinal axis of the warhead causes only one P-charge splinter fan oriented downwards from the horizontal, which results in very considerable constructive and effective restrictions with regard to the length of the Warhead and the height of the target objects of interest. Enemy targets in the state of protection would only be attacked by this previously known warhead if it was detonated when it hit the protection above the target - with correspondingly little effect in the target due to the low inclination of the P-splinters to the horizontal, because the target objects can only be hit at a greater distance (i.e. only through natural and artificial protective devices that may be found in between) and only at a flat angle from above.

From US Pat. No. 3,968,748 it is known for a bomblet of the type mentioned at the outset, that is to say with a beam-forming shaped charge insert, to evaluate the density of the object to which the impact is made by means of a telescopic trigger plunger; with the proviso that with a hard impact (especially on a hard-armored target object) the ignition takes place immediately, whereas with a soft impact (e.g. on a soft surface) the bomblet is thrown back again and is only fired at a certain distance above the ground, by at least one more to cause radial splintering. Such an ignition mechanism cannot be used promisingly against hostile objects in the protected state, since the soft impact on the protection (e.g. on the branches of trees or on the cover of a shelter) does not lead to a sufficient splintering effect in the target object present under the protection after the springing back.

The solution according to the invention, on the other hand, is designed so that the warhead - which can be designed as a one-piece, integral warhead or divided into submunitions - does not yet trigger when it hits the protection. Rather, the light protection is first broken, and only the much harder impact directly on the armored target object or on highly compacted or even concreted traffic routes leads to the ignition of a splintered cone fanned out in order to lightly to moderately hard-armored objects in the area over their large ones Attack side surfaces with the high-energy P-charge splinters.

In contrast to the situation when using beam-forming bomblets, it is therefore no longer necessary to cover the target area as densely as possible with bomblets in order to achieve multiple hits in a single target object from above. Therefore, instead of bomblet warheads, one-piece, integral warheads of greater mass and a greater number of P-charge assignments can now advantageously be used; while on the other hand, smaller submunitions brought out of the warhead can be spread more widely. It is therefore expedient to deliver the warhead transversely to the direction of flight of the delivery carrier in different directions, for which purpose integral warheads or bomblet distribution units coaxially in slim carriers (such as the MLRS rocket) or in axially parallel packing in carriers of larger diameter (such as the Atacms- Missiles) can be spent.

The effect in the target can be increased by secondary fire action by backfilling the P-inserts with fire masses, which are hammered into the center of the projectile during the explosive shaping of the insert and can thus be safely brought to the target object. This is the secondary fire effect in any case considerably more than when using a combustible additional mass in the center of a beam-forming shaped charge insert, as is known from DE-OS 23 11 287.

In order to avoid that the warheads get stuck in the protection with their aerodynamic alignment and braking means, it is advisable to provide a sufficiently long distance line between the braking means and the warhead, so that the latter already leads to the impact in the target area when the braking means, for example the parachute , still hovering above the protection, for example a tree crown. Instead of or in addition, however, the polarity of the ignition can be reversed so that the P-charge splinter fan is oriented from top to bottom if, after a certain period of time, an impact cannot be determined in the target area, i.e. the warhead is evident, for example, in the branches of one Tree has caught. The self-decomposition triggered by this then leads at least to an effect in the surroundings of the target objects.

• Fig. 1 ein Beispiels-Szenario für zu bekämpfende Zielobjekte im natürlichen und künstlichen Schutzzustand,
• Fig. 2 die Raketen-Verbringung eines Gefechtskopfes zur Bekämpfung feindlicher Zielobjektes im Schutzzustand,
• Fig. 3 die Ablieferung von P-Padungs-Submunition aus einem Mehrfach-Gefechtskopf,
• Fig. 4 die Ablieferung eines Vollkaliber-Gefechtskopfes,
• Fig. 5 den Einbau mehrerer koaxialer Vollkaliber-Gefechts­köpfe gemäß Fig. 4 bzw. mehrerer angenähert kaliber­gleicher Verteileinheiten mit Submunitionen gemäß Fig. 3 in eine schlanke Artillerie-Rakete als Ver­bringungssystem,
• Fig. 6 den Einbau unterkalibriger Gefechtsköpfe bzw. Verteil­einheiten in größerkalibrige taktische Gefechtsfeld-­Raketen als Verbringungssystem,
• Fig. 7 eine P-Ladungs-Submunition gemäß Fig. 3 in detaillierterer Längsschnitt-Darstellung,
• Fig. 8 den Ausstoß von Submunitionen gemäß Fig. 3 in detaillierterer Darstellung,
• Fig. 9 den Wirkbereich der Submunition gemäß Fig. 3 bzw. Fig. 4,
• Fig. 10 in detaillierterer, teilweise geschnittener Dar­stellung einen Vollkaliber-Gefechtskopf gemäß Fig. 4,
• Fig. 11 den Umform- und Transportvorgang von mit Brandmasse hinterlegten P-Ladungen an den Gefechtsköpfen gemäß Fig. 3 bzw. Fig. 4
  und
• Fig. 12 Das Szenario zur Veranschaulichung umschaltbarer Wirkrichtungen bei einem Vollkaliber-Gefechtskopf gemäß Fig. 4.

Additional alternatives and further developments as well as further features and advantages of the invention result from the further claims and, also taking into account the explanations in the summary, from the following description of the preferred embodiment, which is highly abstracted and not completely drawn to scale, limited to the essentials. and examples of use for the solution according to the invention. It shows:

• 1 shows an example scenario for target objects to be combated in the natural and artificial protection state,
• 2 shows the rocket movement of a warhead to combat enemy target objects in the protected state,
• 3 shows the delivery of P-Padungs submunitions from a multiple warhead,
• 4 shows the delivery of a full-caliber warhead,
• 5 shows the installation of several coaxial full-caliber warheads according to FIG. 4 or several approximately equal-caliber distribution units with submunitions according to FIG. 3 in a slim artillery missile as a delivery system,
• 6 the installation of sub-caliber warheads or distribution units in larger-caliber tactical battlefield missiles as a delivery system,
• 7 shows a P-charge submunition according to FIG. 3 in a more detailed longitudinal sectional illustration,
• 8 shows the release of submunitions according to FIG. 3 in more detail,
• 9 shows the effective range of the submunition according to FIG. 3 or FIG. 4,
• 10 in a more detailed, partially sectioned illustration, a full-caliber warhead according to FIG. 4,
• 11 shows the shaping and transport process of P-charges deposited with fire mass on the warheads according to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4
  and
• 12 shows the scenario for illustrating switchable directions of action in a full-caliber warhead according to FIG. 4.

The scenario according to FIG. 1 shows target objects 11 to be combated, such as armored vehicles, ammunition and fuel storage containers or heavy trucks, which, at least partially, under light natural (eg trees) or artificial (eg camouflaged protective structures) against direct view and attack from above. Protection 12 are stationed in combat or deployment positions. The indirect combating of such target objects 11 which are in the protected state by means of the introduced bomblet ammunition with downwardly oriented beam-forming explosive inlays is not very effective since, due to their function, these bomblets are detonated as soon as they strike the protected state. The beam-forming insert of the respective bomblet, which is dimensioned for penetration into hard armor, only leads to minor destruction in the protective state and then no longer has any noteworthy effect in the target object underneath.

For this reason, according to the present invention, target objects 11 of this type are protected in the protected state by means of warheads 18 which are specially designed for this purpose and which are moved in a conventional manner by means of a carrier 13 - for example a ballistic projectile, but preferably a rocket (FIG. 2) - over a previously cleared target area 14 . The ogives 16 and parts of the casing 17 are blown off pyrotechnically there by a time-controlled or remote-controlled igniter 15. As a result, the warhead 18 is released from the carrier 13, which then crashes steeply due to its ballistically less favorable geometry and center of gravity. The warhead 18 (Fig. 2) can be one or more elongated cylindrical structures (Fig. 4; hereinafter referred to as one-piece warheads 18 '), or one or more stacks of short-cylindrical active bodies (submunitions 20; Fig . 3) made from sleeve-like Distribution units 19 are spread. In the latter case, it is a shipment corresponding to that of the MLRS 2 weapon system with an ejection device for AT-2 ground mines against hard-armored target objects.

Since the effect of the present warheads 18 is no longer based on multiple hits by shaped charge bomblets, a much broader target area coverage is now possible. In order to capture the broadest possible spreading area over the target area 14 with a slim carrier 13, it is expedient, according to the sketchy representation of FIG 17 to arrange and not to release from this to the front (Fig. 2), but to eject in different radial directions. For this, in this example case, a gas generator 22 is initiated by the igniter 15, which inflates a hose 23 radially, which meanders on the inner wall of the casing 17 alternately along different sides of the almost caliber-filling warheads 18, which are otherwise positively fixed by plastic profile shells 24 'or respectively Distribution units 19 is guided along. Rigid feed pipes 25 serve as diametrical connections between the hoses 23 running on different sides and as a blow pipe following the gas generator 22, so as not to impede the radial spreading process by axial expansion stresses.

In the case of a larger-caliber carrier 13 (FIG. 6), in the interest of the widest possible stray field of one-part or multi-part warheads 18, it is more expedient to dimension them sub-calibrated and to arrange them as several axially parallel stacks eccentrically next to one another in the detachable casing 17 (FIG. 6). Warheads 18 can also taper in the area that tapers forward of the carrier 13 can be accommodated. For manufacturing and logistical reasons, it is expedient to only have to provide cylindrical one-piece warheads 18 and distribution units 19 of the same diameter for this assembly. The foam profile shells 24 are therefore shaped and divided here so that they are fitted outside the carrier 13 around a central gas channel 26, and then the individual shell parts are glued to one another and thus completely ammunition inserted from the rear into the tapered casing 17 and to the Gas generator 22 can be connected. The radially inflatable tube 23 from the gas generator 22 for the radial ejection of the warheads 18 and possibly also for the radial breaking open of the casing 17 along its predetermined breaking points 21 runs in this example case (FIG. 6) around a central perforated gas channel 26 '.

If the warheads 18 are designed as distribution units 19 for submunitions 20, they have a coaxially acting ejection device 27 (FIG. 8), which is designed like the gas generator 22 mentioned and emits with it, but via a deceleration set 28, during or as a result of ejection the carrier 13 is ignited to axially push the submunitions 20 out at the rear.

The submunitions 20 (Fig. 3) or the integral warheads 18 '(Fig. 4) are equipped with a parachute or a ballut as an aerodynamic braking and aiming means 29 for the vertical alignment to the target area 14, which when released are pulled out of the envelope 17 or from the distribution unit 19 by the inflow effect of the surrounding medium from a packing space 30 and are stretched or inflated. The articulation 31, which is practically jerky in tension, serves as a mechanical release device for releasing an eccentrically (Fig. 7) or concentrically (Fig. 10) arranged, foldable and / or telescopically extendable plunger 32 (cf. GB 21 93 796), its opening movement for example, by releasing a spring force accumulator or by Initiation of a pyrotechnic force element (not shown in the drawing) can be carried out and locked in the extended position. If the extended plunger 32 is subjected to hard axial stress, in particular as a result of impact on the reinforcement of a target object 14 to be combated, a sensor 33 (for example a mechanical switching path) is mechanically excited in order to send ignition information 34 (FIG. 7) to a fuse and ignition circuit 35 deliver from which the transfer charge 36 for initiating the explosive 37 is initiated. This initiation can also take place via a self-disassembly circuit 38, which is also released by the linkage 31 via an active connection 39 and leads to the ignition of the explosive 37, if not within a predetermined period of time from the unfolding of the aerodynamic directional and braking means 29 via the plunger 32 a hard target impact is detected.

A non-hard target impact, on the other hand, does not result in the delivery of the ignition information 34. This ensures that the explosive 37 does not detonate when the artificial or natural protection 12 penetrates, because then the active charges of the warhead 18 'or its submunition 20 are too far above detonate the target objects 11 to be combated and would not produce a sufficient effect in them (see below). The discrimination between the breakdown of the protection 12 and the actual triggering of an ignition information 34 takes place by means of a response threshold 40 for the function of the plunger 32 or the sensor 33 influenced by it. This response threshold 40 can be an elastic, non-positive or positive locking, which is only possible with sufficient longitudinal stress of the plunger 32 opens and releases it for sensor influencing 33, but with lower longitudinal stress intercepts the plunger 32 resiliently and returns it to the starting position; as is known in detonator technology from the double-bolt delay sensor for unlocking.

Another constructive solution for such a response threshold 40 is indicated in FIG. 7 by a thick rubber clamp, which is vulcanized radially between the plunger 32 and its telescopic housing 41 and only the plunger 32 for actuating the sensor 33 when the axial stress is sufficiently strong and long-lasting pulls out. The same effect can be achieved by installing a cylinder spring or a hydraulic throttle element.

So if the plunger 32 locked in its extended position - possibly after the protection 12 has broken through in the form of thin branches or tarpaulins - strikes the more solid surface in the target area 14 (FIG. 9), the explosive 37 is detonated as described, the inside a hollow cylindrical wall 42 is insulated. This has a number of axially and peripherally offset concave indentations, which are designed as spherical cap-shaped shaped charge coverings 43 and are backfilled with a fire mass 44 on their convex inner lateral surface (FIG. 1̇1̇). The shaping process caused by the detonated explosive 37 (FIG. 11) to the projectile 45 which is accelerated radially with respect to the wall 42 leads to the fire mass 44 being folded into the interior of the projectile 45 and thereby being introduced into the interior of the target object 11 at the target impact, where through the impact effect is supplemented by secondary fire effects, for example to ignite ammunition stocks or fuel stocks.

Since the probability of the pusher 32 being triggered not on one but next to a target object 11 in the target area 14 (FIG. 9) is greater, the direction of movement of the projectiles 45 formed from the wall 42 expediently experiences a splintering of one Angle a from the lower to the rear projectiles 45, so that a certain height range of the target object 11 (FIG. 9) is captured by the splinter fan 46.

This splinter fan 46 can be caused by the fact that the transverse axes 47 experience a corresponding, increasing position with respect to the radial over the height of the wall 42. It is simpler in terms of production technology, however, to align all occupancy axes 47 parallel to one another, transversely to the axis of the wall 42, and to cause such detonation wave superimpositions by means of a relatively slow-burning concentric transfer charge 36 of great axial length (FIG. 10) that the projectile exit directions 48 (FIG. 11) increasingly stand out from the horizontal, the further the ignition progresses away from the front end 49.

In principle, it cannot be excluded that the braking means 29 (for example a parachute) gets caught in the protection 12 over the target object 11 (for example in the branches of a tree) (FIG. 12), so that the explosive 37 (FIG. 10) lacks a hard impact of the plunger 32 is not ignited. Then, when the self-disassembly circuit 38 comes into operation after the specified period of time, the splinter fan 42 is again triggered from deformed projectiles 45 with enclosed fire masses 44, but the effect in target objects 11 positioned underneath is due to the increasing splinter yarn angle a (FIG. 9 ) only slight. In order to achieve an effect in the target object 11 in this case as well, it can be provided that the explosive 37 is also provided on the rear side with a concentric transfer charge 36 ', which as a result of the detonation wave pressure build-up emanating from the opposite front end now has a splinter fan angle directed downwards from the horizontal b (Fig. 12) and still leads to the fight against target objects 11 - now diagonally from above. For this, this oppositely oriented transfer charge 36 'is ignited via a timer 50 which, like the self-dismantling circuit 38, is started by the application of force to the braking means linkage 31, but is designed for a shorter running time than the self-dismantling circuit 38. A separate self-dismantling circuit 38 can even be omitted by the transfer charge 36 'with the timer 50 simultaneously fulfilling this function.

Instead or in addition, the warheads 18 'or the submunitions 20 can also be connected to the aerodynamic directional and braking means 29 via a particularly long distance rope 51. The rope length is then designed so that the typical protection 12, such as light canopies or trees, is penetrated by it; so that the braking means 29 has not yet sunk to the protection 12 when the ignition plunger 32 already strikes the target area 14 on firm ground and triggers the splinter angle a spread apart from the horizontal (as taken into account on the left in FIG. 12).

Claims (8)

1. By means of a carrier (13) bringable warhead (18, 18 '; 19/20) with aerodynamic alignment and braking means (29) and oriented impact ram (32) for triggering ignition information (34) for the a hollow cylindrical wall (42) with flat concave coverings (43) insulated explosives (37),
characterized,
that the wall coverings (43) are designed for a splinter angle (a) rising from the bottom of their projectile flight directions (48) and the plunger (32) is equipped with a response threshold (40) which is only available when the impact is relatively hard Triggering the ignition information (34) leads. 2. warhead according to claim 1,
characterized,
that it is equipped with distribution units (19) for axially relatively short submunitions (20), each of which is equipped with design-related assignments (43) to form the splitter fan angle (a). 3. warhead according to claim 1,
characterized,
that it is designed as a one-piece integral warhead (18 ') with transversely to the longitudinal axis oriented coatings (43), which experience their splinter fan angle (a) by progressive combustion from the end face of a coaxial in the explosive (37) arranged transfer charge (36). 4. warhead according to claim 3,
characterized,
that it is designed with a timer function for igniting a transfer charge (36) burning off from the opposite end face in order to achieve a downward-oriented splinter fan angle (b). Warhead according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that its wall coverings (43) are backed by a fire mass (44). 6. warhead according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that he or his submunition (20) is suspended from the aerodynamic alignment and braking means (29) via a very long distance rope (51). 7. warhead according to any one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that it consists of several parts arranged coaxially in the carrier (13), which can be ejected radially from the carrier (13) in different directions by meandering inflation hoses (23). 8. warhead according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
that it consists of several parts, which are enclosed in axial and parallel stacking in plastic profile shells (24) and are held in the carrier shell (17).

Images