EP0423197A1 - Light anti-armor weapon. - Google Patents
Light anti-armor weapon.Info
- Publication number
- EP0423197A1 EP0423197A1 EP89908100A EP89908100A EP0423197A1 EP 0423197 A1 EP0423197 A1 EP 0423197A1 EP 89908100 A EP89908100 A EP 89908100A EP 89908100 A EP89908100 A EP 89908100A EP 0423197 A1 EP0423197 A1 EP 0423197A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- weapon
- target
- propulsion means
- launch
- casing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000002360 explosive Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 238000010304 firing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 239000002905 metal composite material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 3
- 229910001385 heavy metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 241000271897 Viperidae Species 0.000 description 5
- 230000007123 defense Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002131 composite material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003380 propellant Substances 0.000 description 2
- WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten Chemical compound [W] WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052721 tungsten Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010937 tungsten Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000383 hazardous chemical Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
- F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
- F42B12/00—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material
- F42B12/02—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect
- F42B12/04—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect of armour-piercing type
- F42B12/06—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect of armour-piercing type with hard or heavy core; Kinetic energy penetrators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
- F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
- F42B12/00—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material
- F42B12/02—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect
- F42B12/36—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information
- F42B12/56—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information for dispensing discrete solid bodies
- F42B12/58—Cluster or cargo ammunition, i.e. projectiles containing one or more submissiles
- F42B12/62—Cluster or cargo ammunition, i.e. projectiles containing one or more submissiles the submissiles being ejected parallel to the longitudinal axis of the projectile
- F42B12/625—Cluster or cargo ammunition, i.e. projectiles containing one or more submissiles the submissiles being ejected parallel to the longitudinal axis of the projectile a single submissile arranged in a carrier missile for being launched or accelerated coaxially; Coaxial tandem arrangement of missiles which are active in the target one after the other
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
- F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
- F42B15/00—Self-propelled projectiles or missiles, e.g. rockets; Guided missiles
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to light anti- armor weapons for manual firing by the soldier from a shoulder-held launch tube.
- Kinetic Energy penetrator Another known weapon in use for tank and artillery cannon shells is the so called "Kinetic Energy" penetrator. This consists of a non-explosive penetrator which is fired at a target at sufficient speed to penetrate and damage or destroy the target. In practice, such weapons must be ired at hypersonic velocities of 3 to 4 Km/sec. This makes them completely impractical for a shoulder fired weapon. SOMKARY OP TBE INVENTION
- a light anti-armor weapon which comprises an outer casing, a non- explosive armor penetrator mounted at the forward end of the casing, a launch propulsion device mounted at the rear end of the casing for launching the weapon from a shoulder-held launch tube at a first, subsonic launch speed, and a boost propulsion device mounted in the casing between the launch propulsion device and the penetrator for accelerating the weapon to a second, faster speed sufficient for the penetrator to penetrate an armored target.
- a sensor is provided for detecting when the weapon is a predetermined distance from the target, and for actuating an igniter to fire the boost propulsion device at this point.
- the weapon will preferably be launched at around 300 m/sec, and will be accelerated to a terminal 3 to 4 Km/sec velocity when it is about 6 to 8 feet from the target.
- the penetrator is suitably a solid rod of heavy metal, such as tungsten or the like or a metal composite following current technological advances of this type, with a pointed forward end.
- the launch propulsion device or motor preferably separates from the remainder of the weapon on firing of the boost propulsion device.
- the launch motor may be equivalent to the launch motors used in current shoulder fired weapons having explosive shaped charges, such as the Viper or Viper Variant.
- the launch tube used may also be similar to existing launchers or shoulder fired weapons, but may be made longer if necessary to accommodate the additional length of the armor penetrator rod.
- the boost propulsion device is preferably a very rapid burning rocket motor for accelerating the weapon to the desired high, " "hypersonic" speed.
- This weapon therefore allows a foot soldier to fire a non-explosive, kinetic energy penetrator safely and easily, allowing a more effective final defense against armored tanks and the like having armor which will normally defeat shoulder-fired explosive effects weapons. It will be safer to fire than explosive weapons, since it contains no explosive, the rocket motor fuel being the most hazardous substance. Foot soldiers employing a combination of the standard, explosive weapons as well as the non-explosive penetrator weapon of this invention would prove to be substantially more effective against any protected armored vehicle or other target, regardless of the type of armor used.
- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the operation sequence of a light anti-armor weapon according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the weapon
- Figure 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the mechanism for sensing approach to the target and firing the boost motor.
- Figure 2 of the drawings shows a light anti-armor weapon 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is designed to be launched and fly to a target 12 in the manner illustrated in Figure 1.
- the weapon basically comprises a generally cylindrical outer housing or casing 13 having an aer ⁇ dynamically shaped forward end 14, with a solid penetrator rod 16 mounted coaxially in the casing to project up to its forward end.
- Rod 16 has a pointed forward end generally shaped to conform to the casing forward end.
- the rod is held in place by a suitable support structure 18.
- the casing is preferably formed in two separable front and rear casing sections 20 and 21, which are releasably secured together in a manner known in the missile field.
- the front section 20 houses the penetrator at its forward end and a boost motor 22 with boost propellant grain 23 at its rear end, while the rear section comprises a launch motor 24 having a propellant grain 25 and outlet nozzle 26.
- a battery igniter or proximity fuze 27 is associated with the boost motor 22.
- a suitable barrier or connecting joint 28 is provided between the front and rear sections. This will prevent early firing of the igniter.
- a suitable proximity or standoff sensor 30 is mounted at the forward end of the casing to detect approach of the weapon to the target.
- the sensor is preferably of a commonly known, infra-red sensor type employing reflected infra-red radiation for detecting approach and distance from a target. Such sensors are manufactured by Motorola, for example.
- the sensor is connected to suitable electronics 32 within the casing, which interprets the sensor output signals in a manner known in the field to produce an output control signal when the weapon is a desired distance from the target 12, as indicated schematically in Figure 3.
- the output control signal is suitably connected to the boost motor igniter or fuse 27 to ignite the boost motor at the desired distance from the target.
- Figure 1 illustrates the use of the weapon in defense against armored vehicles such as tanks.
- the weapon is designed to be launched by a foot soldier 34 from a shoulder held launch tube 36.
- the launch motor 24 is preferably a rocket motor of the type generally used in such shoulder fired weapons, for example a Viper or Viper Variant motor, which, when fired, will launch the weapon from the launch tube at a safe, subsonic speed of the order of 900 ft/sec or 300 m/sec.
- the weapon will then fly at the subsonic speed towards the target.
- a control signal will be produced by the sensor electronics 32 to actuate the boost motor igniter to fire the boost motor 22.
- the boost motor may be any suitable motor capable of accelerating the weapon up to "hypersonic" speeds of around 3,500 ft/sec or 3 to 4 Km/sec, and is preferably a high thrust, very rapid burning rocket motor capable of producing this increase in speed in a relatively short distance. These speeds are of the order sufficient for penetrator-type weapons to penetrate and damage or destroy an armored target.
- the launch motor 24 will be ejected by the ignition of the high thrust boost motor, and the remainder of the weapon will accelerate to fly the remaining distance to the target at the desired high velocity required for the penetrator to function. Since the weapon is not accelerated until it is fairly close to the target, the risk of missing the target is substantially reduced or avoided.
- the penetrator rod will be of a suitable heavy metal such as tungsten or the like or a composite device. This will result in a weapon carry weight of approximately 10 pounds, with an effective range of 500 meters and a maximum range of 750 meters. On arrival at the target, the hypervelocity penetrator rod will pierce the armor of the target, damaging and potentially disabling it.
- the weapon can be fired from a launch tube equivalent to that used in existing shoulder fired weapon systems, although the tube may be made longer to accommodate the additional length of the penetrator rod 16.
- This weapon substantially improves the effectiveness of shoulder fired weapons, since it is capable of defeating armor types which are not normally penetrated by the standard, explosive charge based weapons.
- the weapon relies solely on its kinetic energy to damage the target, and thus does not require any explosive charge.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
- Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
- Optical Radar Systems And Details Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US21245088A | 1988-06-28 | 1988-06-28 | |
PCT/US1989/002823 WO1990000244A1 (en) | 1988-06-28 | 1989-06-28 | Light anti-armor weapon |
US212450 | 1994-03-11 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0423197A1 true EP0423197A1 (en) | 1991-04-24 |
EP0423197B1 EP0423197B1 (en) | 1994-08-17 |
Family
ID=22791071
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP89908100A Expired - Lifetime EP0423197B1 (en) | 1988-06-28 | 1989-06-28 | Light anti-armor weapon |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0423197B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH04500406A (en) |
KR (1) | KR0152968B1 (en) |
AT (1) | ATE110162T1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE68917595T2 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1990000244A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5649488A (en) * | 1994-06-27 | 1997-07-22 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Non-explosive target directed reentry projectile |
DE19700349C2 (en) * | 1997-01-08 | 2002-02-07 | Futurtec Ag | Missile or warhead to fight armored targets |
CA2331724C (en) * | 1999-03-25 | 2006-08-08 | State Of Israel - Ministry Of Defense Rafael - Armament Development Auth Ority | An armor piercing projectile |
US6796242B2 (en) * | 2003-01-27 | 2004-09-28 | Zhong-Wei Shi | Propulsion enhancement arrangement for rocket |
US8119956B2 (en) | 2008-10-02 | 2012-02-21 | Raytheon Company | Multi-stage hyper-velocity kinetic energy missile |
ES2585243B1 (en) * | 2016-03-09 | 2017-07-11 | Cesar Mencia Almansa | WAR HEAD FOR GUIDED MISSILES AND DISTANCE ATTACK MINES |
Family Cites Families (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1209802A (en) * | 1948-01-09 | 1960-03-03 | Tech De Rech S Ind & Mecanique | Offensive jet engine |
US3561362A (en) * | 1962-05-18 | 1971-02-09 | Us Army | Free punch with attached power plant |
FR1413030A (en) * | 1963-11-07 | 1965-10-01 | Brevets Aero Mecaniques | Improvements made to self-propelled rupture shells |
BE657225A (en) * | 1964-12-16 | |||
US3566793A (en) * | 1968-09-27 | 1971-03-02 | George R Kruzell | Armor piercing rocket |
US3935817A (en) * | 1971-07-28 | 1976-02-03 | General Dynamics Corporation | Penetrating spear |
DE2427680A1 (en) * | 1974-06-07 | 1975-12-18 | Dynamit Nobel Ag | MOBILE LAUNCH DEVICE FOR TANK-BREAKING BODIES |
DE2500089A1 (en) * | 1975-01-03 | 1976-07-08 | Fusban Ulrich | Guided missile with projectiles for penetrating heavy armour - carries launching tubes for firing high velocity projectiles for target penetration |
DE2948542A1 (en) * | 1979-12-03 | 1984-04-12 | Rheinmetall GmbH, 4000 Düsseldorf | BULLET TO FIGHT MULTILAYERED, PREFERRED, ACTIVE ARMOR |
US4441237A (en) * | 1980-04-01 | 1984-04-10 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Navy | Inhomogenous anisotropic kinetic energy penetrators |
-
1989
- 1989-06-28 WO PCT/US1989/002823 patent/WO1990000244A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1989-06-28 EP EP89908100A patent/EP0423197B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-06-28 KR KR1019900700434A patent/KR0152968B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-06-28 JP JP1507551A patent/JPH04500406A/en active Pending
- 1989-06-28 AT AT89908100T patent/ATE110162T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-06-28 DE DE68917595T patent/DE68917595T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9000244A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ATE110162T1 (en) | 1994-09-15 |
KR0152968B1 (en) | 1998-10-15 |
EP0423197B1 (en) | 1994-08-17 |
DE68917595T2 (en) | 1994-12-15 |
WO1990000244A1 (en) | 1990-01-11 |
DE68917595D1 (en) | 1994-09-22 |
JPH04500406A (en) | 1992-01-23 |
KR900702322A (en) | 1990-12-06 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
JPH0215122Y2 (en) | ||
US4160415A (en) | Target activated projectile | |
US8546736B2 (en) | Modular guided projectile | |
WO1984003759A1 (en) | Means for reducing spread of shots in a weapon system | |
US5440993A (en) | High velocity impulse rocket | |
CN110906806A (en) | Outer trajectory end-segment bottom explosion speed-increasing penetration armor-piercing bullet | |
CA2331724C (en) | An armor piercing projectile | |
GB2141809A (en) | Armour piercing projectile | |
US4394997A (en) | Sequential time discrimination system for sub-delivery systems | |
EP0423197B1 (en) | Light anti-armor weapon | |
US4417520A (en) | Sequential time discrimination system for sub-delivery systems | |
US6000340A (en) | Rocket launching system employing thermal-acoustic detection for rocket ignition | |
US6216597B1 (en) | Projectile having a radial direction of action | |
US5363766A (en) | Remjet powered, armor piercing, high explosive projectile | |
US5001982A (en) | Anti-armor weapon | |
JPS62299700A (en) | Missile for fighting with target on which armor is executed | |
RU2111445C1 (en) | Individual-use guided anti-aircraft missile | |
JP5378527B2 (en) | Multistage ultra high speed kinetic energy missile | |
RU2127861C1 (en) | Ammunition for hitting of shells near protected object | |
EP0930994B1 (en) | Rocket launching system employing thermal-acoustic detection for rocket ignition | |
US6318273B1 (en) | Shaped-charge projectile and weapon system for launching such a projectile | |
RU2237856C2 (en) | Armour-piercing jet projectile | |
US3358603A (en) | Ultra-sonic self-propelled projectile having high l/d ratio | |
RU205522U1 (en) | REACTIVE PROJECT WITH A LASER HEAD FOR DISARMING COMPLEXES OF ACTIVE PROTECTION OF TANKS | |
RU2257531C1 (en) | Self-defense system of "ranovit" transport facility |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19901224 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 19920414 |
|
RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: HUGHES MISSILE SYSTEMS COMPANY |
|
GRAA | (expected) grant |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: B1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE FR GB IT LI LU NL SE |
|
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 110162 Country of ref document: AT Date of ref document: 19940915 Kind code of ref document: T |
|
ET | Fr: translation filed | ||
REF | Corresponds to: |
Ref document number: 68917595 Country of ref document: DE Date of ref document: 19940922 |
|
ITF | It: translation for a ep patent filed | ||
EAL | Se: european patent in force in sweden |
Ref document number: 89908100.4 |
|
PLBE | No opposition filed within time limit |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261 |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT |
|
26N | No opposition filed | ||
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: AT Payment date: 19970515 Year of fee payment: 9 Ref country code: BE Payment date: 19970515 Year of fee payment: 9 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Payment date: 19970520 Year of fee payment: 9 Ref country code: SE Payment date: 19970520 Year of fee payment: 9 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Payment date: 19970523 Year of fee payment: 9 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Payment date: 19970526 Year of fee payment: 9 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Payment date: 19970603 Year of fee payment: 9 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: GB Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19980628 Ref country code: AT Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19980628 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: SE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19980629 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: CH Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19980630 Ref country code: BE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19980630 Ref country code: LI Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19980630 |
|
BERE | Be: lapsed |
Owner name: HUGHES MISSILE SYSTEMS CY Effective date: 19980630 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: NL Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19990101 |
|
REG | Reference to a national code |
Ref country code: CH Ref legal event code: PL |
|
GBPC | Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19980628 |
|
EUG | Se: european patent has lapsed |
Ref document number: 89908100.4 |
|
NLV4 | Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee |
Effective date: 19990101 |
|
PG25 | Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: DE Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES Effective date: 19990401 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: LU Payment date: 20080612 Year of fee payment: 20 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: IT Payment date: 20080530 Year of fee payment: 20 |
|
PGFP | Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo] |
Ref country code: FR Payment date: 20080513 Year of fee payment: 20 |