EP0807798A1 - Projectile à effet de fragmentation orienté - Google Patents

Projectile à effet de fragmentation orienté Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0807798A1
EP0807798A1 EP96850096A EP96850096A EP0807798A1 EP 0807798 A1 EP0807798 A1 EP 0807798A1 EP 96850096 A EP96850096 A EP 96850096A EP 96850096 A EP96850096 A EP 96850096A EP 0807798 A1 EP0807798 A1 EP 0807798A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
projectile
target
charge
fragment
priming
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
Application number
EP96850096A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0807798B1 (fr
Inventor
Ulf Melhus
Christer Regebro
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BAE Systems Bofors AB
Original Assignee
Bofors AB
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bofors AB filed Critical Bofors AB
Priority to ES96850096T priority Critical patent/ES2167534T3/es
Priority to EP96850096A priority patent/EP0807798B1/fr
Priority to DE69618573T priority patent/DE69618573T2/de
Priority to AT96850096T priority patent/ATE212122T1/de
Publication of EP0807798A1 publication Critical patent/EP0807798A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0807798B1 publication Critical patent/EP0807798B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
    • F42C19/00—Details of fuzes
    • F42C19/08—Primers; Detonators
    • F42C19/095—Arrangements of a multiplicity of primers or detonators, dispersed around a warhead, one of the primers or detonators being selected for directional detonation effects
    • 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
    • F42B12/20—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect of high-explosive type
    • F42B12/22—Projectiles, missiles or mines characterised by the warhead, the intended effect, or the material characterised by the warhead or the intended effect of high-explosive type with fragmentation-hull construction

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for bringing about, in the direction of a detected target, a directed fragmentation effect on detonation of explosive-filled rotationally stabilized active parts or projectiles such as artillery shells and missiles.
  • active parts or projectiles such as artillery shells and missiles.
  • projectiles such as artillery shells and missiles.
  • These consist of, in addition to an explosive-filled active charge, an outwardly delimited fragment-forming casing which preferably consists of at least partly preformed heavy metal fragments and a priming charge intended for said active charge.
  • the fragments are formed on detonation of the active charge.
  • the priming charge is connected to a homing sensor or target sensor which is intended to scan a predetermined direction relative to the flying direction of the projectile during the flight of the projectile towards the target.
  • the target sensor is designed to ignite the priming charge on detection of targets worth combating, which in turn primes the active charge.
  • the active charge throws out
  • the aim of the present invention is then to offer a functional solution to this problem.
  • the prerequisite for the invention is therefore that there is access to a rotating active part or projectile, such as a rotationally stabilized artillery shell or a missile.
  • a rotating active part or projectile such as a rotationally stabilized artillery shell or a missile.
  • the latter can have been imparted adequate speed of rotation by means of for example inclined fins.
  • the active part in question is also to be equipped with a target sensor which, if it detects a target worth combating at a combatable distance during the flight of the projectile, will prime a priming charge included in the projectile. This will in turn prime the active charge of the projectile.
  • the active charge is closed off in its main direction of action by a fragment-forming casing which, on detonation of the charge, is broken up into free metal fragments which are accelerated at high speed in the direction of the target.
  • the active part which is characteristic of the invention, that is to say the active charge and the fragment-forming casing
  • a concentration is obtained, on detonation of the active charge, of the fragments, which are with this released and accelerated at high speed, into one or more coherent sheaves in one or more directions, at least one of which coincides with the direction of the target identified by the target seeker.
  • a basic principle which is characteristic of the invention is thus that both the scanning direction of the target sensor and the dynamic fragmentation direction of the active part, that is to say the common fragmentation direction of the explosive charge and the fragment-forming casing, which is determined by the vector sum of the speed of the fragments formed on detonation of the explosive charge and the path speed of the carrier projectile and at least in certain cases the speed of rotation thereof, are to form an angle of 30° to 90° with the flying direction of the projectile.
  • the scanning direction of the target sensor and the dynamic fragmentation direction are therefore to be aligned relative to one another in such a manner that the fragment sheaf covers the detected target well when it arrives there.
  • a corresponding spiral path will in the same manner also take in a shelled air target and it will therefore accept a relatively large miss distance in the case of an air target also and yet produce the effect in the target at the same time as covering very near misses also because the scanning beam of the target seeker passes this area immediately before the projectile.
  • the fragment-forming casing of the active charge preferably consists of a plate which is inclined relative to the flying direction of the projectile and which advantageously can consist of a large number of preformed heavy metal balls which are joined together with one another.
  • the type of ball sheaves which the ball plates in question give rise to is in turn determined by their shape. If the ball plates are made convex in the firing direction for example, a successively scattered ball sheaf is obtained, while a reasonably concave ball plate produces a concentrated ball sheaf.
  • the plate is inclined by more than 40° relative to the flying direction of the projectile at the same time as the priming of the explosive in the active charge arranged behind the ball plate takes place eccentrically so that the detonation front strikes the plate as close to perpendicularly as possible.
  • the balls from the ball plate are thrown out at a greater speed than that which is obtained in the case of a corresponding cylindrical casing.
  • the invention therefore affords a way of achieving a good result with unguided projectiles in spite of the use of relatively simple and imprecise fire-control systems.
  • Possible iring arrangements in which it could be of interest to make use of the invention could therefore be older automatic anti-aircraft cannon of 30-40 mm calibre and upwards, of which there is still a vary large number in service.
  • anti-tank weapons of the back-blow or counter-mass type provided with projectiles designed according to the invention could be used against helicopters and other targets which are well defined against the background.
  • the projectile is designed with one, two or more target sensors which are expediently arranged in its front end and the scanning directions of which are angled out at 90°relative to the flying direction of the projectile and which are uniformly distributed around the circumference of the projectile.
  • target sensors are then combined with a corresponding number of fragment-forming casings, the respective main directions of action of which, that is to say their dynamic fragmentation direction, are in turn aligned with the different target sensors while the space between the fragment-forming casings or alternatively between the sole fragment-forming casing and the outer wall of the projectile is used for the explosive charge and the priming charges necessary for detonation of this in the desired direction.
  • active charges comprising a number of fragment-forming casings arranged in different directions, the main direction of action of which in each case corresponds to the optical input to a target seeker
  • a central priming of the main charge may also be possible. What is essential in this connection is that one of the casings is centred on the target so that its concentrated fragment sheaf can be expected to produce the maximum effect in the target.
  • This variant can be used for example for combating air targets from pieces which have a fire-control system which is actually intended for other less fast target types or is an antiquated model.
  • the variant with four target sensors and the same number of fragment-forming casings can thus be used by tanks for example for combating helicopters which, apart from other tanks, are their most dangerous enemies, while the variant with one target sensor and one fragment-forming casing could find use in for example 57 mm shells for use in older ship and AA cannon.
  • the shell 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a rear shell body 1a with a conventional girdle 2 and an internal explosive charge 5 which, forward in the flying direction of the shell, is closed off by a fragment-forming casing in the form of a heavy metal ball plate 3 of a type known per se which is inclined relative to said flying direction.
  • the heavy metal hall plate 3 is angled obliquely with its main direction of action 4 at more than 40° relative to the flying direction of the shell 1 which coincides with its main axis.
  • a target sensor 7 Situated in front of the fragment-forming casing is also a target sensor 7, the scanning direction 7a of which is angled down parallel to the dynamic fragmentation direction, that is to say the vector sum of the fragment speed plus the shell speed, that is to say the main direction of action 4 of the fragmentation casing.
  • the front part of the shell is furthermore covered by an aerodynamically designed casing 8 which could be removed after firing in order to give the target sensor a completely free field of vision.
  • the shell shown in Fig. 2 consists of an outer casing 9, a straight laterally directed target sensor 10 - that is to say angled out at 90° - arranged in the front part thereof, a fragment-forming casing 11 which is arranged immediately inside the outer casing of the shell and directed in the same direction as the target sensor and which consists of heavy metal balls of a type known per se which are moulded into a suitable matrix.
  • the explosive charge 12 and its priming charge 13 Located behind the heavy metal ball plate are the explosive charge 12 and its priming charge 13.
  • Fig. 2a shows the same components as in Fig. 2 with the exception of the target sensor 10.
  • the heavy metal ball plate 11 is concave forward in the main direction of action of the charge in order to produce as concentrated a fragment spray as possible. Since the shell rotates, the target sensor and fragment charge will cover the revolution round and along its path.
  • the shell shown in Fig. 3 is of the type which has four target sensors 15, 16, 17 and (18) distributed uniformly around its own front part.
  • Target sensor 18 is concealed in the figure.
  • the rear part of the shell contains four outwardly concave fragment-forming casings 19, 20, 21 and 22 in the form of the previously mentioned ball plates and an explosive charge 23 arranged between these.
  • This construction therefore provides four different possible detonation directions and, for each detonation direction, there is a priming charge 24, 25, 26 and 27 arranged towards the inside of fragment-forming casings directed in the opposite direction.
  • the target sensor which first detects a combatable target therefore primes the detonation of the charge 23 in the direction in which it has detected a target.
  • Figure 4 is intended to illustrate the use of a shell 29 of the type shown in Fig. 1 for combating ground targets.
  • the scanning beam 30 of the target sensor can be seen as a straight line while the fragmentation casing, if the main charge is detonated, produces a fragment spread which will cover a certain area in the ground plane.
  • the fragment spread can to start with be seen as a straight line 31 which represents its main direction of action, that is to say its dunamic fragmentation direction, and which coincides in the figure with the scanning beam of the target sensor.
  • the scanning beam and the main axis of the fragment sheaf which could therefore be formed at any moment if the main charge was detonated will, as a result of the rotation of the shell, follow a path 33 which runs inwards in a spiral towards the theoretical point of impact 32 of the shell 29 during the downward path into the ground plane of the latter.
  • the area of action of the shell therefore covers the entire area inside the spiral path 33. If then, as indicated in the figure, there is a target at point 34, to which the target seeker of the shell responds and therefore primes the main charge of the shell, the target and the surrounding area, here designated 35, will thus be covered by the fragments of the ball sheaf formed on detonation of the shell.
  • FIG. 5 shows a variant in the case of combating an air target with a shell of the type shown in Fig. 1.
  • the shell is shown in a first position 36a and a second position 36b in its own path 37.
  • the target seeker of the shell has a scanning angle ⁇ .
  • the line 42 which is also drawn in the figure and illustrates the scanning beam of the target seeker when the shell is situated in the position 36a has been included only in order to show that, when the shell is situated in this position, the scanning beam can never hit the target at point 39 but a target situated at a greater distance from the projectile path 37, for example at point 43, which in that case will be covered by the ball sheaf 44 with its coverage 45 around the target, in which connection, however, the fragment density and thus the effect in the target will be correspondingly reduced.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
  • Pretreatment Of Seeds And Plants (AREA)
EP96850096A 1996-05-17 1996-05-17 Projectile à effet de fragmentation orienté Expired - Lifetime EP0807798B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES96850096T ES2167534T3 (es) 1996-05-17 1996-05-17 Proyectil con efecto de fragmentacion dirigido.
EP96850096A EP0807798B1 (fr) 1996-05-17 1996-05-17 Projectile à effet de fragmentation orienté
DE69618573T DE69618573T2 (de) 1996-05-17 1996-05-17 Geschoss mit gerichteter Splitterwirkung
AT96850096T ATE212122T1 (de) 1996-05-17 1996-05-17 Geschoss mit gerichteter splitterwirkung

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP96850096A EP0807798B1 (fr) 1996-05-17 1996-05-17 Projectile à effet de fragmentation orienté

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0807798A1 true EP0807798A1 (fr) 1997-11-19
EP0807798B1 EP0807798B1 (fr) 2002-01-16

Family

ID=8226114

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96850096A Expired - Lifetime EP0807798B1 (fr) 1996-05-17 1996-05-17 Projectile à effet de fragmentation orienté

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0807798B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE212122T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69618573T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2167534T3 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2009387A1 (fr) * 2007-06-27 2008-12-31 NEXTER Munitions Procédé de commande du déclenchement d'un module d'attaque et dispositif mettant en oeuvre un tel procédé
CN115355774A (zh) * 2022-07-28 2022-11-18 中国人民解放军63856部队 一种小口径步兵榴弹破片空间分布试验方法

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1453815A1 (de) * 1965-12-10 1969-02-06 Boelkow Gmbh Verfahren zum Ausloesen der Sprengladung bei einem Sprengladungsgeschoss
US3731633A (en) * 1966-10-05 1973-05-08 Us Air Force Air-to-surface missile
DE2519507A1 (de) * 1975-05-02 1976-11-18 Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm Munition zur bekaempfung von zielen, insbesondere flugzielen im vorbeiflug
FR2641070A1 (fr) * 1988-12-23 1990-06-29 Diehl Gmbh & Co
DE4011243C1 (de) * 1990-04-06 1996-05-09 Diehl Gmbh & Co Gefechtskopf mit Splitterwirkung

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1453815A1 (de) * 1965-12-10 1969-02-06 Boelkow Gmbh Verfahren zum Ausloesen der Sprengladung bei einem Sprengladungsgeschoss
US3731633A (en) * 1966-10-05 1973-05-08 Us Air Force Air-to-surface missile
DE2519507A1 (de) * 1975-05-02 1976-11-18 Messerschmitt Boelkow Blohm Munition zur bekaempfung von zielen, insbesondere flugzielen im vorbeiflug
FR2641070A1 (fr) * 1988-12-23 1990-06-29 Diehl Gmbh & Co
DE4011243C1 (de) * 1990-04-06 1996-05-09 Diehl Gmbh & Co Gefechtskopf mit Splitterwirkung

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2009387A1 (fr) * 2007-06-27 2008-12-31 NEXTER Munitions Procédé de commande du déclenchement d'un module d'attaque et dispositif mettant en oeuvre un tel procédé
FR2918168A1 (fr) * 2007-06-27 2009-01-02 Nexter Munitions Sa Procede de commande du declenchement d'un module d'attaque et dispositif mettant en oeuvre un tel procede.
US7989742B2 (en) 2007-06-27 2011-08-02 Nexter Munitions Process to control the initiation of an attack module and initiation control device implementing said process
CN115355774A (zh) * 2022-07-28 2022-11-18 中国人民解放军63856部队 一种小口径步兵榴弹破片空间分布试验方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69618573D1 (de) 2002-02-21
DE69618573T2 (de) 2002-08-08
ATE212122T1 (de) 2002-02-15
ES2167534T3 (es) 2002-05-16
EP0807798B1 (fr) 2002-01-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4858532A (en) Submunitions
RU2275585C2 (ru) Способ управления направлением полета ракеты и ракета
JPH0215122Y2 (fr)
US5191169A (en) Multiple EFP cluster module warhead
US6044765A (en) Method for increasing the probability of impact when combating airborne targets, and a weapon designed in accordance with this method
US8528480B2 (en) Warhead
US6276278B1 (en) Arrangement for combating air targets
NO157714B (no) Panserbrytende prosjektil.
RU2158408C1 (ru) Способ поражения наземных и воздушных целей и устройство (боеприпас) для его реализации
EP0807798A1 (fr) Projectile à effet de fragmentation orienté
US5275355A (en) Antitank weapon for combating a tank from the top
EP0895054B1 (fr) Couvercle pour charge creuse
IL118348A (en) Projectile with directed fragmentation effect
RU2777149C1 (ru) Комплекс активной защиты бронеобъектов
RU2820411C1 (ru) Боевая часть с избирательным способом поражения
RU2300073C2 (ru) Осколочно-пучковый снаряд "василиск"
RU2263268C2 (ru) Система вооружения комплекса активной защиты
JP2020517904A (ja) 選択可能な迎え角を有する発射物
GB2250573A (en) A mine
SE511063C2 (sv) Sätt att bekämpa luft- och markmål med projektil med riktad spliterverkan samt projektil med riktad spliterverkan
RU2740417C2 (ru) Система активной защиты бронеобъектов
RU2339898C2 (ru) Система самообороны транспортного средства "инрог"
RU2257531C1 (ru) Система самообороны транспортного средства "рановит"
JPH01277200A (ja) 感知複合式対装甲弾
RU2094746C1 (ru) Снаряд

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: 19970422

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB IT LI NL

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: BOFORS DEFENCE AB

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE ES FR GB IT LI NL

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 212122

Country of ref document: AT

Date of ref document: 20020215

Kind code of ref document: T

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: NV

Representative=s name: E. BLUM & CO. PATENTANWAELTE

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69618573

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20020221

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2167534

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

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: FR

Payment date: 20060421

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20060428

Year of fee payment: 11

Ref country code: CH

Payment date: 20060428

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20060517

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20060523

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NL

Payment date: 20060530

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20060531

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20060721

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20070525

Year of fee payment: 12

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PFA

Owner name: BOFORS DEFENCE AB

Free format text: BOFORS DEFENCE AB# #691 80 KARLSKOGA (SE) -TRANSFER TO- BOFORS DEFENCE AB# #691 80 KARLSKOGA (SE)

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: 20070517

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: 20071201

NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

Effective date: 20071201

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070517

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070531

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070531

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20080131

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: 20071201

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: 20070517

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070531

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20070518

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070518

BERE Be: lapsed

Owner name: *BOFORS DEFENCE A.B.

Effective date: 20080531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20080531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20070517