ES2969937T3 - Undercalibrated projectile and procedure for neutralizing a target using such a projectile - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the invention is an arrow-type subcalibrated projectile (1) that comprises a piercing bar (3) surrounded by a shoe (2) made of light material and that allows the projectile to be fired in a weapon, bar (3). which is extended by a stabilizing tail (4). The tail (4) is attached to the bar (3) by means of a breakable connection means (L), the breakage being initiated by a control means (11) fixed to the projectile. The control means (11) comprises a timing module connected to a programming interface and which is programmed before the shot or during the shot to ensure the breakage of the connection means (L) at a reference distance with respect to a target that it is intended to neutralize. The invention also relates to a method of neutralizing a target using said undercalibrated projectile. (Automatic translation with Google Translate, without legal value)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Subcalibrated projectile and procedure for neutralizing a target using a projectile of this type [0001] The technical field of the invention is that of subcalibrated projectiles and in particular subcalibrated projectiles of the large caliber arrow projectile type (caliber greater than 75 mm) .

[0002] Undercalibrated projectiles (or arrow projectiles) are well known. They are made up of a bar of piercing material, provided with a conical front part and carrying a stabilizing tail.

[0003] The bar has a much smaller caliber than the weapon that fires the projectile (bar with a diameter of 25 to 30 mm for a weapon caliber of 120 mm).

[0004] Firing is possible thanks to a sabot of the caliber of the weapon that releases the bar at the exit of the weapon tube.

[0005] This classic configuration makes it possible to obtain a particularly high bar speed (of the order of 1700 meters per second for an arrow bar fired by a 120 mm caliber weapon). Patents US4724769 and FR2842897 describe, by way of example, known arrow projectiles.

[0006] The high speed imparted to them, as well as the mass of the bar, give the bars a very high armor piercing capacity.

[0007] However, arrow bars are nowadays faced with active protection systems that act by explosion effect. Vehicles equipped with such protection systems thus project a grenade incorporating a thermobaric type explosive towards the bar.

[0008] The intense explosion generated by said grenade will act on the kinetic projectile and deviate it from its trajectory, thus reducing its armor-piercing effectiveness.

[0009] The action of these thermobaric grenades is exerted mainly on the empennage of the arrow projectile, whose wingspan is practically three times the caliber of the bar.

[0010] Patent FR2390703 also discloses a subcalibrated practice projectile whose tail is ejected in trajectory, at a fixed instant shortly after firing, with the aim of reducing the trajectory of the projectile. This projectile has a very shortened trajectory (on the order of a few hundred meters) compared to the trajectory of an armor-piercing projectile (greater than 6500 meters). This projectile is not designed to pierce a target and is not suitable for solving the contemplated problem.

[0011] A subcalibrated practice projectile of this type, in which the empennage is separated from the bar in the trajectory is also described in patent US2002/0088897.

[0012] A piercing projectile whose empennage separates from the bar upon impact against a target is also known from patent DE3933442. The objective is to prevent the empennage from reducing the perforation of the target. A projectile of this type is disrupted by explosive grenades. Nor can it solve the problem of projectile resistance to thermobaric protections.

[0013] The objective of the invention according to claim 1 is to propose an undercalibrated projectile that is not affected, or only slightly, by modern explosion protections.

[0014] The invention according to claim 8 also proposes a method of neutralizing a target using a projectile of this type.

[0015] Thus, the object of the invention is an arrow-type subcalibrated projectile configured to neutralize a target, a projectile comprising a piercing bar surrounded by a sabot made of light material and that allows the projectile to be fired in a weapon, a bar that extends by a stabilizing empennage, the empennage being connected to the bar by means of a connection means that can be broken, the breakage being initiated by a control means integrated in the projectile, projectile characterized by the fact that the control means comprises a chronometric module connected to a programming interface and which is programmed before shooting or during shooting to guarantee the breakage of the connecting means at a reference distance with respect to the target that is configured for target neutralization.

[0016] According to a particular embodiment, the reference distance may be less than 200 meters.

[0017] Advantageously, the reference distance could be less than 100 meters.

[0018] According to a particular embodiment, the programming interface is a wired programming interface.

[0019] According to a particular embodiment, the programming interface is an inductive programming interface.

[0020] According to a particular embodiment, the programming interface is a radio frequency programming interface.

[0021] According to a variant, the projectile may comprise an explosive charge that, when activated, will guarantee the breakage of the connection means and the projectile may also comprise a safety and weapon device interposed between the explosive charge and the control means.

[0022] The invention also relates to a procedure for neutralizing a target by implementing an undercalibrated projectile of this type, as well as to a weapon system capable of firing this projectile and equipped with fire control, a procedure characterized by the Next steps:

- telemetry of the target is carried out from the weapon system equipped with a telemetry means; - an activation instant of the breakage of the connection means is calculated so that this breakage occurs at a reference distance from the target;

- the chronometric module of the projectile control means is programmed before firing or during firing with this activation instant.

[0023] Advantageously, the reference distance can be modified.

[0024] The invention will be better understood by reading the following description of a particular embodiment, which description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings and in which:

[Fig. 1] shows the general architecture of an arrow-type subcalibrated projectile;

[Fig. 2] is an enlarged view of the rear part of the bar that carries the empennage;

[Fig. 3a] schematizes an armored vehicle facing another armored vehicle;

[Fig. 3b] schematizes the implementation of the projectile and the procedure according to the invention.

[0025] Figure 1 shows an arrow projectile 1 that conventionally comprises a sabot 2 made of light material (such as an aluminum alloy), sabot formed by several segments and surrounding a subcalibrated bar 3.

[0026] The bar is made of steel or a dense tungsten-based alloy.

[0027] The bar comprises a conical front part 3a and has in its rear part 3b an empennage 4 that guarantees its stabilization in trajectory.

[0028] The sabot has a tape 5, made of plastic material, which ensures sealing against propellant gases when fired from the barrel of a weapon (not shown).

[0029] During firing, the gases of the propellant charge (not shown) exert their thrust at the level of a rear part 6 of the sabot which is caliber and which constitutes what is called the thrust plate.

[0030] This general configuration of a subcalibrated projectile stabilized by empennage (arrow projectile) is well known. In particular, we can consider the patents FR2521717 and FR2661739 which describe known arrow projectiles.

[0031] The sabot 2 is intended to allow the projectile to be fired into the weapon. It is formed by several segments (most often three) that surround bar 3 and that are in contact two by two in the joining planes.

[0032] At the exit of the gun barrel, the segments of the sabot 2 move away from the bar 3 under the action of the aerodynamic pressure exerted at the level of the front part (AV) of the sabot 2.

[0033] The separation of the segments causes the tape 5 to break and, therefore, the sabot releases the bar 3 which continues its trajectory.

[0034] The shape adjustment means (not shown), for example a thread, are interposed between the sabot 2 and the bar 3 to ensure the actuation of the latter.

[0035] Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the rear part 3b of the bar 3 that carries the empennage 4. The empennage 4 comprises a tubular body 4a to which fins 4b are fixed.

[0036] It is seen that the empennage 4 is joined to the bar 3 by means of a connection means L which here is of the threaded/threaded connection type. To do this, the tubular body 4a of the empennage 4 comprises a threaded housing 8 that engages in a threaded part 7 of the bar.

[0037] The empennage body 4a also contains, behind the threaded housing 8, an explosive charge 9 that can be initiated by a primer (not shown) that is incorporated into a safety and weapon device 10.

[0038] The security and armament device 10 is not shown in detail. Such components are classic and allow pyrotechnic safety to be guaranteed during storage and handling of the projectile. They ensure misalignment of the pyrotechnic chain during these phases and cause alignment of the chain when the conditions for effective firing are met.

[0039] Taking into account the reduced dimensions of the tubular body 4a, the security and weapon device 10 can be advantageously made using micromachining technologies. In such devices, parts are micromachined or microengraved onto a plate of a substrate, for example an insulating substrate. This technology, known as MEMS (Micro Electromechanical System), today allows the production of micromechanisms by implementing a technique similar to that used to produce integrated electronic circuits.

[0040] For example, you can consult the patents: EP1780495, EP1780496, EP2482027 and EP2482028 that describe such micromachined security and weapon devices.

[0041] The security and arming device 10 is connected to a control means 11 which is an electronic means comprising a chronometric module 11a that is programmed before firing or during firing.

[0042] Programming can be carried out through a programming interface 12 which is housed in the rear part of the empennage 4 and which is connected to the control means 11, for example by means of a cable connection 13.

[0043] The programming interface 12 can be constituted, for example, by a coil that allows remote programming, by induction, during ammunition loading.

[0044] The programming interface 12 may alternatively be a simple conductive ring that is connected to the base of the ammunition (not shown) by a cable that passes through the propellant charge to allow contact programming once the ammunition It's in the gun chamber.

[0045] The programming interface 12 may finally be a radio frequency sensor (or an antenna) configured to receive a programming signal by hertzian waves (for example in the frequency range of 2 GHz to 5 GHz).

[0046] It should be noted that, when the programming interface 12 is inductive or contact, the programming is carried out before triggering, while when the interface 12 is formed by a radio frequency antenna, the programming can optionally be carried out before triggering. or during shooting.

[0047] The control means 11 is held at a distance from the rear of the empennage 4 by a spacer 14. A T-tracer housed behind the spacer 14 may be provided.

[0048] The control means 11 is defined in such a way as to guarantee the breakage of the connection means L at a distance, called reference distance Ref, from the target that is intended to be neutralized. Breakage is ensured by the activation of the explosive charge 9. This reference distance depends on the characteristics of the active protection system that equips the target.

[0049] In general, the reference distance can be chosen less than 200 meters and even preferably less than 100 meters. But advantageously this reference distance can be modified to take into account the characteristics of the active protection system of the target encountered, a protection system whose reaction time can, for example, be measured by an observer.

[0050] The objective is to cause the connection means L to break late enough so that the stabilization of the bar is not disturbed and early enough so that the active protection system cannot act on the bar equipped with its empennage.

[0051] Figures 3a and 3b schematize the mode of operation of the projectile and the procedure according to the invention.

[0052] First of all (figure 3a), a vehicle V1 that wishes to neutralize a target, which here is a vehicle V2, first performs telemetry of the vehicle V2, for example by means of a laser rangefinder coupled to the firing control that equips the V1 vehicle (classic firing control and not shown).

[0053] Firing controls and telemetry means are classic means that equip all combat vehicles equipped with a weapon system S capable of firing subcaliber projectiles (for example, a smooth barrel of 120 mm to 140 mm caliber) .

[0054] In this way the distance A between the two vehicles is determined. The vehicle firing control is then able to calculate the flight time from bar 3 to vehicle V2, in fact the ballistic characteristics of the projectile are known and incorporated into the firing tables.

[0055] The firing control is capable of determining the instant T2 of the trajectory at which the bar 3 will enter a zone Z that surrounds the vehicle V2, the zone Z having a radius equal to the reference distance Ref chosen by the operator and which can eventually be modified by the latter. Here the reference distance chosen is of the order of 100 meters.

[0056] This instant T2 is the activation instant programmed before firing or during firing in the timing module 11a.

[0057] Figure 3b shows bar 3 in trajectory at two different times:

- at instant T1 the bar 3 is in its normal trajectory and includes its stabilizing tail 4. The safety and arming device 10 is armed after the shot;

- at instant T2, bar 3 enters zone Z. Control means 11 control the breakage of the connection means L between bar 3 and tailpiece 4.

[0058] After the breakage of the connecting means L, the bar 3 continues its path to the vehicle V2. The distance that remains to be traveled is reduced sufficiently so that there is no destabilization of the bar due to the loss of empennage 4.

[0059] The empennage 4 then follows its own trajectory and moves away from the bar 3.

[0060] The V2 vehicle is equipped with an active defense means D that projects explosive grenades. This means is ineffective against the bar 3 devoid of its empennage which, therefore, reaches the vehicle without deviating and with its maximum drilling capabilities. Defense means D will only be effective against empennage 4.

[0061] It should be noted that, due to the ejection of the empennage, the drilling capabilities of the rod also increase.

[0062] It should also be noted that the ejection of the empennage is comparable to the ejection of a decoy that can attract the active defense device D towards it. Therefore, it is likely that thermobaric grenades are projected towards the empennage and not towards the own bar.

Claims (9)

1. Subcalibrated projectile (1) of the arrow type configured to neutralize a target (V2), the projectile comprising a piercing bar (3) surrounded by a sabot (2) of light material and which allows the projectile to be fired in a weapon, the bar (3) extended by a stabilizing coupling (4), the coupling being connected to the bar (3) by a connection means (L) that can be broken, the breakage being initiated by a control means (11) integrated in the projectile, projectile characterized by the fact that the control means (11) comprises a chronometric module (11a) connected to a programming interface (12) and which is configured to be programmed before firing or during firing to guarantee the breakage of the means connection (L) at a reference distance (Ref) with respect to the target (V2) that is configured for target neutralization. 2. Undercalibrated projectile according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the reference distance (Ref) is less than 200 meters. 3. Undercalibrated projectile according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the reference distance (Ref) is less than 100 meters. 4. Subcalibrated projectile according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the programming interface (12) is a cable programming interface (12). 5. Subcalibrated projectile according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the programming interface (12) is a programming interface (12) by induction. 6. Subcalibrated projectile according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the programming interface (12) is a radio frequency programming interface (12). 7. Subcalibrated projectile according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that it comprises an explosive charge (9), the activation of which ensures the breakage of the connection means (L) and by the fact that it comprises a safety device and weapons (10) interposed between the explosive charge (9) and the control means (11). 8. Procedure for neutralizing a target using a subcalibrated projectile (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, as well as a weapons system capable of firing this projectile and equipped with fire control, the procedure having the following steps: - telemetry of the target (V2) is carried out from the weapon system equipped with a telemetry means; - an activation instant of the breakage of the connection means (L) is calculated so that this breakage occurs at a reference distance (Ref) from the target; - the timing module (11a) of the control means (11) of the projectile is programmed with this activation instant before firing or during firing. 9. Procedure for neutralizing a target according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that the reference distance is modifiable.