Forward firing fragmentation (FFF) munition including fragmentation adjustment system and associated methods

US10809045B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force · US

Inventors

• Kaz I. Teope · Corvallis, US
• Jacob B. Yarwood · Fountain, US
• Lucas A. Fumagalli · Fountain, US
• Kyle G. Senn · Fountain, US
• Philip T. Strunk · Fountain, US
• Michael Anderson · Chippewa Falls, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 28, 2019
• Grant date: Oct 20, 2020
• Expiry date: Jan 28, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F42B15/01
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The forward firing fragmentation (FFF) munition includes a body, a flight system carried by the body and configured to maneuver the munition in flight, and a warhead carried by the body and including an explosive configured to detonate and expel fragments in a pattern. A near field barrier (near field barrier), such as the guidance system, is carried by the body in front of the warhead and communicatively coupled via a communication link to the flight system. A fragmentation adjustment system is configured to physically displace the near field barrier relative to the warhead while maintaining the communication link between the near field barrier and the flight system until detonation of the explosive.