Antitank weapon for combating a tank from the top

US5275355A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Rheinmetall GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Werner Grosswendt · Ratingen, DE
• Gerhard Glotz · Düsseldorf, DE
• Helmut Peller · Düsseldorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 4, 1987
• Grant date: Jan 4, 1994
• Expiry date: Feb 4, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F42B15/00
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A projectile for a surface-to-surface weapon to combat a target from the top. The projectile includes a warhead; a propulsion system for accelerating the projectile directly after the projectile is placed in flight; a stabilizing guide assembly; a sensor for detecting a target in a longitudinal and lateral direction; and a pulse generator for turning the projectile about its center of gravity. The projectile additionally includes electronics for activating the warhead and for controlling the propulsion system and the pulse generator. A control unit rotates independently of the shaped charge warhead and houses the sensor, pulse generator and electronics. The pulse generator is arranged offset with respect to the sensor in the circumferential direction of the control unit. The electronics actuates the pulse generator in response to the sensor detecting a target, at a given distance ahead of such target, to produce a measured and radially directed control pulse to pivot the projectile so that it is aimed directly at the top of the target. The propulsion system additionally includes a drive assembly which is fired to accelerate the projectile toward a target, immediately after the proj…