Dual mode warhead

US5612505A · kind A · utility

Assignee

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

Inventors

• James S. O'Brasky · Colonial Beach, US
• Alan A. Alexander · Minnetonka, US
• Odis H. Griffin, Jr. · Mogadore, US
• John S. Foster · Fredericksburg, US
• Morley C. Shamblen · La Plata, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 25, 1980
• Grant date: Mar 18, 1997
• Expiry date: Aug 25, 2000

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F42C9/142
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A dual mode warhead is provided for use against both soft and hard targets nd capable of sensing which type of target has been struck comprising a casing made of a ductile material containing an explosive charge and a fuze assembly. The ductile warhead casing will mushroom and later split upon striking a hard target while still confining the explosive. Proper ductility and confinement are necessary for fuze sensing. The fuze assembly contains a pair of parallel firing trains, one initiated only by high and one by low impact deceleration. The firing train actuated by low impact deceleration contains a pyrotechnic delay to allow penetration of soft targets.