Device for Penetrating and Exploding a Target

Abstract

A lethality device includes a penetrator structure configured to penetrate a target and an incendiary material disposed near the penetrator structure. The incendiary material self-ignites and is injected into the target after penetration of the target. A projectile includes a penetrator structure configured to penetrate a target, an incendiary material disposed near the penetrator structure, and one or components other than the penetrator structure and the incendiary material disposed aft of the penetrator structure. Loads from the one or more components are transferred to the penetrator structure upon impact with the target. The incendiary material self-ignites and is injected into the target after penetration of the target. A method for defeating a target containing an ignitable material includes broaching or puncturing an outer skin of the target, self-igniting an incendiary material, injecting the ignited incendiary material into the target, and igniting a material disposed within the target.

1 . A lethality device, comprising:
 a penetrator structure configured to penetrate a target; and   an incendiary material disposed near the penetrator structure;   wherein the incendiary material self-ignites and is injected into the target after penetration of the target.   
   
   
       2 . The lethality device, according to  claim 1 , wherein the lethality device is operably associated with a projectile such that loads from one or more components of the projectile that are disposed aft of the penetrator structure are transferred to the penetrator structure upon impact with the target. 
   
   
       3 . The lethality device, according to  claim 1 , wherein the incendiary material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of white phosphorous, michmetal, an explosive material, a cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine-based substance, a cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine-based substance, a pentaerythritol tetranitrate-based substance, a binary mix of fuel and oxidizer, thermite, a material containing a reactive metal, a material containing lithium, a material containing sodium, a material containing potassium, a material containing magnesium, a material containing calcium, a material containing barium, and a material containing cesium. 
   
   
       4 . The lethality device, according to  claim 1 :
 wherein the target contains a predetermined material having a burning temperature; and   the incendiary material burns at a higher temperature than the burning temperature of the predetermined material of the target.   
   
   
       5 . A projectile, comprising:
 a penetrator structure configured to penetrate a target;   an incendiary material disposed near the penetrator structure; and   one or components other than the penetrator structure and the incendiary material disposed aft of the penetrator structure;   wherein loads from the one or more components are transferred to the penetrator structure upon impact with the target; and   wherein the incendiary material self-ignites and is injected into the target after penetration of the target.   
   
   
       6 . The projectile, according to  claim 5 , wherein the incendiary material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of white phosphorous, michmetal, an explosive material, a cyclotetramethylene-tetranitramine-based substance, a cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine-based substance, a pentaerythritol tetranitrate-based substance, a binary mix of fuel and oxidizer, thermite, a material containing a reactive metal, a material containing lithium, a material containing sodium, a material containing potassium, a material containing magnesium, a material containing calcium, a material containing barium, and a material containing cesium. 
   
   
       7 . The projectile, according to  claim 5 , wherein the projectile is configured to defeat the target by broaching or puncturing an outer skin of the target. 
   
   
       8 . The projectile, according to  claim 5 , wherein the projectile is configured to defeat the target via non-hydrodynamic means. 
   
   
       9 . The projectile, according to  claim 5 , wherein substantially an entire weight of the projectile presses against the penetrator structure when the projectile impacts the target. 
   
   
       10 . The projectile, according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more components comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of a projectile case, an actuation system for operating a plurality of control surfaces of the projectile, a battery, and a bulkhead of the projectile. 
   
   
       11 . The projectile, according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more components comprises:
 a bulkhead disposed aft of the penetrator structure;   a battery disposed aft of the bulkhead;   an actuation system for operating a plurality of control surfaces of the projectile, the actuation system being disposed aft of the battery; and   a case of the projectile disposed aft of the actuation system.   
   
   
       12 . The projectile, according to  claim 5 :
 wherein the target contains a predetermined material having a burning temperature; and   the incendiary material burns at a higher temperature than the burning temperature of the predetermined material of the target.   
   
   
       13 . A method for defeating a target containing an ignitable material, comprising:
 one of broaching and puncturing an outer skin of the target;   self-igniting an incendiary material;   injecting the ignited incendiary material into the target; and   igniting a material disposed within the target.   
   
   
       14 . The method, according to  claim 13 , wherein one of broaching and puncturing the outer skin of the target is accomplished at least in part by transferring a load from a component of a projectile to a penetrator structure upon impact of the projectile and the target. 
   
   
       15 . The method, according to  claim 13 , wherein one of broaching and puncturing the outer skin of the target is accomplished by urging a penetrator structure through the outer skin of the target by non-hydrodynamic means.