Kinetic energy rod warhead with blast fragmentation

Abstract

A hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead includes a projectile core including a plurality of projectiles, explosive segments about the projectile core, and isolators between the explosive segments. There is an initiator for each explosive segment and a shell about the explosive segments. A deployable casing including multiple fragment members is attached to the shell, and there is a housing about the deployable casing.

1 . A hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead comprising:
 a projectile core including a plurality of projectiles;   explosive segments about the projectile core;   isolators between the explosive segments;   an initiator for each explosive segment;   a shell about the explosive segments;   a deployable casing attached to the shell, said casing including multiple fragment members; and   a housing about the deployable casing.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which select initiators detonate said explosive segments to deploy said plurality of projectiles at a target or detonate said explosive segments to deploy said multiple fragment members at a target. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the deployable casing members are discrete pre-made fragments. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 3  in which the discrete pre-made fragments are titanium bars. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the deployable casing members are scored sections of said casing. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the shell is made of a ceramic material, or a composite material, or both ceramic material and composite material. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the initiators are located internally on the inside of each explosive segment adjacent the projectile core. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which select initiators detonate said explosive segments to eject said plurality of individual projectiles from said projectile core at a target. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which select initiators detonate said explosive segments to expel said multiple fragment members from the warhead at a target. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the projectiles are individual rods. 
     
     
         11 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the isolators are sympathetic shields. 
     
     
         12 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  further including a target locator system configured to locate a target relative to said warhead. 
     
     
         13 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 12  further including a controller, responsive to the target locator system, configured to selectively detonate specified initiators or sets of initiators depending on a mode of the warhead. 
     
     
         14 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 13  in which the warhead mode is kinetic energy rod warhead mode. 
     
     
         15 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 13  in which the warhead mode is blast fragmentation mode. 
     
     
         16 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the housing is a hull surrounding the deployable casing. 
     
     
         17 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which said deployable casing is attached to less than the entirety of said shell. 
     
     
         18 . The hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead of  claim 1  in which the multiple fragment members are attached to said shell with an adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . A hybrid kinetic energy rod warhead comprising:
 a projectile core including a plurality of individual rod projectiles;   explosive segments surrounding the projectile core;   a shell surrounding the explosive segments;   a deployable casing including a plurality of discrete pre-made fragments attached to said shell;   sympathetic shields between the explosive segments; and   internal initiators on the inside of each explosive segment and adjacent the projectile core for detonating said explosive segments to deploy said plurality of discrete pre-made fragments at a target or for detonating said explosive segments to deploy said plurality of individual rod projectiles at a target.   
     
     
         20 . A kinetic energy rod warhead system comprising:
 a projectile core including a plurality of projectiles;   explosive segments about the projectile core;   isolators between the explosive into segments;   a shell about the explosive segments;   a deployable casing attached to the shell, said casing including multiple fragment members;   a target locator system configured to locate a target relative to the said warhead;   a controller, responsive to the target locator system, configured to selectively detonate specified initiators or sets of initiators depending on a mode of the warhead; and   initiators for each explosive segment for detonating said explosive segments to deploy said multiple fragment members at a target or for detonating said explosive segments to deploy said plurality of individual rod projectiles at a target.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  in which the multiple members are discrete pre-made fragments and the plurality of projectiles are rods. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20  in which the deployable members are scored sections of said casing and the projectiles are rods.