Warheads and weapons and methods including same

Abstract

A warhead for damaging an inflight target includes a frame system, a projectile ejection force generator, and a plurality of long rod penetrators (LRPs). The frame system has a frame lengthwise axis. The projectile ejection force generator is operative to generate an ejection force. The LRPs are mounted on the frame system. Each of the LRPs has an LRP lengthwise axis extending substantially parallel to the frame lengthwise axis. The warhead is configured such that the LRPs structurally support the frame system against axial loads on the frame system. The warhead is configured to dispense the LRPs radially outwardly using the ejection force to thereby form a matrix of the LRPs to intersect the target

1 . A warhead for damaging an inflight target, the warhead comprising:
 a frame system having a frame lengthwise axis;   a projectile ejection force generator operative to generate an ejection force; and   a plurality of long rod penetrators (LRPs) mounted on the frame system, wherein each of the LRPs has an LRP lengthwise axis extending substantially parallel to the frame lengthwise axis;   wherein the warhead is configured such that the LRPs structurally support the frame system against axial loads on the frame system; and   wherein the warhead is configured to dispense the LRPs radially outwardly using the ejection force to thereby form a matrix of the LRPs to intersect the target.   
     
     
         2 . The warhead of  claim 1  wherein the projectile ejection force generator is an explosive charge. 
     
     
         3 . The warhead of  claim 2  wherein the ratio of the total mass of the explosive charge to the total combined mass of the LRPs is less than 5 percent. 
     
     
         4 . The warhead of  claim 2  the ratio of the total mass of the explosive charge to the total mass of the warhead is in the range of from about 0.1 percent to 5 percent. 
     
     
         5 . The warhead of  claim 1  wherein:
 the frame system includes an axially extending central beam; 
 a central cavity is defined in and extends axially through the central beam; 
 the projectile ejection force generator is disposed in the central cavity; and 
 the LRPs are located around the central beam. 
 
     
     
         6 . The warhead of  claim 1  wherein:
 the frame system includes a plurality of partition walls each extending radially and axially; 
 the partition walls are circumferentially spaced apart about the frame lengthwise axis to define a plurality of circumferentially distributed bays between the partition walls; and 
 each of the bays contains a respective bundle of the LRPs. 
 
     
     
         7 . The warhead of  claim 1  wherein:
 the frame system includes a plurality of radially extending level divider walls; 
 the level divider walls are axially spaced apart along the frame lengthwise axis to define a plurality of axially distributed levels; and 
 each of the levels contains a respective set of the LRPs. 
 
     
     
         8 . The warhead of  claim 7  wherein:
 each of the LRPs has opposed front and rear ends; and 
 the front and rear ends of each LRP each engage a respective one of the level divider walls. 
 
     
     
         9 . The warhead of  claim 7  wherein:
 the plurality of levels includes a first level containing a first set of the LRPs having a first combined mass; 
 the plurality of levels includes a second level containing a second set of the LRPs having a second combined mass; and 
 the second combined mass is greater than the first combined mass. 
 
     
     
         10 . The warhead of  claim 7  wherein:
 the plurality of levels includes a first level containing a first set of the LRPs each having a first LRP length; 
 the plurality of levels includes a second level containing a second set of the LRPs each having a second LRP length; and 
 the second LRP length is greater than the first LRP length. 
 
     
     
         11 . The warhead of  claim 7  wherein:
 the plurality of levels includes a first level containing a first set of the LRPs formed of a first LRP material; 
 the plurality of levels includes a second level containing a second set of the LRPs formed of a second LRP material; and 
 the first LRP material is different than the second LRP material. 
 
     
     
         12 . The warhead of  claim 1  wherein:
 the warhead includes a shell surrounding the LRPs; 
 the LRPs are disposed radially between the frame system and the shell; and 
 the warhead further includes a plurality of rigid support inserts disposed radially between the LRPs and the shell and configured to resist buckling of the LRPs under load. 
 
     
     
         13 . The warhead of  claim 12  wherein the support inserts are formed of metal. 
     
     
         14 . The warhead of  claim 1  wherein:
 the projectile ejection force generator is an explosive charge; 
 the frame system includes an axially extending central beam; 
 a central cavity is defined in and extends axially through the central beam; 
 the explosive charge is disposed in the central cavity; 
 the LRPs are located around the central beam; 
 the warhead includes a shell surrounding the LRPs; 
 the frame system includes a plurality of radially extending level divider walls; 
 the level divider walls are axially spaced apart along the frame lengthwise axis to define a plurality of axially distributed levels; 
 each of the levels contains a respective set of the LRPs; 
 the frame system includes a plurality of partition walls each extending radially and axially; 
 the partition walls are circumferentially spaced apart about the frame lengthwise axis to define a plurality of circumferentially distributed bays between the partition walls; and 
 each of the bays contains a respective bundle of the LRPs. 
 
     
     
         15 . The warhead of  claim 14  wherein the central beam, the level divider walls, and the partition walls form a unitary structure. 
     
     
         16 . The warhead of  claim 14  wherein:
 the LRPs are disposed radially between the central beam and the shell; and 
 the warhead further includes a plurality of rigid support inserts disposed radially between the LRPs and the shell and configured to resist buckling of the LRPs under load. 
 
     
     
         17 . The warhead of  claim 1  wherein:
 the frame system includes a plurality of radially extending level divider walls; 
 the level divider walls are axially spaced apart along the frame lengthwise axis to define a plurality of axially distributed levels; 
 each of the levels contains a respective set of the LRPs; 
 the frame system includes a plurality of partition walls each extending radially and axially; 
 the partition walls are circumferentially spaced apart about the frame lengthwise axis to define a plurality of circumferentially distributed bays between the partition walls on each of the levels; 
 each of the bays contains a respective bundle of the LRPs; and 
 the bays defined in at least one of the levels are rotationally offset from the bays defined in another of the levels. 
 
     
     
         18 . The warhead of  claim 1  wherein:
 the LRPs are regular hexagonally-shaped in cross-section; and 
 the LRPs are packed in sidewall-to-sidewall contact. 
 
     
     
         19 . The warhead of  claim 1  wherein the projectile ejection force generator includes a pressurized gas generator. 
     
     
         20 . The warhead of  claim 19  wherein the projectile ejection force generator further includes an inflatable airbag configured to be inflated by pressurized gas from the pressurized gas generator. 
     
     
         21 . The warhead of  claim 1  wherein the projectile ejection force generator includes a spring. 
     
     
         22 .- 28 . (canceled)