Method for defeating a warhead that carries submunitions

Abstract

A method is provided for destroying a target that includes dispersing submunition fragments in an array that is directed to intercept the target, and engaging said fragments to collide against an outer shell of the target, wherein said array distributes said fragments as having a ratio between a characteristic length of said fragments and a separation distance of at most 2.5 and a collision velocity of between 1.8 km/s 2.0 km/s. The ratio is preferably at most 1.9. The characteristic length corresponds to a spherical radius of the fragment. Each fragment has a mass between 150 grains and 300 grains. The array is preferably aligned to intercept the target at an angle offset by between 15° and 45° from perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the target. Each fragment has a preferable shape of a prism, a trapezoid or a pyramid.

1. A method for damaging a target, comprising:
 dispersing a plurality of pressure-releasing fragments in an array that is directed to intercept the target; and  
 engaging said fragments to collide against an outer shell of the target, wherein said array distributes said fragments as having a ratio between a characteristic length of said fragments and a separation distance of at most 2.5 and a collision velocity of between 1.8 km/s and 2.0 km/s, and said array is aligned to intercept the target at an angle offset by between 15° and 45° from perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the target.  
 
   
   
     2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said ratio is at most 1.9. 
   
   
     3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said characteristic length corresponds to a spherical radius of said fragment. 
   
   
     4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of fragments is between four and eight, inclusive. 
   
   
     5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein each fragment has a mass of between 150 grains and 300 grains. 
   
   
     6. The method to  claim 1 , wherein each fragment has a shape of one of a prism, a trapezoid and a pyramid. 
   
   
     7. A device for delivering pressure-releasing fragments in a warhead for damaging a target, comprising:
 a plurality of submunition fragments in an array that is directed to intercept the target; and  
 a dispersal mechanism for releasing said fragments to collide against an outer sheath of the target, wherein said array distributes said fragments as having a ratio between a characteristic length of said fragments and a separation distance of at most 2.5 and a collision velocity of between 1.8 km/s and 2.0 km/s, and said array is aligned to intercept the target at an angle offset by between 15° and 45° from perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the target.  
 
   
   
     8. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein said ratio is at most 1.9. 
   
   
     9. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein said characteristic length corresponds to a spherical radius of said fragment. 
   
   
     10. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of fragments is between four and eight, inclusive. 
   
   
     11. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein each fragment has a mass of between 150 grains and 300 grains. 
   
   
     12. The device according to  claim 7 , wherein each fragment has a shape of one of a prism, a trapezoid and a pyramid.