Ammunition incorporating searching fuse with trajectory correctable during its final flight phase and method for combating armored target objects

• US 4,711,178 A
• Filed: 04/22/1986
• Issued: 12/08/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Diehl GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Diehl GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Argyrakis, Nikolaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Application Number:
  US06/855,078
• Time in Patent Office: 595 Days
• Field of Search: 102/384, 102/387, 244/3.22
• US Class Current: 102/384
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/222 for spin-stabilized missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 10/56 of parachute or paraglider type
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 13/006 for non-guided, spinning, braked or gravity-driven weapons, e.g. parachute-braked sub-munitions

Abstract

Ammunition incorporating a sensing fuse and a parachute, and which has the trajectory thereof correctable during its final flight phase, and a method for the combating of armored target objects with the utilization of such ammunition. The ammunition with the sensing fuse is equipped with a pulse transmitter for a course alignment or correction in the direction towards the lateral or sideways offset of a target object which has been detected by the sensing fuse, and with devices for suspending the action of a parachute during the approach to a target by the ammunition along a quasi-ballistic trajectory.

Claims

1. In an article of ammunition including a sensing fuse, and a parachute, wherein the trajectory of the article is correctable during the final phase of flight thereof, the improvement comprising:

said ammunition having a pulse transmitter for producing an offsetting directional component in a direction towards the sideways offset position of a target object which is detected by the sensing fuse;

means for suspending the action of the parachute during approach of the ammunition towards a target along a quasi-ballistic trajectory; and

a sensor-guidable gathering arrangemnt operatively connected to said parachute for respectively suspending and reinstating the action of said parachute.

2. Ammunition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gathering arrangement includes a retractor motor for a line which is fastened to the middle region of the canopy of the parachute.

3. Ammunition as claimed in claim 2, wherein the middle region of the parachute is maintained in the direction of movement ahead of the edge region of the parachute which folded together behind said middle region during movement of said ammunition in said quasi-ballistic trajectory.

4. A method for the attacking of armored target objects with ammunition including a sensing fuse, wherein the trajectory of said ammunition is correctable during its final phase of flight;

said ammunition descending into a target area suspended from a parachute and approaching the target object while sensor-guided, prior to a warhead in said ammunition being detonated for the deformation and firing of an explosive insert;

the improvement comprising;

imparting an impulse-like offsetting component to the direction of movement of the ammunition upon the initial detection of a target object at a high elevation during a reduced parachute-supported action such that the ammunition assumes a quasi-ballistic trajectory towards the target object; and

upon falling below a maximum effective distance of the warhead to the target object, the ammunition is again imparted a transition into target acquisition from a parachute-retarded descending movement of the ammunition.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein for effecting the transition into and the movement along the quasi-ballistic trajectory, the middle region of the parachute canopy is pulled in the direction of movement ahead of the edge region thereof and thereby the parachute is folded rearwardly to provide a directionally-stabilized element for the trajectory of the ammunition.