Bounding anti-tank/anti-vehicle weapon

FEDERAL RESEARCH STATEMENT

[The inventions described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the U.S. Government for U.S. Government purposes.]

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The invention relates in general to munitions and in particular to a bounding anti-tank/anti-vehicle mine.

With the exception of wide area mines, present anti-armor mines do not protect large areas. Wide area mines are comparatively expensive and not very reliable. In addition, present mines, only attack one target per mine. This problem has existed for 50 years. Present wide area mines do not produce catastrophic kills or firepower kills.

The old way to solve the problem was to plant a lot of antitank mines and hope that one of them would encounter a vehicle. This method involved a lot of mines which became a logistics problem and was very man-hour intensive.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An important advantage of the present invention is that it can kill multiple armor and vehicle targets in 360 degrees over a wide area with one mine. This is accomplished by the use of a multiple asymmetric explosively forged penetrator (EFP) warhead that is capable of producing multiple armor penetrating kills from a single warhead horizontally in 360 degrees. In addition, the firing train of the warhead can modify the output from the warhead to tailor it to the particular type of target of interest.

The invention will be better understood, and further objects, features, and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, like or corresponding parts are denoted by like or corresponding reference numerals.

FIGS. 1A-D

show the operational sequence of the mine according to the invention.

FIG. 2A

is a larger view of the mine in the position of

FIG. 1A

,

FIG. 2B

is a larger view of the mine in the position of FIG.

1

B and

FIG. 2C

is a larger view of the mine in the position of FIG.

1

C.

FIG. 3

is a view, partially in cross-section, of one embodiment of a mine according to the invention.

FIG. 4

is a perspective view of an exemplary warhead.

FIG. 5

is a top view of the warhead.

FIG. 6

is a side view of an explosively forged penetrator, after detonation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is a bounding anti-armor/anti-vehicle mine specifically designed to attack and destroy multiple targets simultaneously at the targets” closest point of approach. This is accomplished by utilizing multiple asymmetric explosively forged penetrators (EFPs) on a warhead that is capable of producing multiple armor penetrating kills horizontally in 360 degrees. The warhead comprises, for example, 16 curved copper or non-ferrous EFP metal plates approximately 1.375″×10″ long arranged parallel to the central axis of the mine. The warhead contains, for example, approximately 29 pounds of PAX 3 explosive and is initiated either centrally or from either end, depending on the type of target being attacked.

When the warhead is initiated, the EFP metal plates fold into a clothespin shape that focuses all the energy of the explosive along a horizontal plane perpendicular to the central axis of the mine. This focusing of the explosive energy allows the EFP to punch through many inches of armor. The mine can be command controlled on-off-on with multiple remotely settable self-destruct times. The mine utilizes a three-axis magnetometer and an acoustic sensor to both detect, range gate, and classify a target. The mine waits for the closest point of approach of a given target and classifies the target as either light/medium or heavy. The warhead then bounds in the air three to four feet and detonates in a way that is appropriate for the target's classification. If the target is classified as an armor (i.e., heavy) target, the warhead will bound, detonate at its center and project the clothespin shaped EFP's in 360 degrees horizontally, killing multiple targets within 40 meters of the mine. If the target is classified as light/medium, the warhead will bound, detonate at one of its ends and fragment the EFPs, sending fragments in 360 degrees horizontally.

FIGS. 1A-D

show an example of the operational sequence of the mine

10

according to the invention. The bounding anti-armor/anti-vehicle mine

10

may be, for example, deployed by hand, vehicle, air or missile. After impact of mine

10

on the ground

12

(FIG.

1

A), erection legs

14

(

FIG. 1B

) are released. The erection legs

14

erect the mine

10

in a vertical position. A radio command is sent to the mine

10

, arming the mine and setting its self-destruct time. Upon magnetic and acoustic detection of a vehicular target

16

(FIG.

1

C), the mine

10

waits for the closest point of approach and then, the bounding portion

18

bounds in the air three to four feet. A stationary portion

20

remains on the ground. The warhead then detonates (

FIG. 1D

) and sprays EFP fragments horizontally in 360 degrees penetrating the targets

16

and destroying them.

FIG. 2A

is a larger view of the mine

10

in the position of

FIG. 1A

(except oriented vertically rather than horizontally),

FIG. 2B

is a larger view of the mine

10

in the position of

FIG. 1B

, armed and erect, and

FIG. 2C

is a larger view of the mine

10

in the position of

FIG. 1C

, bounding and about to detonate. Referring to

FIG. 2A

, mine

10

includes a band

24

disposed around upper ends of the erection legs

14

for maintaining the erection legs

14

in an upright, folded position. A pyrotechnic band cutter

26

is disposed on the band

24

and electrically connected to the fuze electronics. When mine

10

is deployed, a timer circuit in the fuze electronics starts. When the timer circuit delay ends, the fuze electronics sends a signal to the pyrotechnic band cutter

26

. The band cutter

26

then detonates, cutting band

24

and allowing erection legs

14

to unfold, as shown in

FIGS. 2B and 2C

. Referring to

FIGS. 2B and 2C

, mine

10

includes a bounding portion

18

and a stationary portion

20

. Stationary portion

20

includes erection legs

14

and a cup

22

into which a bottom end of the bounding portion

18

is received.

FIG. 3

is a view, partially in cross-section, of one embodiment of a mine

10

according to the invention. The bounding portion

18

includes a warhead

28

, a safe and arm device

34

, fuze electronics

42

, a radio

44

, a three-axis magnetometer

48

, an acoustic sensor

50

and a power supply

52

. The stationary portion

20

includes a cup

22

for receiving a bottom end of the warhead

28

, a bounding charge

54

disposed below the bottom end of the warhead

28

and a plurality of erection legs

14

connected to the cup

22

.

The bounding charge

54

comprises a propellant igniter

56

electrically connected by, for example, wire

58

to the fuze electronics

42

. The bounding charge

54

may be, for example, M

5

propellant or black powder. The quantity of bounding charge

54

is on the order of 25 grams, depending on the size of the warhead. A plate

62

is disposed between the bounding charge

54

and the bottom end of the warhead

28

. Each erection leg

14

is connected to the cup

22

by a hinge

60

including a torsion spring that tends to force the erection leg

14

away from cup

22

.

The warhead

28

comprises a generally cylindrical mass of explosive

30

having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of asymmetric EFPs

32

. The EFPs

32

are disposed around the circumference of the mass of explosive

30

and are disposed generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mass of explosive

30

. The explosive

30

is for example, approximately 29 pounds of PAX 3 explosive. The safe and arm device

34

, fuze electronics

42

, radio

44

, three-axis magnetometer

48

, acoustic sensor

50

and power supply

52

are disposed on top of the warhead

28

. The power supply

52

is, for example, lithium thional chloride batteries.

The fuze electronics

42

includes a computer

46

. The computer

46

is connected to the safe and arm device

34

, the radio

44

, the three-axis magnetometer

48

, the acoustic sensor

50

and the power supply

52

. The safe and arm device

34

comprises a fuze cord

36

extending from the top of the warhead

28

along the longitudinal axis of the mass of explosive

30

and terminating at about a longitudinal midpoint of the mass of explosive

30

. A detonator

37

is attached to the end of fuze cord

36

. The safe and arm device

34

further comprises at least one of a detonator

40

, disposed at a top center of the explosive

30

, and a detonator

38

, disposed at a bottom center of the explosive

30

. Detonators

38

,

40

are electrically connected to the safe and arm device

34

.

FIG. 4

is a perspective view of an exemplary warhead

28

. Each asymmetric EFP

32

has a substantially elliptical shape with a major axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mass of explosive

30

.

FIG. 5

is a top view of the warhead

28

. As shown in

FIG. 5

, each EFP

32

includes a concave outer surface

64

and a convex inner surface

66

. In a preferred embodiment, the number of EFPs is sixteen. The EFPs are made of, for example, copper,

302

stainless steel or other suitable metal that will not interfere with the magnetometer

48

. The EFPs

32

may be attached directly to formed explosive

30

by, for example, gluing. Alternatively, the EFPs may be pressed.and inscribed in a flat piece of metal. The flat piece of metal is then rolled into a cylindrical shape and place around the explosive

30

.

If the mine

10

senses that the target is a tracked vehicle (i.e., heavy target), the warhead

48

is detonated using the fuze cord

36

. The fuze cord

36

(

FIG. 3

) initiates detonation from the center of warhead

48

. This type of detonation causes the EFPs to fold into a clothespin like shape, as shown in FIG.

6

. The explosive will project the clothespin shaped EFP's in 360 degrees horizontally, killing multiple targets within

40

meters of the mine. If the target is classified as a wheeled vehicle (i.e., light/medium target), the warhead will detonate at one of its ends

38

,

40

and fragment the EFPs, sending fragments in 360 degrees horizontally.

The computer

46

comprises means for storing acoustic signatures of a variety of target vehicles, both tracked and wheeled. The computer

46

compares the signal received from the acoustic sensor

50

to the stored acoustic signatures, and determines whether a sensed target is tracked (heavy) or wheeled (light/medium). The acoustic sensor

50

is operable in a range of about 100 meters from the mine

10

. Simultaneously, the magnetometer

48

indicates whether or not a suitable target is present, based on the iron content of the target. The range of the magnetometer is shorter, about 38 meters. When the magnetometer

48

senses a suitable target in range, and the magnetometer signal strength has just peaked from a maximum, the computer

46

is then prepared to send a detonate signal to the fuze electronics

42

. However, the acoustic sensor

50

must also be sensing a suitable target, that is, a tracked or wheeled vehicle.

If both sensors have sensed suitable targets, then the computer

46

sends a detonate signal to the fuze electronics

42

. The fuze electronics

42

first sends a detonate signal to the bounding charge

54

. The bounding charge

54

detonates, sending the warhead

28

three to four feet into the air. After a short time delay on the order of milliseconds, the fuze electronics

42

sends a detonate signal to the explosive

30

. Depending on the target sensed, the detonate signal is sent to the fuze cord

36

, or one of the detonators

38

,

40

located at the ends of the warhead

28

.

If the acoustic sensor

50

has sensed that the target is a tracked vehicle (i.e., heavy target), the warhead

48

is detonated using the fuze cord

36

. The fuze cord

36

(

FIG. 3

) initiates detonation from the center of warhead

48

. This type of detonation causes the EFPs to fold into a clothespin like shape, as shown in FIG.

6

. The explosive will project the clothespin shaped EFP's in 360 degrees horizontally, killing multiple targets within 40 meters of the mine. If the acoustic sensor

50

has sensed that the target is a wheeled vehicle (i.e., light/medium target), the warhead detonates at one of its ends

38

,

40

and fragments the EFPs, sending the fragments in 360 degrees horizontally.

While the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous changes, alterations and modifications to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.