US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Christopher Stout

Ryan Hooke

Mark Mellini

Tyler Myers

Pavol Stofko

Michael Caulfield

Alan Totten

Adam Lichtenberg-Scanlan

A precision guided munition with a fin assembly comprising a free spinning hub to which the fins attach addresses the need to roll control a projectile while eliminating the problems of the fin kit. The fin hub, to which the fins are attached, is radially decoupled from the mortar tail boom thus allowing it and the fins to spin freely relative to the body without coupling any of the spin. Advantageously, the need for a bearing between the hub and the tail boom is negated.

Free spinning hub for mortar projectiles

A deployable shroud provides an aerodynamically smooth surface to minimize the drag otherwise experienced by blunt nose projectiles. The shroud comprises multiple petals mounted at the nose of the projectile that are released at a set time during flight. The deployment mechanism assembly of the shroud provides deployment of the petals without the generation of shock waves into the projectile and comprises a fusible link powered by a thermal source. The shroud assembly is self-powered and does not require energy input from the projectile.

Thermally deployable shroud for affordable precision guided projectile

A high efficiency, blow-by reducing obturator for a 105 mm tube-launched projectile is a generally annular ring having a central longitudinal axis and an outer circumferential surface. The outer surface has a first portion parallel to the central longitudinal axis and a second portion adjacent to the first portion. The second portion extends forward and radially inward at an angle of about six degrees with the central longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, one or more grooves are formed in the inner circumferential surface of the ring.

Obturator for 105MM projectile

A round for simulating an 155 mm Excalibur ammunition for testing purposes. The round can effectively simulate the flight patterns of a real Excalibur round for testing purposes though made of far less expensive reusable parts. The round is generally fired into a water trough in a long soft catch recovery device so the tested round can later be studied, or generally fired ballistically, to test obturator devices.

155 mm XM1126 testing/training projectile

A projectile may include a body and a base fixed to a rear end of the body. The base may include a gas cavity and an opening extending from a rear end of the base to the gas cavity. A retention plug may be disposed in the opening wherein a fit between the retention plug and the opening is such that propellant gas pressure in the gas cavity forces the retention plug out of the opening. The retention plug may include at least one gas conduit between an outer surface of the retention plug and the gas cavity. A plurality of fins may be rotatably fixed to the base. The fins may have a folded position and a deployed position.

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Hoboken, NJ, United States of America

Christopher Stout