Bae Systems, Inc.

Royal Ordnance Plc

Dennis J Hickey

John G Rawcliffe

A braking device for increasing the drag coefficient of an associated shell at a desired point while in flight is described. The device comprises: at least two braking vane means which, when released, extend substantially symmetrically into a surrounding airstream while said shell is in flight; retaining means for maintaining said at least two vane means in a retracted first position out of said airstream during an initial portion of said flight; releasing means to allow said at least two vanes to extend to a second position into said airstream at a desired point during said flight; said at least two vane means being extended by centrifugal force due to rotation of said associated shell about its axis; and, said at least two vane means further including co-operating means to ensure substantially symmetrical extension into said airstream.

Device for exerting drag

A safety and arming unit for a round of ammunition, comprising one or more acceleration sensors for detecting when the acceleration of the ammunition reaches at least two different predetermined linear acceleration values; timer means for measuring the time interval between the detection of two of the predetermined linear acceleration values, means for electronically comparing the said measured time interval with a range of predetermined and pre-set time intervals representing satisfactory firing for the round of ammunition, and means for producing an electronic signal when the said measured time interval falls within the range of predetermined and pre-set time intervals, which signal operates to arm the ammunition ready for detonation.

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Preston, United Kingdom

Dennis J Hickey