Rheinmetall W & M Gmbh

Rheinmetall Waffe Munition Gmbh

Wolfgang Seidel

Ralf-Joachim Herrmann

Michael Schwenzer

Frank Guischard

The invention relates to a warhead () for attacking particularly half-hard and/or soft targets, wherein the warhead comprises a splinter-forming casing () and an explosive material positioned in the casing (). The warhead () further has a front plate () having a splinter formation, into which a distance sensor () is integrated. An igniter () for the explosive material and a stabilizing strap for adjusting perpendicular flight characteristics on the way to the target are located in the rear part of the warhead (), wherein the initiation of the igniter () is determined by a property of the target to be attacked, namely, the parameter of a defined height from the target.

Warhead

A reconnaissance sonde to be dropped and erected in an area for wirelessly transmitting data to a data processing apparatus. The sonde includes a housing having top and bottom portions; a parachute disposed at the top housing portion; a plurality of support legs peripherally mounted on the housing in a circumferential array and having a folded state and a deployed state; a drive for simultaneously moving the support legs from the folded state into the deployed state upon landing of the sonde; a GPS navigation system, a magnetic field sensor and an attitude sensor for accurately determining a position and an attitude of the sonde; at least three target bearing determining sensors supported by the housing and distributed circumferentially; an electronic evaluating apparatus supported by the housing and connected to the GPS navigation system, the magnetic field sensor, the attitude sensor and the target bearing determining sensors for evaluating measured sensor signals thereof; a transmitting and receiving apparatus connected to the electronic evaluating apparatus for wirelessly transmitting evaluated signals to a remote data processing apparatus or an additional sonde; and a battery for supplying electric energy to the sonde components.

Reconnaissance sonde

A method for the autonomous guidance of a spin-stabilized artillery projectile (2; 25) toward a target (12). To ensure that an autonomously guided, spin-stabilized artillery projectile (2; 25) hits a target (12) with high precision, even at distances of .gtoreq.35 km, previously determined target data are transmitted to the projectile (2; 25) and stored therein before it is fired, and, following the firing of the projectile (2; 25), these stored data are compared with projectile position data, detected with the aid of a satellite navigational receiving station (23). The correction data resulting from this comparison are then used for the projectile (2; 25) guidance. Shortly before reaching the guidance phase, the velocity of the projectile is reduced by the use of spin-stabilized brakes and the projectile flight is changed for purposes of guidance from a spin-stabilized to a fin-stabilized flight state, wherein the projectile (2; 25) is then guided aerodynamically by means of rotating fins (9), arranged on the nose side, which can swing out, and wherein the spin-stabilized brakes function as lift surfaces once they are locked in place.

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Lehre, Germany

Wolfgang Seidel