Dynamic warhead pointing and stabilization independent from flight vector

Abstract

Systems and methods include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) having a body and a plurality of propulsion systems, a gimbal system having a plurality of targeting sensors and a warhead mount configured to carry and deploy a warhead, and a logic device. The logic device is configured to detect a target along a UAV flight path, track the target using sensed data from the targeting sensors, calculate an attack vector for the UAV to intercept the target, calculate a detonation angle for the warhead with respect to the attack vector and a selected location on the target, and instruct the gimbal system to orient the warhead at the detonation angle.