Jettisonable protective cover device

Abstract

An in-flight jettisonable protective cover device for protecting fragile, accurate, radomes or signal-responsive components for the major portion of a flight which is capable of being jettisoned in one piece at supersonic speeds from a guided missile, other air vehicles, or space vehicles. The cover device is for use, for example, in combination with a guided missile having a shell structure, a nose portion, and a radome in the missile nose. The cover device is attached to the missile nose for covering the radome such that an inner space is defined. A plurality of shear pins or other quick-release mechanisms attach and retain the cover device to the missile shell. A source of low pressure gas pressurizes the inner space to approximately 50 psi. A rapid-discharging, high pressure gas cartridge produces a high pressure gas for exerting a pressure force on the aft face of the cover device. The pressure forces are sufficient to shear the retaining pins and accelerate the cover device sufficiently forward to clear the missile body at supersonic speeds. The missile angle of attack creates lateral aerodynamic forces on the cover deivce to clear it from the missile. The sensitive radome can then be used for high precision detection and tracking as required at intercept.