RU2823620C1 - Ammunition for grenade launcher against unmanned aerial vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: weapons and ammunition.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to ammunition intended for neutralization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). Ammunition for a grenade launcher against a UAV contains a tail part rigidly interconnected by an axisymmetric element, which includes a propellant charge with a primer, and a head part equipped with a guide belt for twisting in the grenade launcher barrel and including a fishing net in a laying with peripheral metal elements evenly distributed and fixed on it, as well as an ejector, with the possibility of dome-shaped opening of the catching net, due to said ejector and peripheral metal elements, with the midship of the opened catching net exceeding the ammunition midship, and without separation of catching net from ammunition. Axisymmetric element is made in the form of central bearing rod of ammunition. Head and tail parts of ammunition are spaced apart along said central bearing rod with formation of open annular gap, with the possibility of a working exit through it of a fishing net with peripheral metal elements under the action of pressure from the ejector. Ejector is made in form of through windows in streamlined front part of ammunition head, with possibility of inlet through them of counter flow of air under dynamic pressure and exit together with fishing net with peripheral metal elements from head part into said open annular gap between tail and head parts.

EFFECT: simplified design and higher safety of ammunition.

1 cl, 4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to ammunition, for example for hand grenade launchers with a caliber of 40 mm, intended for the destruction (neutralization) of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), hereinafter referred to as “drones”. Mainly based on VOG-25, VOG-25P grenades.

The tactics of conducting operations to intercept intruder drones is one of the most pressing modern topics with pronounced innovative activity.

There are many known interception means (systems) that are in service in countries around the world and have been developed in projects. They are aimed both at the unequivocal destruction of such “illegitimate” objects and at their capture. In both cases this can be called "neutralization".

They use various projectiles, grenades, missiles, laser and radio equipment, trained birds of prey, interceptor drones (the latter blow themselves up together with the target (“kamikaze”), go for a ram or capture the target in a network; they act alone and in groups - multi-agent systems ) etc. [1. Effective ways to protect against quadcopters and other commercial drones. - URL: https://k-radio.ru/blog/effektivnye-sposoby-zashchity-ot-kvadrokopterov-i-drugikh-kommercheskikh-dronov/; 2. RU 2738383 C2, F41H 11/04, 12/11/2020, “UAV interception device”, JSC Research Institute “Vector”; 3. RU 2755951, F41H 11/02, F41H 13/00, 23/09/2021, “Method of active protection of an object from the upper hemisphere”; 4. RU 2495359 C1, F41H 11/02, 10.10.2013, “Device for the destruction of remotely piloted (unmanned) aerial vehicles (RPAV)”].

For example, a method and device for destroying a drone is known, when a network is placed on the ground, one edge of which is fixed, and on the other, at least two missiles are attached along the edges of the network; the missiles are launched at a distance from the target on its trajectory, when the drone is not capable of maneuver in the network area in a direction perpendicular to it relative to the course of the drone when the network crosses the trajectory of the drone before its approach, while, in particular, explosive devices are installed in the network [5. RU 97110432 A, F41H 11/02, 07/10/1999, “Method of destroying an aircraft”].

However, this analogue, firstly, is more stationary (tied to a position on the ground) than mobile. In any case, it requires a relatively long deployment/collapse. The drone may not wait for the promised missile launch at it. Secondly, it is clearly large and can be recommended mainly for a swarm of drones terrorizing a significant strategic object. Thirdly, missiles experience significant maneuvering overloads of variable direction and magnitude (the complex stereometry of the trapping net in the dynamics of interception).

An analogue close to the claimed device is an anti-drone munition containing a streamlined body, a propellant charge with an igniter primer, a catching net with solid spreading elements attached to it, stacked in a cylindrical container with an open end and with an ejector device, with the possibility of opening into a mesh dome with the midsection of the latter, exceeding the midsection of the hull, and the possibility of mechanical interception of a drone in the airspace by a catching net, and the expelling device is equipped with an operationally adjustable timer with the possibility of preliminary manual adjustment of the firing distance of the expelling charge, and also containing a warhead of directed high-explosive fragmentation with a fuse and damaging solid elements, with the possibility of destroying the drone [6. RU 2 744 227 С1, F41H 11/02, F42B 5/02, F42B 12/58, 03/03/2021, patent holder - FGKA VOU VO "Military Academy of Strategic Missile Forces named after Peter the Great" RF Ministry of Defense].

In this device, a container with a fishing net and a warhead (warhead) are structurally and functionally combined, with the open end of the container oriented and the action of the warhead directed towards its front hemisphere, while the central part of the fishing net, which is a nodal bundle of the same ends of radially oriented flexible elements the network itself is initially in a free (not connected to anything else) state, and the fuse is made pyrotechnic, like a diaphragm-regulated relationship between the propellant charge and the propellant charge of the warhead, with the ability to be triggered exclusively at the set expected distance to the target.

The body is provided with a leading belt with protrusions for obturation, acceleration and spinning of ammunition at the stage of internal ballistics in a rifled barrel (guide), on which, in fact, the method of automatic opening of the network is based due to centrifugal forces acting on solid bodies attached to the periphery of the network ( they are here - elements that mechanically damage the drone, in addition to individual fragments of the warhead).

However, this analogue device also has the following specific disadvantages.

Firstly, the a priori setting of the distance (range) of warhead activation using a timer (which, obviously, was borrowed from the principles of the operation of anti-aircraft shells on aircraft during the Second World War) already determines a very low probability of coincidence between the calculated (estimated) and the actual range to the target ( for the interception task), especially given the incomparably greater maneuverability of the drone compared to a bomber of those times.

Secondly, the constructive and functional unity of the “device for ejecting a trapping net from a container + a high-explosive fragmentation warhead” (with simultaneous ejection of the net and fragments, especially when the opening net ends up between flying fragments and the target drone) creates unfavorable conditions for strength , the integrity of the fishing net, because it, being a kind of “screen” on the path of damaging factors to the target, may not “live” to realize its purpose.

Thirdly, other things being equal (primarily the range to the point where the ammunition meets the drone), the activation of the warhead with its high-explosive fragmentation effect and the generation of secondary destructive elements in the form of destruction products of the ammunition and the drone will occur dangerously close to the shooter , and from other (our) people and equipment.

Fourthly, the third drawback will appear in case of a miss (to the delight of the drone’s owners).

These shortcomings individually and in their entirety, despite the unconditional usefulness of the analogue [6], are evidence of its insufficiently high tactical and technical capabilities (characteristics) - TTV (TTX).

To save resources and reduce the time required for serial production of new products, it is often advisable to rework previously adopted ammunition with their serial production established. This is also true when applied to 40 mm grenades VOG-25, VOG-25P, etc. for under-barrel grenade launchers PG-25, PG-34 [7. VOG-25/VOG-25P and other 40 mm rounds. - URL: https://war-time.ru/item/vystrel-vog-25 (Date of access: 11/21/20220)].

Because they themselves are not suitable for effectively combating such small and maneuverable objects as UAVs.

Thus, the admissibility of converting combat grenades into grenades with a payload lowered by parachute after separation from the grenade, in particular for reconnaissance and artillery fire-correcting purposes, is confirmed by sources of information, where an analogue of a trapping net is a parachute built into the head of a grenade in place of the warhead [8 . RU 2 537 355 C1. F42B 5/00, F42B 12/36, F42B 12/42, F42B 15/01, 01/10/2015, “Method of stowing a parachute and a container with useful equipment attached to it in the head of a grenade body and a device for stowing a parachute...”].

The closest analogue (prototype) to the claimed device is ammunition for a grenade launcher against unmanned aerial vehicles, containing a tail section rigidly interconnected by an axisymmetric element, which includes a propellant charge with an igniter primer, and a head section, equipped with a guide belt for twisting in the barrel of the grenade launcher and including includes a trapping net laid with evenly distributed and fixed peripheral metal elements on it, as well as a knockout device, with the possibility of dome-shaped opening of the trapping net, due to the mentioned knockout device and metal elements, with the midsection of the opened trapping net exceeding the midsection of the ammunition, and without separation ammunition catch net [9. Russia has developed a grenade launcher shot for neutralization. - URL: https://topwar.ru/180767-v-rossi-razrabotan-granatometnyj-vystrel-dlja-nejtralizacii-bespilotnikov.html (Date of publication: 03/11/2021; date of access: 11/23/2022); (Primary source - US patent 2019 for 40 mm - grenade for under-barrel grenade launchers, US Department of the Army - not found by the Applicant)].

The ammunition consists of two parts - a detachable warhead and a housing, inside of which there is a trapping net designed to entangle the UAV in flight. The ammunition can be fired from a conventional under-barrel or any other 40 mm grenade launcher.

However, the prototype, for all its usefulness, is not yet perfect enough and is not always applicable due to the design features and the need to separate one of the parts of the ammunition to eject the trapping net.

The task (problem to be solved) of the claimed alleged invention is to create a target-purpose munition “to neutralize UAVs”, devoid of the listed disadvantages (or with a significant weakening of them), simpler in design (using standard VOG-25, VOG-25P grenades, etc. as original products for partial rework) and safer. As well as expanding the range (arsenal) of technical means for solving the “anti-drone problem”.

This task (problem) is solved by the fact that in the ammunition for a grenade launcher against unmanned aerial vehicles, containing a tail section rigidly interconnected by an axisymmetric element, which includes a propellant charge with an igniter primer, and a head section, equipped with a guide belt for twisting in the barrel of the grenade launcher and including includes a trapping net laid with evenly distributed and attached peripheral metal elements, as well as a knockout device, with the possibility of dome-shaped opening of the trapping net, due to the mentioned knockout device and metal elements, with the midsection of the opened trapping net exceeding the midsection of the ammunition, and without separating the fishing net from the ammunition, according to the claimed invention, the axisymmetric element is made in the form of a central supporting rod of the ammunition, and the head and tail parts of the ammunition are spaced along the said rod to form an open annular gap, with the possibility of working exit through it to the outside of the fishing net with metal elements under the influence pressure from the ejector device.

The goal is also achieved by private alternative design features of the device, in addition to the development of the above basic set of essential features, namely:

- the ejection device can be made in the form of through windows in the streamlined frontal part of the head part of the ammunition, with the possibility of an oncoming flow of air under dynamic pressure entering through them and exiting, together with a catching net with metal elements, from the head part into the mentioned annular gap (this is a pronounced original a solution, additionally, practically without significantly complicating and increasing the cost of ammunition and, moreover, operational safety problems);

- the expelling device can be made in the form of a head powder charge, provided in front of the trapping net in the stowage and connected to the propellant charge by an axial channel in the said central supporting rod of the ammunition with an initiating inert powder charge, with the possibility of exiting under pressure together with the trapping net with metal elements made of the head part into the mentioned annular gap (this is an alternative feature to the previous one and is closer to the expelling charges used in military equipment, while it is possible, unlike the first option, to regulate the time delay of the dome-shaped opening of the trapping net).

Among the known devices, no devices have been found whose set of essential features would coincide with the claimed one. At the same time, it is due to the latter that a new technical result is achieved in accordance with the task (identified problem).

A clear delineation of the restrictive and distinctive parts of the given sets of essential features, reflecting the results of a comparative analysis of the claimed device with the prototype, correlates with the world level of novelty of the technical solution. The world level of novelty is the first of a triad of features (criteria) of an invention.

Further, the totality of distinctive essential features of the claimed device are not simple sums of the known technical results of using individually known devices and their fragments. There is “emergent gentility”, i.e. “super-effect” (in the patent meaning of this term), which was not obvious to a specialist from the achieved level of technology and military tactics, of course, before considering the proposed solution. With a range of additional technical and operational capabilities. This convincingly demonstrates the inventive level of development as the second of the triad of qualifying features of an invention.

The third qualification criterion, industrial applicability, is also undeniable and follows, first of all, from the same accumulated experience in the design, production (MIC) and operation (practical use) of technical means of intercepting UAVs (drones) and complexes based on them, as well as from tactical developments and application experience.

Examples of the proposed device are presented in Fig. 1-4, where the positions indicate: 1 - ammunition (as an anti-drone agent); 2 - grenade launcher; 3 - UAV (drone) as a target; 4 - axisymmetric (load-bearing) element (rod) of ammunition; 5 - tail section of the ammunition; 6 - propellant charge; 7 - igniter primer (with propellant charge); 8 - ammunition head; 9 - leading (obturating-guiding) belt of the body of the head part of the ammunition (for barrel rifling); 10 - fishing net (for capturing a drone); 11 - peripheral metal elements (mass); 12 - open annular gap between the head and tail parts of the ammunition; 13 - through windows (as the first version of the ejection device for the catching net) in the head of the ammunition; 14 - head powder charge (ejector device according to the second option); 15 - axial channel in the central load-bearing element of the ammunition;

In fig. Figure 1, without unnecessary details, shows the device of ammunition according to the first particular example of a possible design (with an ejector device in the form of windows), a side sectional view, where L is the size of the open annular gap between the head and tail parts of the ammunition.

In fig. 2 - ammunition device according to the second particular example of a possible design (with an expelling device in the form of a head powder charge with a “fire duct”), side sectional view, L - the size of the open annular gap between the head and tail parts of the ammunition.

In fig. 3 - the process of catching a UAV (target) with an ammunition (projectile) with a dome-shaped (opened) trapping net, side view.

In fig. 4 - simplified diagram of neutralizing a UAV with ammunition with a catching net, side view.

Ammunition 1 for a grenade launcher 2 against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) 3 (see Fig. 4) contains a tail part 5, rigidly interconnected by an axisymmetric element (rod) 4, which includes a propellant charge 6 with an igniter primer 7, and a head part 8, equipped with a guide belt 9 for twisting in the barrel of the grenade launcher 2 and including a catch net 10 in a stack with peripheral metal elements (mass) 11 evenly distributed and fixed to it.

A knockout device is also provided, with the possibility of a dome-shaped opening of the fishing net 10 (see Fig. 3, 4), due to the mentioned knockout device and metal elements 11.

The axisymmetric element 4 is made in the form of a central supporting rod (4) of the ammunition, and the head 8 and tail 5 parts of the ammunition 1 are spaced apart (by an amount L along it with the formation of an open annular gap 12, with the possibility of working exit through it to the outside (into the space surrounding the ammunition by section of external ballistics) of a catching net 10 with metal elements (mass) 11 under the influence of a fluid medium (shown by arrows, see further in the text for more details), that is, under the influence of pressure from the ejector device.

The midsection of the dome-shaped open trapping net 10 exceeds (as much as possible) the midsection of the ammunition 1 (see Fig. 3).

The separation of the trapping net 10 from the rest of the ammunition 1 is not provided (the constant connection of the trapping net 10 with the head part 8 by a bunch of slings of the trapping net 10 or a leash as a continuation of the slings in the internal space of the ammunition 1).

As additional design features, two alternative embodiments of the knockout device are proposed (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2).

In the first version (see Fig. 1), the ejector device is made in the form of through windows 13 in the streamlined frontal part of the head part 8 of the ammunition 1, with the possibility of an oncoming air flow under dynamic pressure entering through them (determined by the flight speed of the ammunition 1) and exiting along with a fishing net 10 with metal elements 11 from the head part 8 into the annular gap 12 between the tail 5 and head 8 parts.

In the second version (see Fig. 2), the expelling device is made in the form of a head powder charge 14, provided in front of the trapping net 10 in the installation and connected to the propellant charge 14 by an axial channel 15 in the central load-bearing element (rod) 4 of the ammunition 1 with the initiating inert powder charge (channel 15 is filled with it as a “fire conduit”), with the possibility of exiting under pressure together with the catching net 10 with metal elements 11 from the head part 8 into the annular gap 12 between the head 8 and tail 5 parts.

The described device works (functions) as follows.

The method of neutralizing (with interception) of UAV 3 with the claimed ammunition 1 consists of the following sequence of operations (material means over material objects):

- when detecting UAV 3, developing a forecast and interception parameters (the main thing is the expected distance/range of the encounter) and identifying UAV 3 as a target, load (if this has not been done previously) ammunition 1 into grenade launcher 2 with a barrel (preferably rifled) and fire the ammunition 1 on the UAV 3, using the igniter primer 7 and the propellant charge 6 (in Fig. 1, the UAV 3 is conventionally shown close to the grenade launcher 2 - to accommodate the image in A4 format);

- having received the initial speed and spin thanks to the driving belt 9, in the internal ballistics section, the ammunition (projectile) 1 enters the external ballistics section (trajectory), approaching the intended meeting point with the UAV 3 (see Fig. 4, 3);

- in the device according to the first option (see Fig. 1), at the stage of internal ballistics, the pressure of the powder gases in the barrel of the grenade launcher 2 exceeds the dynamic pressure of the oncoming air flow through the windows 13, preventing the trapping net 10 in the installation from being prematurely pushed into the gap 12;

- at the stage of external ballistics - behind the cut of the barrel of the grenade launcher 2, the pressure of the oncoming air flow (shown by arrows) begins to dominate in the mentioned approximate balance and the fishing net 10 with metal elements 11 is shifted into the annular gap 12 (to the left in Fig. 1), and due to rotation , acquired by ammunition 2, causing a centrifugal effect, plus internal and external air flows, the fishing net 10 with elements 11 are pushed through the gap 12 into the surrounding air space, straightening out from the stack in a dome-shaped manner (see Fig. 3, 4);

- in the device according to the second option (see Fig. 2), there is no problem of premature displacement of the trapping net 10 during installation at the stage of internal ballistics, and behind the cut of the barrel of the grenade launcher 2, with a given time delay, thanks to the “fire pipe” in channel 15 of the rod 4, the expelling device in the form of a powder charge 14 is triggered, the combustion products of the gunpowder under pressure push the trapping net 10 with elements 11 through the gap 12 similarly to that described in the first option;

- in this case, the dome-shaped open fishing net 10 with elements 11 is held on the ammunition 1 by means of a bunch of “slings” of the fishing net 10 or a common “leash” in continuation of the “slings”, moving in space along the trajectory of the ammunition 1 synchronously with it (see Fig. 3 );

- in both design examples, in the event of a successful interception of the UAV 3 (“hit” in it, although in fact, on the contrary, the UAV 3 “gets” into the trapping net 10), due to the excess of the midsection of the dome-shaped open trapping net 10 above the midsection of the ammunition (by the maximum diameter of the head part 8), the UAV 3 falls into the catch net 10, becoming entangled in it, in particular, due to its working propeller groups (propulsion);

- when the UAV 3 hits the catch net 10, its body impulse (amount of movement) is transferred to the catch net 10, which sharply reduces the speed of the system “ammunition 1 with the catch net 10 plus UAV 3”, which “falls” down and falls, completing the neutralization of the target;

- in case of unsuccessful interception of UAV 3 (“miss”), for example due to forecast errors, skillful maneuvering of the target, etc., there is no need for self-destruction by detonation (self-liquidator) due to the safety of ammunition 1 for others (not counting the kinetic energy during falling).

The damage from the fall of ammunition (shell) 1, both together with the caught UAV 3 and the missed one, into the enemy’s location is also a positive result.

The use of the proposed invention will eliminate or significantly weaken the above-mentioned shortcomings of the prototype, simplifying the design and increasing safety (no explosive charge + fragments), while expanding the range (arsenal) of technical means, by reworking Russian mass-produced VOG-25 grenades, VOG-25P for under-barrel grenade launchers with a caliber of 40 mm.

Claims (1)

Ammunition for a grenade launcher against unmanned aerial vehicles, containing a tail section rigidly interconnected by an axisymmetric element, including a propellant charge with an igniter primer, and a head section, equipped with a guide belt for twisting in the barrel of the grenade launcher and including a catch net laid with uniformly distributed and peripheral metal elements fixed on it, as well as a knockout device, with the possibility of a dome-shaped opening of the trapping net, due to the said knockout device and peripheral metal elements, with the midsection of the opened trapping net exceeding the midsection of the ammunition, and without separating the trapping net from the ammunition, characterized in that that the axisymmetric element is made in the form of a central supporting rod of the ammunition, and the head and tail parts of the ammunition are spaced along the said central supporting rod to form an open annular gap, with the possibility of working exit through it to the outside of the trapping net with peripheral metal elements under the influence of pressure from the ejector device, with In this case, the ejection device is made in the form of through windows in the streamlined frontal part of the head part of the ammunition, with the possibility of an oncoming flow of air under dynamic pressure entering through them and exiting, together with a catching net with peripheral metal elements, from the head part into the mentioned open annular gap between the tail and head parts .