ANTI-RPG Warhead Phases II and III: An Aircraft Protection Solution

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September 10, 2019 | Originally published by Date Line: September 10 on

This article, which is an update to work previously published in the summer 2018 issue of Aircraft Survivability [1], presents test and analysis results for warheads designed to dismember and/or dud incoming rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) while simultaneously meeting stringent active protection system (APS) collateral damage requirements. As discussed [1], the near-field-velocity liner warhead technologies previously developed were found to be successful at minimizing collateral damage away from the RPG intercept point; however, only one design inflicted sufficient damage to the RPG to be considered a viable solution. Thus, it was determined that a new warhead concept was needed to provide the same limited level of collateral damage previously demonstrated while also having a significant increase in lethality to the warhead. What was needed were self-consuming fragments, which have the potential to improve lethality against RPGs over the previous lethality mechanism tested in Phase I by introducing larger fragment masses that are still capable of meeting collateral damage requirements.