Method and apparatus for improving terminal effect of an air-burst projectile
The method and apparatus for a remote weapon station or incorporated into manually-aimed weapons. The methodology requires use of a muzzle velocity sensor that refines the aiming of the second and subsequent fires or volleys fired from weapon systems. When firing the first volley a weapon uses an estimated velocity and, at firing, the muzzle velocity of a projectile is measured. When firing the second volley a weapon's fire control calculates an aiming point using the measured velocity of the first volley.
1. A muzzle velocity measurement system comprising:
a projectile measurement sensor structured to read a unique identifier of a programmable projectile at muzzle exit and subsequently emit a unique programming telegram to the programmable projectile in ballistic flight,
wherein the microwave muzzle velocity measurement system is structured to be connected to a fire control unit of a sighting device fixed on a weapon.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the programmable projectile is structured to be programmed after the muzzle exit to detonate at a prescribed distance or time of flight.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the programmable projectile is structured to be programmed to detonate on receipt of the unique programming telegram.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fire control unit senses triggering of the weapon and formats the unique programming telegram for transmission.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fire control unit utilizes a measured muzzle exit velocity of the programmable projectile based on the unique identifier and produces a unique time-to-detonate instruction.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the telegram comprises a time-to-detonate programming telegram and the fire control unit emits a time-to-detonate programming telegram that is updated to the time to detonate instruction.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the fire control unit uses an adjusting device structured to adjust the time-to-detonate programming telegram based at least in part on adjusting programming time with the measured exit velocity.
8. A muzzle velocity measurement system comprising:
a projectile measurement sensor structured to read a unique identifier of a programmable projectile at muzzle exit and subsequently emit a unique programming telegram to the programmable projectile in ballistic flight,
wherein post barrel exit, programming files of the programmable projectile incorporate a digital interlaced programming signal into the unique programming telegram.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein post barrel exit, the programming files are transmitted by radio frequency in the unique programming telegram.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein post barrel exit, the programming files are transmitted by microwave in the unique programming telegram.
11. A muzzle velocity measurement system comprising:
a projectile measurement sensor structured to read a unique identifier of a programmable projectile at muzzle exit and subsequently emit a unique programming telegram to the programmable projectile in ballistic flight,
wherein an RFID reader is housed in a muzzle break of the weapon.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fire control unit uses a modular ranging device affixed to a pivoting mount via a Picatinny rail.