Weapon launched reconnaissance system

1. A weapon launched reconnaissance system comprising:

a. a rear assembly connectable to the barrel of a weapon, said rear assembly having a hollow passage enabling a bullet and/or exhaust gases coming out of said barrel to pass through it when said weapon is fired;

b. a center assembly, connected to the front end of said rear assembly, said center assembly comprising components for absorbing the momentum of said bullet and/or gases and transferring said momentum to said reconnaissance system;

c. a sensor assembly, including one or more sensors and data transmission components, said sensor assembly located within or on said center assembly; and

d. a front assembly, connected to the front end of said center assembly, said front assembly comprising a nose portion capable of penetrating and sticking to solid materials upon impact;

wherein when said reconnaissance system is connected to the end of said barrel of said weapon by means of said rear assembly and a shot is fired from said weapon said reconnaissance system is launched from said weapon and projected towards a target by said momentum of said bullet and/or said gases and when impacting upon said target said front assembly penetrates and sticks in said target whereupon said sensor assembly transmits data from the target area.

2. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 wherein said rear assembly comprises fins on its exterior surface.

3. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 wherein the center assembly comprises slots or other mechanisms on its perimeter to release gas and pressure.

4. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is located exterior to the center assembly.

5. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly is located inside the center assembly, in a portion of said center assembly which does not absorb the direct impact of the bullet or the gases.

6. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 wherein the sensor assembly comprises one or more sensors chosen from the group comprising:

a. electro-optical sensors;

b. acoustic sensors;

c. nuclear sensors;

d. biological sensors;

e. chemical sensors; and

f. thermal sensors.

7. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 6 , wherein the acoustic sensor triggers operation of the sensor assembly upon detection of an acoustic signal.

8. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises an imaging device positioned to directly acquire an image of a scene located exterior to said reconnaissance system.

9. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises an imaging device and a reflective optical system, said optical system reflecting the image of a scene located exterior to said reconnaissance system towards said imaging device.

10. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 8 or claim 9 , wherein the sensor assembly further comprises a motor connected to the imaging device and/or elements of the optical system.

11. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 10 , wherein the motor can do one or more of the following:

a. rotate the imaging device and/or components of the optical system;

b. tilt said imaging device and/or components of said optical system;

c. move said imaging device or components of said optical system up or down; and

d. move said imaging device and/or components of said optical system in a sidewards direction.

12. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor assembly comprises a receiver capable of receiving operation commands to control operation of said sensor assembly.

13. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 , wherein the front assembly and/or sensor assembly can be detached from the system and replaced with a different front assembly and/or sensor assembly having different components or parameters.

14. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 , wherein the front assembly comprises explosive material capable of detonating upon impact with a target, thereby creating a hole in said target.

15. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 comprising mechanical elements designed to absorb shocks and impacts that would affect the sensor assembly.

16. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 , comprising a wire or a mechanical interface connecting the front assembly and the sensor assembly.

17. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 16 , wherein the center assembly is disconnected from the front assembly upon impact, thereby leaving the front assembly with the sensor assembly connected to it stuck in the target.

18. A weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 , comprising one or more additional devices selected from the following group:

a. a beacon;

b. electronic warfare components; and

c. communications jamming devices.

19. A method of operating the weapon launched reconnaissance system, said method comprising:

a. supplying a weapon launched reconnaissance system according to claim 1 ;

b. mounting the rear assembly of said weapon launched reconnaissance system on the barrel of said weapon and tightly fitting it;

c. aiming said weapon at the designated target and firing a single round of ammunition;

d. activating the sensor assembly when the front assembly of said weapon launched reconnaissance system impacts upon the target and penetrates it sticking to said target; and

e. receiving data sent by said sensor assembly of said weapon launched reconnaissance system to a receiver and data display unit.