Drone counter-swarm devices and methods
A counter-swarm device comprises a mortar tube with an opening on one end, multiple streamers positioned in the mortar tube, a cone positioned below the multiple streamers in the mortar tube, the cone pointing towards the mortar-tube opening, a kick charge positioned below the cone. The cone is configured to disperse the multiple streamers upon discharge of the kick charge.
1 . A counter-swarm device, comprising:
a mortar tube with an opening on one end;
multiple streamers positioned in the mortar tube;
a cone positioned below the multiple streamers in the mortar tube, the cone pointing towards the mortar-tube opening;
a kick charge positioned below the cone;
wherein the cone is configured to disperse the multiple streamers upon discharge of the kick charge.
2 . The counter-swarm device of claim 1 , wherein:
the cone further includes a cylindrical body extending below the cone; and
the cone and its cylindrical body contain a fire-suppressant wad and the kick charge is positioned below the fire-suppressant wad.
3 . The counter-swarm device of claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body comprises venting holes formed in the cylindrical body and configured to direct away from the multiple streamers hot gasses created by the discharge of the kick charge.
4 . The counter-swarm device of claim 1 , wherein:
the cone is part of a shell casing;
the multiple streamers are positioned within the shell casing;
the kick charge is configured to launch the shell casing and the multiple streamers within the shell casing; and
a burst charge is positioned within the shell casing, surrounded by the multiple streamers, and configured to disperse the multiple streamers when discharged.
5 . The counter-swarm device of claim 4 , further comprising a fire-suppression wad positioned between the burst charge and the multiple streamers, the fire suppression wad is configured to suppress heat generated by the discharge of the burst charge.
6 . The counter-swarm device of claim 4 , wherein the shell casing further comprises rotating bands configured to spin the shell casing as it exits the mortar tube.
7 . The counter-swarm device of claim 4 , wherein the shell casing further comprises fold-out fins configured to fold out from the shell casing and spin the shell casing after exiting the mortar tube.
8 . The counter-swarm device of claim 1 , wherein the kick charge and the cone are configured to disperse the multiple streamers at a full-deployment state into a streamer-cloud volume greater than 1397 m{circumflex over ( )}3.
9 . The counter-swarm device of claim 1 , wherein the kick charge comprises more than 100 grams of black powder.
10 . The counter-swarm device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the multiple streamers comprises at least a first, second, and third streamer, the second streamer wound on top of the first streamer and the third streamer wound on top of the second streamer.
11 . A method for providing a counter-swarm device, the method comprising:
providing a mortar tube with an opening on one end;
positioning multiple streamers in the mortar tube;
positioning a cone below the multiple streamers in the mortar tube and pointing the cone towards the mortar-tube opening;
positioning a kick charge below the cone;
wherein the cone is configured to disperse the multiple streamers upon discharge of the kick charge.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the cone further includes a cylindrical body extending below the cone; and
the cone and its cylindrical body contain a fire-suppressant wad and the kick charge is positioned below the fire-suppressant wad.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the cylindrical body comprises venting holes formed in the cylindrical body and configured to direct away from the multiple streamers hot gasses created by the discharge of the kick charge.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein:
the cone is part of a shell casing;
the multiple streamers are positioned within the shell casing;
the kick charge is configured to launch the shell casing and the multiple streamers within the shell casing; and
a burst charge is positioned within the shell casing, surrounded by the multiple streamers, and configured to disperse the multiple streamers when discharged.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising positioning a fire-suppression wad between the burst charge and the multiple streamers and the fire suppression wad is configured to suppress heat generated by the discharge of the burst charge.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the shell casing further comprises rotating bands configured to spin the shell casing as it exits the mortar tube.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the shell casing further comprises fold-out fins configured to fold out from the shell casing and spin the shell casing after exiting the mortar tube.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the kick charge and the cone are configured to disperse the multiple streamers at a full-deployment state into a streamer-cloud volume greater than 1397 m{circumflex over ( )}3.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the kick charge comprises more than 100 grams of black powder.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the multiple streamers comprises at least a first, second, and third streamer, the second streamer wound on top of the first streamer and the third streamer wound on top of the second streamer.