Projectile with a flared tailpiece

Abstract

An existing projectile is adapted to a fire control computer instead of adapting the fire control computer to the ammunition, as has been the customary approach. The adaptation is carried out by providing the projectile with a different propellant charge powder but at least increasing the diameter of the flare while the length of the tail piece is kept constant.

1 . A projectile which can be fired by a weapon system with a fire control computer, the projectile comprising an interchangeable flared tail piece and propellant charge powder whereby, instead of adapting the fire control computer to a new type of ammunition, the existing projectile is changeable by placing a new second flared tail piece with a different radius but the same length as a first flared tail piece on the projectile and changing a first propellant charge powder to a second propellant charge powder. 
   
   
       2 . The projectile according to  claim 1 , wherein the projective is a training projectile. 
   
   
       3 . The projectile according to  claim 1  wherein the radius of the second flared tail piece is greater than the radius of the first tail piece. 
   
   
       4 . The projectile according to  claim 1 , including ammunition containing an I propellant charge powder. 
   
   
       5 . A projectile system comprising:
 a projectile body;   propellant charge powder;   at least two different flared tail pieces, the tail pieces each having a common length but a different radius; and   a mechanism for selectively mounting one of the tail pieces to the body and changing the propellant charge powder so that the projectile is adapted to an existing fire control computer.   
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . A method for adapting a projectile to a fire control computer, comprising:
 providing at least two different flared tail pieces, each having a common length and a different radius;   providing at least two different propellant charge powders;   selecting a tail piece and propellant charge powder suited to the fire control computer; and   mounting the selected tail piece to the projectile.   
   
   
       8 . (canceled)