Anti-equipment shotshell cartridge

Abstract

An anti-equipment cartridge is provided, comprising: a shotshell cartridge adapted to be fired from a firearm; and powder included in the cartridge configured to fire pellets at a velocity sufficient to generate force upon impact to destroy or compromise a target. The cartridge is specifically designed to neutralize small to medium sized drones, communications devices, viewing equipment, sighting devices, viewing mirrors, and other electronic systems that may be vehicle mounted or static. The invention addresses the growing battlefield threat posed by First Person View drones, Small Unmanned Air Systems, Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Autonomous Aerial Vehicles, and Artificial Intelligence drones. Unlike electronic countermeasures that can be defeated by frequency changes, the cartridge provides a kinetic solution that delivers multiple pellets in a spread pattern to effectively disable aerial and ground-based targets through physical impact damage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anti-equipment shotshell cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge casing;   a plurality of metal shot pellets contained within the cartridge casing, wherein the metal shot pellets have a diameter of approximately 2.0 mm and comprise approximately 2 ounces of material; and, a propellant configured to discharge the plurality of metal shot pellets at a velocity exceeding 1200 feet per second.   
     
     
         2 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of tungsten shot pellets comprises approximately 720 individual pellets. 
     
     
         3 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the metal shot pellets is made from tungsten. 
     
     
         4 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 1 , including a wad container the metal short pellets and includes a first pellet section and a second pellet section, and wherein pellets in the first pellet section have a larger diameter than pellets in the second pellet section. 
     
     
         5 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the cartridge casing is waterproof. 
     
     
         6 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein each metal shot pellet carries approximately two foot-pounds of energy at 20 meters and approximately one foot-pound of energy at 60 meters. 
     
     
         7 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of tungsten shot pellets create a shot pattern having a 20-inch diameter circle at 60 meters with over 30% pattern density. 
     
     
         8 . An anti-equipment shotshell cartridge, comprising:
 a cartridge casing;   a plurality of pellets contained within the cartridge casing; and   a propellant configured to discharge the plurality of pellets such that the pellets maintain a pattern density of over 30% within a 20-inch diameter circle at a range of 60 meters, wherein each pellet carries at least one foot-pound of energy at 60 meters.   
     
     
         9 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of pellets comprises tungsten shot pellets. 
     
     
         10 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 9 , wherein the tungsten shot pellets have a diameter of approximately 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of pellets comprises approximately 720 individual tungsten shot pellets. 
     
     
         12 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the pellets maintain a pattern density of over 63% within a 30-inch diameter circle at a range of 60 meters. 
     
     
         13 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 8 , further comprising a wad disposed within the cartridge casing, wherein the wad contains the plurality of pellets. 
     
     
         14 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 13 , wherein the wad comprises a first pellet section and a second pellet section, and wherein pellets in the first pellet section have a different diameter than pellets in the second pellet section. 
     
     
         15 . An anti-equipment shotshell cartridge adapted for use with standard firearm platforms, comprising:
 a cartridge casing dimensioned for compatibility with conventional shotgun receivers;   a plurality of pellets contained within the cartridge casing;   a propellant configured to discharge the plurality of pellets; and   wherein the cartridge is configured for mounting on battle rifle platforms including underslung shotgun mounts on M4 and AK-47 weapon systems.   
     
     
         16 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the cartridge casing is a 12-gauge shotshell casing. 
     
     
         17 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 16 , wherein the cartridge casing has a length of 3 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of pellets comprises tungsten shot pellets having a diameter of approximately 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         19 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 18 , wherein the tungsten shot pellets are configured to maintain a pattern density of over 30% within a 20-inch diameter circle at a range of 60 meters. 
     
     
         20 . The anti-equipment shotshell cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the underslung shotgun mounts allow the cartridge to be fired without eliminating primary function of the M4 and AK-47 weapon systems.