Precursor warhead attachment for an anti-armor rocket

Abstract

A precursor warhead for a high-explosive, anti-armor (HEAA) warhead is provided. The precursor warhead is a cylindrically-shaped attachment adapted for a friction fit over the nose cone of existing HEAA warheads. The precursor warhead has an instantaneous fuse which initiates a precursor penetrator which causes early detonation of reactive armor, thereby protecting the main charge and penetrator on the HEAA round from damage. The precursor warhead replaces the existing crush switch on the HEAA round and also initiates, with appropriate time delay, the main explosive charge.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
     
       1. A precursor warhead attachment for a high-explosive, anti-armor round comprising: 
       a one-piece casing having a combined blast shield and friction fitting adapted to attach to a nose cone of a high-explosive, anti-armor round;  
       a shaped, explosive charge located within said casing;  
       an initiator located within said casing and in physical contact with said explosive charge; and  
       a plurality of fuses attached to said casing and extending forward thereof, said plurality of fuses functionally connected to said initiator.  
     
     
       2. A precursor warhead attachment for a high-explosive, anti-armor round as in claim  1  wherein said casing further comprises a cylindrical casing. 
     
     
       3. A precursor warhead attachment for a high-explosive, anti-armor round as in claim  1  wherein said casing is fabricated using high temperature aluminum. 
     
     
       4. A precursor warhead attachment for a high-explosive, anti-armor round as in claim  1  wherein said shaped, explosive charge has a forward-facing conical surface fabricated using tantalum. 
     
     
       5. A precursor warhead attachment for a high-explosive, anti-armor round as in claim  1  wherein said explosive charge has a forward-facing conical surface fabricated using molybdenum. 
     
     
       6. A precursor warhead attachment for a high-explosive, anti-armor round as in claim  1  wherein said plurality of fuses are piezoelectric percussion fuses.