BI-METALLIC SELF-FORGING FRAGMENT (SFF) WARHEAD FOR ENHANCED BEHIND-ARMOR EFFECTS

THE LETHALITY OF ANY DIRECTED-ENERGY WARHEAD IS MEASURED BY ITS ABILITY TO CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE VULNERABLE COMPONENTS THAT EXIST BEHIND THE PROTECTIVE ARMOR. THIS DAMAGE IS INCURRED BY THE IMPACT OF THESE COMPONENTS BY EITHER THE PENETRATOR MATERIAL ITSELF OR BY TARGET SPALL MATERIAL GENERATED BY THE INTERACTION OF THE PENETRATOR AND PROTECTIVE ARMOR. SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN LETHALITY CAN BE ATTAINED BY THE INCLUSION OF A PYROPHORIC OR INCENDIARY MATERIAL IN THE ATTACKING PENETRATOR. THIS MATERIAL, UPON IMPACT, HAS BEEN SHOWN TO PRODUCE OVERPRESSURE AND THE EXISTANCE OF A THERMAL PULSE WITHIN INTERIOR VEHICLE COMPARTMENTS. ONE PROMISING CONCEPT IS THE INCLUSION OF SUCH AN ENERGETIC MATERIAL IN A "FOLLOWTHROUGH" SELF-FORGING FRAGMENT (SFF) PENETRATOR.