FLETCHETTE EXPULSION AUGMENTATION MECHANISM

SPARTA PROPOSES TO UTILIZE A COMBINATION OF TWO COMPLEMENTARY TECHNIQUES FOR INCREASING PATTERN SIZE WITH LITTLE OR NO REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF FLECHETTES PER WARHEAD. THE FIRST TECHNIQUE WOULD UTILIZE BUILT IN RANDOM PITCH/YAW/ROLL DEFLECTIONS OF THE FLECHETTE VANES TO CAUSE LATERAL GROWTH OF THE PATTERN IN FLIGHT DUE TO PRE-PROGRAMMED DEVIATION OF THE INIDIVIDUAL FLECHETTE FLIGHT PATHS. THE SECOND TECHNIQUE WOULD UTILIZE A SMALL CENTRALLY IMBEDDED, LATERALLY EXPANDING, PRESSURIED "BALLOON" OR RADIAL BELLOWS" TO IMPART AN INITIAL RADIAL VELOCITY AND DISPLACEMENT TO THE DISPENSED CLUSTER OF FLECHETTES. BOTH TECHNIQUES WOULD COMBINED TO OPTIMIZE THE FLECHETTE PATTERN INCLUDING ELIMINATING ANY HOLE IN THE PATTERN DUE TO INITIAL RADIAL VELOCITY.