Thomas F Kane

US Patent:

46355537, Jan 13, 1987

Filed:

Oct 15, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/787452

Inventors:

Thomas A. Kane - Bedford MA

Assignee:

Avco Corporation - Wilmington MA

International Classification:

F42B 2524

US Classification:

102384

Abstract:

An air dispensed assembly in the form of a submunition cannister is disclosed which has the capability to perform a lateral maneuver during the final 1500 ft. of descent before impact. Maneuvering is accomplished by deploying a samara blade shaped wing from the rear of the submunition cannister after ejection from the casing of the launching shell. The wing is sized and provided with an angle of attack which causes the cylindrical shaped cannister to spin as it descends downward at approximately a constant rate of descent. A passive infrared sensor in the nose of the cannister provides target information to a data processor which generates steering commands to appropriately alter the wing angle of attack so as to bring about a corrective lateral change in direction. When within lethal range of the sensed target, the warhead in the submunition is detonated.