What is the secret homing bullet?
On the creation by American scientists of the world's first self-guided bullet for small weapons It became known at the end of January of this year. But then the case was limited to just a few lines of the press release, a couple of photos and a short video shot. In order to learn about the new this is enough. But in order to form a full-fledged opinion and try to predict the prospects for a new ammunition, the published information is clearly not enough. True, not only at first glance. If desired, and from the available information can draw the appropriate conclusions.
A press release from the Sandia National Laboratory states that the new ammunition, which took almost 15 million dollars to build, can significantly increase shooting accuracy at distances over a kilometer. Control of the bullet, allegedly, is carried out offline. To do this, in the nose of the bullet there is a special optical sensor that transmits the necessary signals to the control chip. The optical “homing head” searches for a laser mark on the target (laser illumination of the target is performed using a separate device) and allows the bullet electronics to determine the deviation from it. Depending on the situation at a particular point in time, the microcircuit issues a command to the steering surfaces of the guided bullet and they bring the trajectory into a normal form. As stated in the press release, the bullet can make up to 30 adjustments per second. It is also known that the bullet is designed for smooth-bore weapons and has a length of about four inches (about 10 cm).
Little, very little information. But let's try using it to restore the whole picture. First of all, pay attention to the dimensions of the cartridge with a controlled bullet. A photo was taken in the general access, which shows the model of the cartridge with a slit. Using information about the four-inch bullet, ruler and knowledge of mathematics from the sixth grade of high school it is easy to calculate that the bullet caliber is approximately equal to 12,7 millimeters, .50 in the foreign classification of ammunition. In addition, the overall dimensions of the cartridges almost do not differ from the standard 12,7x99 mm, which was created for the Browning M2 machine gun. From this we can draw conclusions about the possible types of weapons with which you can use a controlled bullet. At the same time, do not forget that the designers from Sandia Lab strongly recommend launching a new bullet exclusively from a smooth barrel. Probably, the introduction of a new cartridge into practice will require the creation of a new weapon, including in the form of the refinement of the existing one. For example, you can equip a Barrett M82 sniper rifle without a rifling barrel and use it with a guided bullet. A noticeable deterioration due to the lack of preliminary promotion of the bullet will be compensated by the presence of the "brains" and control surfaces.
Now about the management system. Aiming at the laser-illuminated target for a couple of decades is not something surprising and revolutionary new. This principle of pointing is most often used in air-to-ground and ground-to-ground guided missiles. The system has long been tested and improved as much as possible with the modern element base. Therefore, the use of just such a guidance method in a controlled pool is fully justified, albeit difficult in the light of the specific features of the use of large-caliber long-range small arms. Of particular interest are the actual flight controls. In the presented video, it is noticeable that after leaving the barrel bore bullet some details are separated from it. Perhaps it is a pallet, as on the sabot projectiles. However, another version looks more likely. A small caveat: according to the available video it is impossible to speak with great confidence, because it is too short and the quality leaves much to be desired. Therefore, there is every reason to assume that the controlled bullet is equipped with a stabilizer, similar to what is installed on Russian anti-tank grenades. As evidence of this version, we can consider the characteristic "edges" in the middle and rear parts of the bullet. Probably, on the exit of the bullet from the barrel, they recline back under the action of the flow and provide guidance of the bullet. In addition, they give it a spin. However, the questions are caused not only by the design of the steering stabilizers, but also their drive. For example, on anti-tank missiles used a variety of ways to change the angle of attack of the steering wheel. It may be an electromagnetic or even a gas engine. Judging by the appearance of the bullet and its size, the controlled ammunition from the Sandia Laboratory has exactly the electromagnetic control system. Obviously, a gas cylinder of an appropriate capacity and strength (it should not collapse when fired) cannot be inscribed into such small dimensions, and there are no windows to take in air from the atmosphere on the pool. Accordingly, the deflection of the rudder stabilizers should be carried out using super small size electric steering gears. In addition, this scheme allows you to power the electronics and drive rudders from a single current source. In conditions of extreme lack of space, such a solution is the most convenient.
We should also dwell on the method of providing bullet guidance. When using the traditional unguided munition for small arms, the shooter must make all the necessary calculations and shoot at the appropriate point before firing. When using a guided bullet, the procedure is somewhat simplified. In this case, the shooter simply shoot at the target, not worrying about corrections and pre-emptions. Ensuring the required accuracy of hitting the whole vehicle, it charges the vehicle: before the shot, the laser beam is directed to the desired point of the target and only after that the trigger is pressed. Interestingly, a similar procedure for the use of a new ammunition, if it goes to the troops, will not require significant changes in the training, equipment or combat work of snipers. Is that the "second number" will not only adjust the sniper fire, but also directly participate in hitting targets, because it would be logical to entrust the target to highlight the laser with him.
At the moment, employees of Sandia National Laboratory are not calling for the adoption of a new cartridge right now. They do not hide the need to work and work on the project. And for this they need investors. Now the project of a controlled bullet is already sufficiently developed and it remains only to improve it. In particular, it is possible to significantly reduce the price of guided munition with "little blood". A large part of its value is now made up of a control chip and an optical sensor. In the future, this problem can be solved in a very original way, and again borrowed from anti-tank missiles. At one time, the developers of the ATGM faced a similar problem: the electronic “stuffing” of the missiles was too expensive and its one-time use was a real waste. Therefore, several decades ago, a very interesting solution was found. All the guidance equipment was removed from the rocket, except for the rudders, their actuators, and the radio control receiver was installed. Calculators and other devices, in turn, put on the launcher. Thus, the guidance was carried out according to the updated principle: the ATGM operator retains the enemy’s armored vehicle in sight and performs a launch. The optical sensor of the launcher tracks the special tracer mounted on the rocket and transmits the information to the computer, which amends and issues the command to the rocket via radio. As a result, all expensive equipment became reusable. American engineers should pay attention to this system, because the main claim of potential customers to the managed pool is its high cost. However, in this case it will be necessary to attach not only a laser designator to the rifle, but also a special system for tracking, calculating corrections and passing commands to the pool. The latter, respectively, must be equipped with a tracer, according to which the guidance system will find it. If the designers have to tinker with the first task, then everything is simple with the tracer. The guided bullets now being tested already have a special diode on the back. This was done so that during test shooting it was possible to track the trajectory and analyze the progress of the flight of a bullet.
As we see, the Sandia Laboratory has a fundamental opportunity not only to bring its controlled bullet to mind, but also to significantly improve it. If only the potential customer financed.
A press release from the Sandia National Laboratory states that the new ammunition, which took almost 15 million dollars to build, can significantly increase shooting accuracy at distances over a kilometer. Control of the bullet, allegedly, is carried out offline. To do this, in the nose of the bullet there is a special optical sensor that transmits the necessary signals to the control chip. The optical “homing head” searches for a laser mark on the target (laser illumination of the target is performed using a separate device) and allows the bullet electronics to determine the deviation from it. Depending on the situation at a particular point in time, the microcircuit issues a command to the steering surfaces of the guided bullet and they bring the trajectory into a normal form. As stated in the press release, the bullet can make up to 30 adjustments per second. It is also known that the bullet is designed for smooth-bore weapons and has a length of about four inches (about 10 cm).
Little, very little information. But let's try using it to restore the whole picture. First of all, pay attention to the dimensions of the cartridge with a controlled bullet. A photo was taken in the general access, which shows the model of the cartridge with a slit. Using information about the four-inch bullet, ruler and knowledge of mathematics from the sixth grade of high school it is easy to calculate that the bullet caliber is approximately equal to 12,7 millimeters, .50 in the foreign classification of ammunition. In addition, the overall dimensions of the cartridges almost do not differ from the standard 12,7x99 mm, which was created for the Browning M2 machine gun. From this we can draw conclusions about the possible types of weapons with which you can use a controlled bullet. At the same time, do not forget that the designers from Sandia Lab strongly recommend launching a new bullet exclusively from a smooth barrel. Probably, the introduction of a new cartridge into practice will require the creation of a new weapon, including in the form of the refinement of the existing one. For example, you can equip a Barrett M82 sniper rifle without a rifling barrel and use it with a guided bullet. A noticeable deterioration due to the lack of preliminary promotion of the bullet will be compensated by the presence of the "brains" and control surfaces.
Now about the management system. Aiming at the laser-illuminated target for a couple of decades is not something surprising and revolutionary new. This principle of pointing is most often used in air-to-ground and ground-to-ground guided missiles. The system has long been tested and improved as much as possible with the modern element base. Therefore, the use of just such a guidance method in a controlled pool is fully justified, albeit difficult in the light of the specific features of the use of large-caliber long-range small arms. Of particular interest are the actual flight controls. In the presented video, it is noticeable that after leaving the barrel bore bullet some details are separated from it. Perhaps it is a pallet, as on the sabot projectiles. However, another version looks more likely. A small caveat: according to the available video it is impossible to speak with great confidence, because it is too short and the quality leaves much to be desired. Therefore, there is every reason to assume that the controlled bullet is equipped with a stabilizer, similar to what is installed on Russian anti-tank grenades. As evidence of this version, we can consider the characteristic "edges" in the middle and rear parts of the bullet. Probably, on the exit of the bullet from the barrel, they recline back under the action of the flow and provide guidance of the bullet. In addition, they give it a spin. However, the questions are caused not only by the design of the steering stabilizers, but also their drive. For example, on anti-tank missiles used a variety of ways to change the angle of attack of the steering wheel. It may be an electromagnetic or even a gas engine. Judging by the appearance of the bullet and its size, the controlled ammunition from the Sandia Laboratory has exactly the electromagnetic control system. Obviously, a gas cylinder of an appropriate capacity and strength (it should not collapse when fired) cannot be inscribed into such small dimensions, and there are no windows to take in air from the atmosphere on the pool. Accordingly, the deflection of the rudder stabilizers should be carried out using super small size electric steering gears. In addition, this scheme allows you to power the electronics and drive rudders from a single current source. In conditions of extreme lack of space, such a solution is the most convenient.
We should also dwell on the method of providing bullet guidance. When using the traditional unguided munition for small arms, the shooter must make all the necessary calculations and shoot at the appropriate point before firing. When using a guided bullet, the procedure is somewhat simplified. In this case, the shooter simply shoot at the target, not worrying about corrections and pre-emptions. Ensuring the required accuracy of hitting the whole vehicle, it charges the vehicle: before the shot, the laser beam is directed to the desired point of the target and only after that the trigger is pressed. Interestingly, a similar procedure for the use of a new ammunition, if it goes to the troops, will not require significant changes in the training, equipment or combat work of snipers. Is that the "second number" will not only adjust the sniper fire, but also directly participate in hitting targets, because it would be logical to entrust the target to highlight the laser with him.
At the moment, employees of Sandia National Laboratory are not calling for the adoption of a new cartridge right now. They do not hide the need to work and work on the project. And for this they need investors. Now the project of a controlled bullet is already sufficiently developed and it remains only to improve it. In particular, it is possible to significantly reduce the price of guided munition with "little blood". A large part of its value is now made up of a control chip and an optical sensor. In the future, this problem can be solved in a very original way, and again borrowed from anti-tank missiles. At one time, the developers of the ATGM faced a similar problem: the electronic “stuffing” of the missiles was too expensive and its one-time use was a real waste. Therefore, several decades ago, a very interesting solution was found. All the guidance equipment was removed from the rocket, except for the rudders, their actuators, and the radio control receiver was installed. Calculators and other devices, in turn, put on the launcher. Thus, the guidance was carried out according to the updated principle: the ATGM operator retains the enemy’s armored vehicle in sight and performs a launch. The optical sensor of the launcher tracks the special tracer mounted on the rocket and transmits the information to the computer, which amends and issues the command to the rocket via radio. As a result, all expensive equipment became reusable. American engineers should pay attention to this system, because the main claim of potential customers to the managed pool is its high cost. However, in this case it will be necessary to attach not only a laser designator to the rifle, but also a special system for tracking, calculating corrections and passing commands to the pool. The latter, respectively, must be equipped with a tracer, according to which the guidance system will find it. If the designers have to tinker with the first task, then everything is simple with the tracer. The guided bullets now being tested already have a special diode on the back. This was done so that during test shooting it was possible to track the trajectory and analyze the progress of the flight of a bullet.
As we see, the Sandia Laboratory has a fundamental opportunity not only to bring its controlled bullet to mind, but also to significantly improve it. If only the potential customer financed.
Information