Conceptual Design of a Reusable Submunition Dispenser for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Abstract

The paper describes a concept for developing a dedicated combat asset for performing effective fragmentation attack on surface targets and having dimensions and weight suited to being carried by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a maximum payload of 150 kg. The designed combat asset, i.e. cluster bomblets ejected from a reusable submunition dispenser, will be intended for destroying enemy personnel, unarmoured ground targets, lightly armoured equipment, ground support equipment, and aircraft and field ammunition depots. The introduction of the paper analyzed the existing submunition dispenser and cluster bomblet solutions. The key aspects of the paper include the calculation of the effective blast radius of the designed cluster bomblet and the analysis of the trajectory of a bomb dropped from horizontal flight. A bombing analysis was carried out, taking into account the influence of the atmosphere and drop control conditions on bombing accuracy and proper fragment coverage of the bombed area. A preliminary concept of the airdrop control system was developed, which could enable effective bombing with a series of cluster bomblets. As part of the work, element models and CAD assembly models of the dispenser and cluster bomblet structures were fabricated.