TRANSLATING ADJACENT-BLAST SHIELD AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING EXTERNAL SLOTS OF MISSILES IN LAUNCHER TUBES

摘要

Embodiments of a translating adjacent-blast shield and method of protecting external slots of a missile from a high-temperature, high-pressure gas plume of a missile that is launched from an adjacent or nearby launcher tube of a launcher are disclosed herein. The translating adjacent-blast shield may be provided circumferentially around each of the missiles in a launcher and may cover at least portions of external slots of the missiles. The translating adjacent-blast shield may translate along the missile during launch to expose the external slots and may remain on the missile after launch.