ARTILLERY LAUNCHED FLYER ASSEMBLY

摘要

A flyer assembly (10) is adapted for launching with, transit in, and deployment from an artillery shell (22). The flyer assembly (10) includes a jettisonable shroud (12) and a flyer (14). The flyer (14) is adapted to withstand a launch acceleration force along a flyer axis when in a first state, and to effect aerodynamic flight when in a second state. When in the first state, the flyer (14) is positionable within the shroud (12) with the flyer axis parallel to the shroud axis and the shell axis. The flyer (14) includes a body member disposed about the flyer axis, and a foldable wing assembly (20) mounted to the body member. THe wing assembly (20) is characterized by a plurality of nested wing segments (32) when the flyer is in the first state. THe wing assembly (20) is configurable in an unfolded state characterized by a substantially uninterrupted aerodynamic surface when the flyer is in the second state. The flyer assembly (10) is launched from an artillery cannon, and can thus reach a target quickly, without expending energy stored with theflyer. During launch, the flwyer is coupled to the shroud so as to maintain a portion of the flyer in tension during an acceleration of the flyer along eht flyer axis.