Patent Application
20250137764
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
In recent years, hypersonic missiles have emerged as a formidable threat in modern warfare and strategic confrontation due to their unprecedented speed and agility, specially for those hypersonic missiles carrying nuclear warheads posing strategic threats to national security of all modern countries.
These hypersonic missiles travel at speeds exceeding Mach 5, some of them even can reach speed of Mach 20, rendering traditional interception methods ineffective.
Hypersonic missiles are characterized by their ability to travel at hypersonic speeds, typically defined as speeds between Mach 5 (approximately 3,800 mph or 6,174 km/h) to Mach 20 (approximately 15,200 mph or 24,696 km/h).
These missiles employ advanced propulsion systems and aerodynamic designs to achieve exceptional speed and maneuverability, making them highly challenging to intercept.
There are some technical and mechanical features of hypersonic missiles worth to mention:
A. Outer shell design and materials: Hypersonic missiles utilize specialized outer shell designs and materials to withstand the extreme conditions generated during high-speed flight. These outer shells are often made from advanced composites, ceramics, or high-temperature alloys, providing the necessary strength and heat resistance to endure the intense aerodynamic forces and temperatures.
B. Unpredictable flight paths: Unlike subsonic or supersonic missiles, hypersonic missiles are capable of rapid changes in direction and altitude during flight. Their unpredictable flight paths make traditional interception methods based on trajectory prediction insufficient, necessitating innovative approaches for effective interception.
Developments of hypersonic missile technology has seen significant advancements in recent years. Several countries have actively pursued development and deployment of hypersonic missiles, conducting successful tests of various hypersonic missile prototypes and making notable strides in this field.
The rapid evolution of hypersonic missile technology calls for the development of advanced interception methods. Traditional interception approaches, such as surface-to-air missiles or anti-ballistic missile systems, with traditional warhead, often struggle to keep pace with the high-speed and unpredictable flight paths of hypersonic missiles. As a result, innovation of unconventional interception technology are required to effectively counter this emerging threat.
The invention relates to a novel ammunition to intercept hypersonic missile. Often in a form of warhead, it is also referred to as the “Diamond Head”—said novel ammunition's payload comprises multiple diamonds strategically embedded within it. Said diamonds are configured to be man-made diamonds or natural diamonds, said diamonds are released during the flight trajectory of this invented ammunition, effectively intercepting and neutralizing hypersonic missiles. The highly reflective and durable nature of the diamonds, combined with their exceptional hardness, enables them to cause substantial damage to hypersonic missile's outer shell, leading to a disintegration in mid-air or a failure to hit targets.
Said invented ammunition, typically in a form of warhead, is to intercept hypersonic missiles by releasing contained diamonds to cause potential severe collisions between hypersonic missile and released diamond particles, hence said invented ammunition is also called “Diamond Head”.
Diamonds, mainly being made up by arranged carbon atoms, and possibly comprising some impurities of other elements, is the hardest object on Earth. In this invention, said diamonds strategically embedded in payload of said ammunition are configured to be natural diamonds, or man-made diamonds, or a mixture of both.
Herein natural diamonds are defined as those diamonds formed in natural setting, whereas man-made diamonds are defined as those diamonds formed in artificial settings, for example, in a high-pressure container.
Being specific, natural diamonds are formed deep within the Earth's mantle over millions of years through immense heat and pressure. They are mined from the Earth's crust and are composed of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal lattice structure.
On the other hand, man-made diamonds, also known as synthetic or lab-grown diamonds, are created in a controlled environment using various techniques. Man-made diamonds have the same chemical composition and crystal structure as natural diamonds but are produced through artificial means rather than geological processes.
Natural diamonds take millions of years to form, whereas man-made diamonds can be produced within a matter of weeks or months. Meanwhile, Natural diamonds are limited in supply and can be rare, whereas man-made diamonds can be produced in larger quantities to meet demand. Also, natural diamonds generally have a higher price due to their rarity and the cost of mining. Man-made diamonds can be more affordable, although the price depends on factors like size, quality, and the specific production method.
When it comes to clarity and impurities, natural diamonds may contain natural inclusions or impurities, which can affect their clarity. While Man-made diamonds, on the other hand, can be produced with fewer or no impurities, resulting in higher clarity grades.
This invention is designed to counter the growing threat of hypersonic missiles developed by hostile countries. Said ammunition, usually in a form of warhead, houses multiple diamonds. Herein the term of “multiple” is configured to be “a few”, or “tens of”, or “hundreds of”, or “thousands of”, or “tens of thousands”, of diamonds which are contained in a payload of said novel ammunition. Herein the term of “warhead” may refer to, but not limited to, a head part of artillery shell, or a head part of interception missile, or a head part of rocket etc.
These diamonds are usually carefully distributed and secured within said novel ammunition to ensure maximum coverage and effectiveness, also these diamonds may be equal in size, or not be equal in size. During operation, said novel ammunition could be guided by a set of advanced hypersonic missile interception system comprising a set of sensors, radars on ground, and tracking systems to detect and track incoming hypersonic missiles. Being specific,
Once a threat is detected then identified, said interception system guides said novel ammunition to maximize a probability of getting as close as possible to the incoming hypersonic missile, then initiates a response by releasing multiple said diamond particles. This release is precisely timed and controlled to coincide with the trajectory of the incoming hypersonic missile.
Once the diamonds are released in a middle of air, they form a dense cloud of diamonds, acting as a highly defensive shield. This cloud effectively intercepts and deflects the hypersonic missile, disrupting its flight path and neutralizing the hypersonic missile.
The electrical-magnetic radiation reflective properties of the diamonds cloud cause the missile's guidance systems to become confused, leading to a loss of accuracy and targeting capabilities. More important, the diamonds' exceptional hardness and sharpness come into play. Upon collision, given the facts of the exceptional hardness of diamond and the extreme collision speed with incoming hypersonic missile, the outer shell of hypersonic missile could be severely damaged.
Being specific, said diamonds particles' extreme hardness acts as game-changing factor, capable of puncturing an outer structure of the incoming hypersonic missile then may further fragmenting its structure. A damage of outer shell of hypersonic missile may ultimately cause its disintegration in mid-air and/or failure to hit a target.
This novel ammunition offers several unique advantages over conventional hypersonic missile interception ammunition. The use of diamond particles as intercepting agents provides a highly effective means of neutralizing hypersonic threats.
Said diamonds' hardness, durability and resistance to extreme temperatures make them suitable for intercepting missiles traveling at extreme speeds. A possible collision between said hypersonic missile and the diamonds, at a relative-velocity of 5-20 Mach, may generate extreme heat and destructive force to damage or destroy said incoming hypersonic missile in no time.
The size of said diamonds may vary, ranging from the size of sand particles to a few carats, however, considering the market prices of natural diamonds and a real-world practice of supply chain, it is more reasonable to predict that this novel ammunition is more likely to contain man-made diamonds.
Said diamond particles may be coated additional substances to enhance its interception capabilities, such as anti-reflective coating or heat isolation costing. An anti-reflective coating on said diamond particle may reduce electronic-magnetic wave reflection emitted by imbed radar system of said hypersonic missile, while heat isolation coating on said diamond particle may protect diamond particle itself against high heat during an explosive advancement process.
In consideration of production cost, those man-made diamonds with impurities are more likely to be contained in said novel ammunition, because the hardness of those man-made diamonds with impurities are almost as same as natural diamonds. Whereas, based on some facts of man-made diamonds production nowadays, those low carat man-made diamonds with impurities can be produced in rather large volume at cheap cost in Asia. It is reasonable to predict that said novel ammunition warhead may contain thousands of low carat man-made diamonds, to form a “cloud of diamonds” upon a moment of detonation or release.
As per previous description, this novel ammunition is designed to intercept hypersonic missiles by utilizing the release of diamonds during flight. The ammunition, usually referred to as a warhead, incorporates various mechanisms for releasing diamonds either explosively or gradually, allowing for effective interception of hypersonic missiles.
Multiple release patterns are proposed herein, each offering unique advantages in intercepting such fast-moving targets.
A. Explosive Release Pattern: In this embodiment, a payload of this novel ammunition warhead is equipped with an explosive mechanism designed to release all the diamonds inside simultaneously. Upon detonation, the warhead disintegrates, dispersing the diamonds in a wide explosive pattern. The explosive release ensures a sudden and widespread distribution of diamonds, creating a “dense cloud” of diamond particles in mid-air. This cloud poses a significant threat to an incoming hypersonic missile, as the diamonds' hard and compact nature is configured to cause severe damage upon collision.
B. Gradual Release Pattern: Alternatively, said novel ammunition is configured to employ a gradual release mechanism, allowing for diamonds to be released incrementally during the trajectory flight to form a spiral pattern in mid-air. By incorporating a timed sequence, said warhead releases diamonds at specific intervals to form certain distribution in mid-air. This cloud of diamonds consists of dispersed diamond particles, spanning a broader area compared to the explosive release pattern. Such a spiral distribution of diamonds particles in huge volume will lead to a great chance to have some of diamonds collide with then intercept said incoming hypersonic missile. The gradual release pattern increases the interception probability by covering a larger space, effectively challenging the maneuverability of hypersonic missiles.
C. Dynamic Release Patterns: To further enhance interception capabilities, dynamic release patterns are proposed. By leveraging advanced AI algorithms, said novel ammunition is configured to adaptively change the release patterns based on real-time analysis of the missile's trajectory. For instance, said warhead may release diamonds in a spiral pattern, resembling a helix, to impede a hypersonic missile's forward progress. This dynamically changing release pattern introduces unpredictability, making it more challenging for a hypersonic missile to avoid the diamond cloud.
D. Customized Release Patterns: In addition to the aforementioned patterns, said novel ammunition allows for customized release patterns, tailored to specific interception scenarios. These patterns may include combinations of explosive and gradual releases, varying densities of diamonds distribution, or even unique geometric formations. By providing flexibility in release patterns, the novel ammunition is configured to adapt to different hypersonic missile characteristics and optimize interception effectiveness.
In conclusion, the described invention presents an novel ammunition designed to intercept hypersonic missiles by employing diamonds release mechanisms. Whether through explosive, gradual, dynamic, or customized release patterns, this novel ammunition aims to create “diamond clouds” or “diamond barrier” in mid-air, effectively countering a threat of hypersonic missiles. The unique properties of diamonds, such as their hardness and compactness, make them ideal for intercepting and damaging these hypersonic missiles. A variety of diamond-release patterns in fact lead to a possibility of another warhead design which said novel ammunition, in a form of warhead, to comprise multiple sub-warheads, meanwhile each sub-warhead contains multiple diamond particles, thus each sub-warhead is configured to release diamond particles at different time and different locations to intercept incoming hypersonic missiles.
When we dive into some details of such a collision, a basic principle behind this invention is that the extreme hardness and strength of diamond particles may potentially pierce through a tough outer shell of a hypersonic missile, then cause extensive damages to its inner structure and components.
Once a diamond particle is released and collide with outer shell of hypersonic. missile, it draws a travel path. Being specific, once said diamond particle collides outer shell of a hypersonic missile, it encounters immense resistance, causing said diamond particle to slow down. However given the factors of a relative-velocity at 5-20 Mach upon collision, as well as an extreme hardness of said diamond particle, said diamond particle may overcome force of resistance and pierce through outer shell of said hypersonic missile.
Calculating by a formula of Kinetic Energy in Law of Physics, if a 1-crat diamond particles collides with a stationary cast iron plate at relative speed of 20 Mach at 45 degree angle, this collision will release 4,625 Joule Kinetic Energy, which is about 10 times of a 9 mm bullet's Initial Kinetic Energy, while if a collision at relative speed of 5 Mach, the collision still will release 289 Joule Kinetic Energy. Given an extreme hardness and toughness of diamond particle, and a huge gap of hardness which is configured to be measured by Vickers Hardness Value between diamond particle and cast iron plate or other high-strength-alloy, that is approximately 100 GPa versus 10 GPa, said diamond particle may easily pierce a 1-cm-thick high-strength-alloy plate, which is similar with a situation of a bullet shooting a Tofu.
Upon impact, said diamond particle may crack into smaller fragments, but its overall integrity is maintained due to its exceptional strength and hardness. Once said diamond particle has penetrate outer shell, it enters the inner body of a hypersonic missile. Those extensive damages caused by an impact of said diamond particle may vary depending on its trajectory and those specific parts or components it encounters. For instance, if said diamond particle strikes a critical electronic component, it can disrupt or destroy the sensitive circuits, rendering the missile inoperable. Furthermore, if said diamond particle punctures a fuel tank or an engine component, it can lead to the leakage of highly volatile propellants or the disruption of the missile's propulsion system. This would significantly impair the missile's ability to maneuver or maintain its intended trajectory, potentially rendering it ineffective or causing it to crash.
In some rare cases typically associated with a low-angle collision, said diamond particle may simply cause a scratch on exterior shell of a hypersonic missile. However, even such a scratch will damage a thin layer of heat-resistant coating which isolates high heat during flight from exterior body of a hypersonic missile, so a scratch may turn itself into serious cracks in very short period, as short as tens of seconds, because of an extreme high heat ranging from 1600-3000 degrees Celsius during a flight of hypersonic missile. As a matter of fact, 1600-3000 degrees Celsium high heat typically are used to melt metal or to forge alloy, meanwhile only when a space shuttle returns to Earth Atmosphere, the temperature may reach that level of high heat (2000 degrees Celsius). Flying at such a high temperature may either force a hypersonic missile to significantly reduce its flight speed, in that scenario a hypersonic missile may be easily shot down by a traditional ammunition; or said hypersonic missile may simply breakdown inside out because of a direct exposure to such a high heat.
Based on above facts, it will be better to intercept a hypersonic missile at early stage of its launching, to cause damages on its exterior shell as early as possible to impact its following flight. Even if there are only minor damages made by said diamond particles at beginning, a following high speed flight may worsen those initial damages then cause it to crash. Also, based on said facts in previous two paragraph, said novel ammunition, typically in a form of warhead, may also be use to intercept hypersonic aircrafts or other hypersonic flying objects.
In summary, the collision between diamonds and the outer shell of hypersonic missiles can cause extensive damage. The path of the diamond involves piercing through the shell, potentially cracking into smaller fragments, and damaging critical components within the missile. The resulting effects range from disrupting electronics to compromising propulsion systems, ultimately rendering the hypersonic missile inoperable or significantly reducing its effectiveness. Moreover, once outer shell of said hypersonic missile is pierced by said diamond particle, its aerodynamic shape is disrupted, outer air may inflow into inner body of hypersonic missile through said pierced hole at 5-20 Mach initial speed. This extreme air inflow may further expand said pierced hole and damages inner components of the missile, as well as to change inner environment such as temperature and humidity, make said hypersonic missile further inoperable or even disintegrate in mid-air.
Another effect which could be less an important factor than saud collision in mid-air but still worthy of mentioning, is that in theory if a warhead were to release a large number of diamonds into the air, it would create “diamond cloud” which potentially interferes with the guidance system of hypersonic missiles, including GPS and Guidance radar. This phenomenon can be explained through the principles of physic, as diamonds are highly reflective and having a high index of refraction, are configured to cause significant scattering and diffraction of electromagnetic waves, including the wavelength used in radar and in GPS. When a hypersonic missile approaches a “diamond cloud”, the electromagnetic waves emitted by a hypersonic missile's guidance system would interact with the numerous diamond particles present in the cloud. Due to the scattering and diffraction properties of diamonds, the electromagnetic waves would bounce off and be redirected by the diamond particles in various directions. This scattering effect could potentially distort the radar signature and GPS signals received by the missile's guidance system, making it difficult for the system to accurately determine the missile's position, speed, and trajectory. The effectiveness of such an effect would depend on various factors, including the size and quality of the diamonds, the density of said “diamond cloud”, the distance between missile and cloud, and the capabilities of a hypersonic missile's guidance system.
As a conclusion, said novel ammunition for hypersonic missile interception represents a significant advancement in missile defense technology. Its unique payload, comprising strategically embedded diamonds, offers a reliable and efficient method for intercepting and neutralizing incoming hypersonic missiles. This novel ammunition's ability to cause substantial damage to the missile's outer shell ensures a high rate of success in dismissing incoming missile threat.
Meanwhile production cost of such a novel ammunition would be insignificant comparing with production cost of hypersonic missile, as the man-made diamond production technology nowadays are making it much cheaper than the production cost decades ago, especially those low-carats man-made diamond particles are cheap for mass production in Asia. Said novel ammunition warhead can contains thousands of low-carat man-made diamond particles and to be released in variety of patterns by rotating said warhead itself during its flight.
Additionally, as a substitute technology solution to pursue extreme hardness and maximized collision damage, said diamonds in this novel ammunition can be substituted by other substances with extraordinary hardness, such as Lonsdaleite (Lonsdale stone) and Wurtzite Boron Nitride, both substances have their limited natural existence meanwhile can be synthesized in laboratoy. The hardness of Lonsdale stone is 58% greater than that of diamonds, while the hardness of Wurtzite Boron Nitride is 18% than that of diamonds. Also, as a substitute technology solution to pursue lower cost of production, said diamonds in this novel ammunition can be substituted by Moissanite, a form of Silicon Carbide in natural existence. The hardness of Moissanite is slightly less than diamond but its synthesizing cost in laboratory is significantly less than that of diamonds as well.
Within a portfolio of potential substitute substances, a comprehensive consideration to balance density, toughness and hardness of these substances is crucial, to maximize impact upon collision at an extreme speed of high Mach and to cause maximized damages on said hypersonic missiles.
This invention cleverly uses some of the hardest substances in the world to pursue the most severe collision impact for interception towards hypersonic missiles, making those outer shell substances of hypersonic missiles, such as Cast iron, Aluminum alloy, Titanium alloy or Carbon Fiber etc., appear fragile. With a combination of Impact of Collision at hypersonic speed and an ultra-high hardness of selected substance in said noval ammunition, any mid-air collision will lead to fatal consequences for said hypersonic missiles to crash or to fail to hit targets.
With said novel ammunition, the greatest advantage of hypersonic missiles: its extremely high speed, has been turned into its greatest weakness.
