The US Army has patented ammunition, which is based on the ancient principle of catching prey with the help of a throwing net. This is a specialized projectile to combat drones.
As is clear from the description of the ammunition, when approaching the target, it releases a network that neutralizes the aircraft. During the initial tests, a prototype of a 40-millimeter ammunition was able to successfully capture an unmanned aerial vehicle.
The new anti-thrust ammunition has a caliber of 40 mm. It is compatible with many grenade launchers. It consists of two main parts - the body and the detachable warhead. Inside the case is a folded net designed to intercept the drone. The network is fixed on the warhead, which also contains a proximity sensor. At a sufficiently small distance, the sensor sends a signal to the control module, which in turn sends a signal to the warhead locking mechanism. After that, the two parts of the ammunition are separated due to the spring, and the centrifugal force expands the network to intercept.
Initial tests have shown that grenade launchers are capable of launching such ammunition, and the network deployment scheme itself allows you to successfully intercept a small drone.
