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A kinetic energy rod warhead includes a projectile core in a hull including a plurality of individual uniquely shaped and densely packaged projectiles and an explosive charge in the hull about the core. The individual projectiles are preferably aligned when the explosive charge deploys the projectil

A kinetic energy rod warhead includes a projectile core in a hull including a plurality of individual uniquely shaped and densely packaged projectiles and an explosive charge in the hull about the core. The individual projectiles are preferably aligned when the explosive charge deploys the projectiles. The projectiles may also be aimed in a specific direction.

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1. A kinetic energy rod warhead comprising:a hull;a core in the hull including a plurality of individual lengthy rod penetrators; andan explosive charge in the hull about the core,the lengthy rod penetrators having a non-cylindrical cross-section for improved strength, weight, packaging efficiency,

1. A kinetic energy rod warhead comprising:a hull;a core in the hull including a plurality of individual lengthy rod penetrators; andan explosive charge in the hull about the core,the lengthy rod penetrators having a non-cylindrical cross-section for improved strength, weight, packaging efficiency, penetrability, and/or lethality. 2. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the lengthy rod penetrators have opposing ends at least one of which is pointed. 3. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the lengthy rod penetrators have a tri-star cross-section including three lateral spaced petals. 4. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 3 in which the lateral petals are spaced 120° apart. 5. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the lengthy rod penetrators have a cruciform cross-section including a plurality of petals. 6. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 5 in which there are four petals each spaced 90° apart. 7. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 5 in which the petals have a constant width. 8. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 5 in which the petals have a opposing converging surfaces. 9. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the lengthy rod penetrators have a star cross-section including a number of petals. 10. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 9 in which the star cross-section penetrators have opposing ends at least one of which is pointed. 11. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 9 in which the star cross-section penetrators have opposing ends at least one of which is wedge-shaped. 12. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 further including means for aligning the individual lengthy rod penetrators when the explosive charge deploys the lengthy rod penetrators. 13. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 12 in which the means for aligning includes a plurality of detonators spaced along the explosive charge configured to prevent sweeping shockwaves at the interface of the core and the explosive charge to prevent tumbling of the lengthy rod penetrators. 14. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 12 in which the means for aligning includes a body in the core with orifices therein, the lengthy rod penetrators disposed in the orifices of the body. 15. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 12 in which the means for aligning includes a flux compression generator which generates a magnetic alignment field to align the lengthy rod penetrators. 16. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 15 in which there are two flux compression generators, one on each end of the projectile core. 17. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 16 in which each flux compression generator includes a magnetic core element, a number of coils about the magnetic core element, and an explosive for imploding the magnetic core element. 18. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 14 in which the lengthy rod penetrators are made of a low density material. 19. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the hull is the skin of a missile. 20. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the hull is the portion of a “hit-to-kill” vehicle. 21. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the explosive charge is outside the core. 22. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the explosive charge is inside the core. 23. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 further including a buffer material between the core and the explosive charge. 24. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 23 in which the buffer material is a low-density material. 25. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the lengthy rod penetrators are lengthy metallic members. 26. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 25 in which the lengthy rod penetrators are made of tungsten. 27. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the explosive charge is divided into sections and there are shields between each explosive charge section extending between the hull and th e core. 28. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 27 in which the shields are made of a composite material. 29. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 28 in which the composite material is steel sandwiched between lexan layers. 30. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the core is divided into a plurality of bays. 31. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 1 in which the explosive charge is divided into a plurality of sections and there is at least one detonator per section for selectively detonating the charge sections to aim the lengthy rod penetrators in a specific direction and to control the spread pattern of the lengthy rod penetrators. 32. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 31 in which each explosive charge section is wedged-shaped having a proximal surface abutting the projectile core and a distal surface. 33. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 32 in which the distal surface is tapered to reduce weight. 34. A kinetic energy rod warhead comprising:a hull;a projectile core in the hull including a plurality of individual lengthy rod penetrators; andan explosive charge in the hull about the core,the lengthy rod penetrators having a non-cylindrical cross-section and opposing ends at least one of which is pointed. 35. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 in which the lengthy rod penetrators have a tri-star cross-section including three lateral spaced petals. 36. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 35 in which the lateral petals are spaced 120° apart. 37. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 35 in which the lengthy rod penetrators have a cruciform cross-section including a plurality of petals. 38. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 37 in which there are four petals each spaced 90° apart. 39. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 37 in which the petals have a constant width. 40. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 37 in which the petals have a opposing converging surfaces. 41. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 37 in which the penetrators have a star cross-section including a number of petals. 42. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 41 in which the star cross-section penetrators have opposing ends at least one of which is wedge-shaped. 43. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 in which the star cross-section penetrators have opposing ends at least one of which is pointed. 44. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 further including means for aligning the individual lengthy rod penetrators when the explosive charge deploys the lengthy rod penetrators. 45. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 44 in which the means for aligning includes a plurality of detonators spaced along the explosive charge configured to prevent sweeping shockwaves at the interface of the core and the explosive charge to prevent tumbling of the lengthy rod penetrators. 46. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 44 in which the means for aligning includes a body in the core with orifices therein, the lengthy rod penetrators disposed in the orifices of the body. 47. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 44 in which the means for aligning includes a flux compression generator which generates a magnetic alignment field to align the lengthy rod penetrators. 48. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 47 in which there are two flux compression generators, one on each end of the projectile core. 49. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 48 in which each flux compression generator includes a magnetic core element, a number of coils about the magnetic core element, and an explosive for imploding the magnetic core element. 50. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 in which the hull is the skin of a missile. 51. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 in which the hull is the portion of a “hit-to-kill” vehicle. 52. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 in which the explosive charge is outside the core. 53. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 in which the explosive charge is inside the core. 54. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 further including a buffer material between the core and the explosive charge. 55. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 54 in which the buffer material is a low-density material. 56. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 in which the lengthy rod penetrators are lengthy metallic members. 57. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 56 in which the lengthy rod penetrators are made of tungsten. 58. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 in which the explosive charge is divided into sections and there are shields between each explosive charge section extending between the hull and the projectile core. 59. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 58 in which the shields are made of a composite material. 60. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 59 in which the composite material is steel sandwiched between lexan layers. 61. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 in which the projectile core is divided into a plurality of bays. 62. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 34 in which the explosive charge is divided into a plurality of sections and there is at least one detonator per section for selectively detonating the charge sections to aim the lengthy rod penetrators in a specific direction and to control the spread pattern of the lengthy rod penetrators. 63. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 62 in which each explosive charge section is wedged-shaped having a proximal surface abutting the projectile core and a distal surface. 64. The kinetic energy rod warhead of claim 63 in which the distal surface is tapered to reduce weight. 65. A kinetic energy rod warhead comprising:a hull;a core in the hull including a plurality of individual lengthy rod penetrators; andan explosive charge in the hull about the core,the lengthy rod penetrators having a non-cylindrical cross section and opposing ends at least one of which is either non-cylindrical in cross section or, if cylindrical in cross section, non-flat. 66. A kinetic energy rod warhead comprising:a hull;a core in the hull including a plurality of individual tri-star cross section penetrators; andan explosive charge in the hull about the core. 67. A kinetic energy rod warhead comprising:a hull;a core in the hull including a plurality of lengthy rod penetrators having, in the case of a cylindrical cross section, a pointed or wedge-shaped end or, in the case of a non-cylindrical cross section, having a pointed or flat end;an explosive charge in the hull about the core; andmeans for aligning the individual lengthy rod penetrators when the explosive charge deploys the lengthy rod penetrators.