What is kinetic penetrator?

Kinetic penetrator is a military weapon designed to penetrate armor, concrete, and other fortified structures using kinetic energy. It is a type of kinetic energy penetrator (KEP) that uses high-speed projectiles made of dense materials such as tungsten, depleted uranium, or steel to penetrate hard targets.

These penetrators are usually fired from guns or launched from missiles at hypersonic speeds, reaching velocities of up to 10,000 meters/second. When they hit the target, the kinetic energy of the projectile is converted into heat, which causes the armor to melt and spall, creating a hole through which the penetrator can pass.

Kinetic penetrators are used in modern warfare to destroy bunkers, fortifications, and other hard targets. They are also used in anti-tank missiles, anti-missile defense systems, and in space missions to penetrate the surfaces of planets and asteroids.

One of the advantages of kinetic penetrators is that they do not rely on explosives, which can be detected and neutralized by enemy countermeasures. This makes them an effective weapon against hardened targets where other types of weapons may be less effective.