An explosively formed penetrator (EFP), also known as an explosively formed projectile, a self-forging warhead, or a self-forging fragment, is a special type of shaped charge designed to penetrate armor effectively, from a much greater standoff range than standard shaped charges, which are more limited by standoff distance. As the name suggests, the effect of the explosive charge is to deform a metal plate into a slug or rod shape and accelerate it toward a target. They were first developed as oil well perforators by American oil companies in the 1930s, and were deployed as weapons in World War II.[1][2]
- ^ Ismay, John (2013-10-18), "The Most Lethal Weapon Americans Faced in Iraq", At War blog, The New York Times, archived from the original on 2018-01-04, retrieved 2018-03-26
- ^ William P. Walters (1 October 1990). "The Shaped Charge Concept, Part III. Applications of Shaped Charges" (PDF). U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2018.