F42 AMMUNITION; BLASTING
Description
F42 encompasses the design, manufacture, and function of ammunition and explosive devices used in firearms and blasting applications. This class covers cartridges, projectiles, propellant charges, detonators, fuses, and related components for small arms and larger weapons systems. It also includes blasting explosives, their initiation mechanisms, and techniques for controlled detonation in mining, construction, and demolition contexts. Adjacent classes address the weapons themselves (F41), while chemical explosives composition falls under C06B.
Filing statistics
CPC F42 recorded 39,778 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 3 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 2,407 in 2013 to 3,343 in 2023 (+39%), peaking at 4,674 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class F42 are DETNET SOUTH AFRICA (478 applications), RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION (462 applications) and BAE SYSTEMS (439 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
3 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- F42B EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION (explosive compositions C06B; fuzes F42C; blasting F42D)
- F42C AMMUNITION FUZES (blasting cartridge initiators F42B3/10; chemical aspects C06C); ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR (filling fuzes F42B33/02; fitting or extracting primers in or from fuzes F42B33/04; containers for fuzes F42B39/30)
- F42D BLASTING (fuses, e.g. fuse cords, C06C5/00; ; cartridges F42B3/00)
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- DETNET SOUTH AFRICA ZA 478
- RHEINMETALL WAFFE MUNITION DE 462
- BAE SYSTEMS GB 439
- RAYTHEON COMPANY US 404
- HANWHA CORPORATION KR 388
- AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT KR 352
- BEIJING INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 294
- TRUE VELOCITY IP HOLDINGS US 269
- NANJING UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 226
- BAE SYSTEMS BOFORS SE 222