CIRCOR produces high‑G kinetic switches and inertial switching devices designed for safety‑critical aerospace and defense applications. Our switches provide instantaneous, passive, and highly reliable activation in response to acceleration, shock, or impact events—making them ideal for weapons ‘safe & arms’, missile systems, ejection seats, and high‑G flight environments. 

Built to withstand extreme shock, vibration, and temperature ranges, CIRCOR kinetic switches deliver fail‑safe performance, long‑life stability, and precise activation thresholds. We offer both standard configurations and custom‑engineered solutions, ensuring seamless integration into complex system architectures. 

Impact/Acceleration 

CIRCOR’s impact and acceleration switches are engineered to provide instantaneous, passive activation in controlled response to shock, impact, or rapid acceleration events. These devices operate on the principles of Hooke’s Law, using calibrated spring‑mass mechanisms to trigger at precise G‑thresholds without requiring electrical power. 

Designed for extreme aerospace and defense environments, our switches deliver fail‑safe performance, long‑life stability, and consistent activation across wide temperature, vibration, and shock profiles. Each switch is tuned for tight mechanical tolerances, ensuring predictable response curves and minimal drift over time. 

Applications 

• Missile and Munition impact detonation triggering 

• High‑G weapons release & arming systems 

• Ejection seat sequencing 

• Rocket motor ignition interlocks 

• UAV and loitering‑munition safety systems 

• Deceleration and sub-G detection and activation triggering 

• Supersonic & Hypersonic applications  

Latching 

CIRCOR’s latching kinetic switches provide mechanically locked activation in response to acceleration or shock events, ensuring the switch remains in its triggered state until intentionally reset. These devices use spring‑loaded mechanisms governed by Hooke’s Law, enabling precise threshold control and reliable retention under extreme conditions. 

Latching switches are ideal for systems requiring persistent state indication, safety interlocks, or one‑time event confirmation. Built for high‑G environments, they maintain performance across severe vibration, temperature extremes, and long‑duration storage. 

Applications 

• One‑time event safing 

• Missile and rocket stage sequencing 

• Parachute deployment confirmation 

• Emergency system activation 

• High‑G aircraft safety interlocks 

Tilt/Spin 

CIRCOR’s tilt and spin switches detect angular displacement, rotation rate, or spin‑stabilized motion using precision‑balanced mechanical elements. These devices rely on spring‑mass dynamics and rotational inertia principles to provide passive, power‑free sensing of orientation or spin conditions. 

Engineered for aerospace and defense platforms, our tilt/spin switches deliver high repeatability, low drift, and robust performance in high‑shock, high‑vibration environments. They are ideal for systems requiring orientation‑dependent activation or spin‑verified arming logic. 

Applications 

• Spin‑stabilized munitions 

• Orientation‑dependent arming systems 

• Rocket and missile roll‑rate detection 

• UAV stabilization logic 

• Payload deployment sequencing 

Sensors 

CIRCOR integrates its kinetic switches into higher‑level sensing assemblies, combining mechanical switching with electronics, housings, connectors, and environmental protection. These integrated solutions provide turnkey sensing, arming, or event‑detection modules tailored to customer requirements. 

By leveraging the inherent reliability of kinetic switches — passive operation, no power draw, predictable activation via Hooke’s Law spring‑mass mechanics — CIRCOR delivers assemblies that reduce system complexity and improve overall safety and reliability. 

Applications 

• Integrated safing/arming modules 

• Multi‑sensor event detection units 

• Missile and rocket sequencing assemblies 

• Loop-over recorder protection 

• Emergency lighting activation 

• Aerospace safety interlocks 

• Ruggedized sensing modules for harsh environments 

Micro 

CIRCOR produces ultra‑miniature kinetic micro switches with volumes under 100 thousandths of a cubic inch, engineered for applications where size, weight, and reliability are critical. Despite their extremely small footprint, these switches maintain precise activation thresholds, consistent mechanical response, and long‑life durability. 

Using micro‑scale spring‑mass systems governed by Hooke’s Law, these devices deliver reliable performance in high‑G, high‑shock environments where electronic sensors may fail. They are ideal for next‑generation weapons, UAVs, and compact aerospace systems. 

Applications 

• Smart‑munitions and compact weapons 

• UAV and drone safety systems 

• Miniaturized aerospace assemblies 

• High‑density missile electronics 

Space‑constrained arming and sensing modules 

Explore our acceleration switch attributes and how they are crafted to meet the highest levels of precision, quality, and safety in any environment.