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CA2029752A1 - Distributed launcher network for active radar missiles - Google Patents

Distributed launcher network for active radar missiles

Info

Publication number
CA2029752A1
CA2029752A1 CA002029752A CA2029752A CA2029752A1 CA 2029752 A1 CA2029752 A1 CA 2029752A1 CA 002029752 A CA002029752 A CA 002029752A CA 2029752 A CA2029752 A CA 2029752A CA 2029752 A1 CA2029752 A1 CA 2029752A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
target position
launcher
launchers
target
position information
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002029752A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
John R. Peoples
Brock G. Mccamen
William A. Yates
David W. Stubbs
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Raytheon Co
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2029752A1 publication Critical patent/CA2029752A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41WEAPONS
    • F41GWEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING
    • F41G7/00Direction control systems for self-propelled missiles
    • F41G7/20Direction control systems for self-propelled missiles based on continuous observation of target position
    • F41G7/30Command link guidance systems

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

DISTRIBUTED LAUNCHER NETWORK
FOR ACTIVE RADAR MISSILES

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A distributed launcher network (10) is modular in design, employing components which are easily added or subtracted as required by the size and number of the geographical areas to be covered. It employs one or more target sensors (12a-c) which collect target position information and feed it into a target data net (14). The target data net (14) integrates the target position information from the target sensors (12a-c) to form a summary of multiple target activity. One or more fire control centers (16a-b) are plugged into the target data net (14) receiving target position information. The fire control centers (16a-b) issue launch control orders to one or more airborne vehicles (20-a-e) through launchers (18a-e) assigned to their control. After launch, the fire control centers (16a-b) transmit updated target position information to the airborne vehicles (20a-e) under the control.

Description

~297~2 DISTRIBUTED LAUNCHER_NETWORK FOR ACTIVE RADAR MISSILES

1 ~ACKGROUNE~OF~ NVENTION
1. Technical Field The present invention rel~tes to missile systems and ~ore speci~ically to ~ di~tributed launcher network.
2. D~iscussion Traditional weapon sy~tems include a sensor, a co~munications 6yste~, a weapon, a central processing unit, ~nd a fire control computer. For example, a simple weapon system might include the eyes of an observer as a sensor, the pointing finger of the observer as a co~munications ~ystem, a rifle as a weapon, an~ the operator96 brain s a central procassing uni~ and fire control co~putar. A compl~x weapon system ~ight include a radar syste~ :as a sensor, a set of radio frequency transceivers as a co~munication system, a missile as the weapon, and a central processing unit and fire control comput~r as them~elves. No matter how complex, traditional weapon &yst~ms ar~ located and operated independently o~ oach other, ~side ~rom a mutual sharing of sensor information.
In today's mult~-threat env~ronment, traditional weapon ~ystems ~re archaic. Tech~ical development-~ in weapon~y have reduced the time wlthin ~hich to receive and . 25 analyze information . When traditional weapon sy~tems are employed, ~a central command authori~y has ~ifficulty controlling each weapon ~y~t~3. Because the co~ponents of the traditional ystem~ are located together, these .
.

systems are easily destroyed. Furthermore, a fixed number of traditional weapon systems can only cover a limited geographical area.

In accordance with the teachings o~ the present invention, a distributed launch~r ~etwork ls provided.
The network ls ~odular in design, employing co~ponents which are easily added or 6ubtracted as reguired by the size and number of geographical areas to b~ covered. It employs one or more target ~ensors which collect target position infor~ation ~nd feed it into a target data net.
The target data net integrates t~e target position im~ormation from each targ~t 6ensor to ~orm a summary of ~ultiple target activity. One or more fire control centers ~re plugged into th~ target data net for receiving target position information. E~ch fire control center issues launch and control orders to one or more airborne vehicles through launchers assigned to its control. In the pr~ferred embodiment, the irborne ~ehicle is the Advanced Medi~m Range Air-to~Air Missile ~AMRAAM), an air-to-air missile used in a ~urface~to-air mode. A~ter launch, th~ fire control centers trans~it updated target po~ition informat~on to th~ airborne vehicles under their control.
Other aspect~ o~ this invention are as follows:
~ n ~pparatus for controlling at least one airborne vehicle, ~aid apparatus compri~ing:
(a) at least one csntrol ~eans for controlling the launch and flight of at least one of said airborne vehicles: and ~b) at least one launcher communicating with the control means but spaced therefrom a cuf~icient distance such that distruction of the control means would not destroy the launch~r. :~:

- , ~ - ~ , : . , 2a An apparatus for controlling ~t laa~t one airborne vehicle said apparatus compri6ing:
(a) at least one control ~eans ~or controliing the launch uf at least one o~ ~aid air~orne vehicles:
(b~ at lea~t one launcher, ~aid launchers being geogr~phically di~tributed to ~axi~izQ ~rea coverage~ aid launchers having a 360~ azi~uth eapabillty, and R~ ld launcher~ including a guidance ~eans ~or transmitting updated target po~ition in~or~ation to said airborne vehicle after launch;
(c) at l~ast one target position sensor, :
said target positiDn sensors being geographically distxibuted, being spread out to maximiz~ surveillance area, said target position sensors being capable of generating thxee-dimensional target position infor~ation; and (d) integrating ~eans for combining the targ~t po~ition informa~ion from the target position ~ensors for use by said control means.

A method for controlling at least one airborne vehicle, ~aid airborne vehicl~ bQing a part o~ a distribute~ launcher network compri~in~ at least one target 6en~0r, at ïeast one launcher, and at least one controlling Dleans for controlling ~he launch and flight o~
6~id ~irborne vehicî~, ~aid controlling ~eans having a co~munications.m2ans ~or co~municating with ~aid launcher and said ~irborne ~rehicle, ~aid 3~ thod compri~ing:
~a) receiving target po~ition information ~ro~ ~t least one targ~t ~ensor: :

. . ... .
- - - .
,. , '' ': ' : : , ~ : .
.

2b th) combinin~ target po~ition information into a summary of multi-target activity ~or u~e by ~t leas~ one of ~aid controlling means;
(c) 6ending updated position information and launch and control orders using ~aid co~munications ~eans to at least one of ~aid launchers and ~irborne vehicles; and ~d) sending updated position information using said communications means ~o ~aid airborne vehicle after launch.

~R~Y ~5CRIPTION OF ~HE ~Ba~I~2 Other object~ and advantages o~ ~he invention will become apparent upon reading the ~ollowing detailed ~escription and upon reference to the ~ollowing drawing in which:
FIG. 1 is a ~che~atic diagram ~howing the basic ~.
co~ponents of the di~tributed launcher networX~ ~

:- : .: . . .: .
3 2fD297~

1 ~ETAILED DESC~ ION OF T~E ~ RRED EMBODIMENT~
Turning now to FIG. 1 the distributed launcher network 10 ie con~tructed in a ~odular ~a~hion. To the left ~ide of the diagram, one or ~ore taryet 6ensors 12a-c obtain target po6ition in~ormation. Although thr~e target ~ensors are ~hown for clarity, target ~ensor~ can be added or subtracted depending upon the ~iz~ of ths geographical area to be ~urveyed. One for~ of target ~ensor envisioned by this invention i~ a three-dimen~ional radar ~ystem.
The target ~ensor~ 12a c are ~dvantageously placed in optimal surveillance location~, ~way from other networX
omponent6, ~nd are operated independently of each other.
Target po~ition information ~rom the target sensors 12a-c is ~ed into ~ target data net 14. The 15 target data net 14 combines the tarqet position information from each target 6ensor 12 to form an integrated picture of target activity. Although only one target data net is s~own ~or clarity, more target data nets can be added depending on the number of geographical areas to be surveyed.
The integrated target position information is available for use by the fire control c~nters 16a b. Only two fire control centers 16a-~ are ~hown; hvwever, in keeping with the modular nature of the system, fire control cen~ers may be added or subtracted as required by the tactical ~ituation. The ~ire conkrol centers 16a-b are ~ssigned a ~pecific geograph~cal area of responsibility. Fire control cent~r operators monitor ~heir areas of respon6ibility ~nd ~end launch and control order~ to their assigned launchers 18a-e.
The location of ~he launcher~ 18a-e is recorded on a grid system. A common reference, ~rom which angular course direction i~ measured, is al80 noted on the grid system. The launchers 18a-e are programmed to receive control orders referenced to the~r own posi~ion on the grid ~ystem. ~h~refore, t~rget posi~ion information is ~- .' . ' ' ` ;
4 2~297~2 1 converted into launcher co~rdinates be~ore being used to generate a launch message. The launchers 18a-e and airborne vPhicles 20a-e receive launch ~nd control orders via a ~ecure communications link. After launch, the airborne vehicles 20a-e continue to receive updated targeting information via the ~ecure communications link.
In th~ preferred iQ~bodi~ent, the airborne vehicles 20a-e are the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile ~MR~M). This missile i~ ~daptable for use in other environ~ents besides air-to-air. In ~he preferred embodiment of the distributed launcher network lo, it is being deployed as a 6ur~ace-to-air missile. Other embodiments envision use of the missile in a co~bination o~ environment~. Any l~unching platform capable of communicating with the ~ire control centers 16a-b can become part of th~ distributed launcher network lo.
The present invention has several advantages over the prior ar~- which are readily apparent to one skilled in the art. The invention gives battlefield 2~ commanders the flexibility of placing the target se~sors 12a c in opti~al Eurveillance locationis and the launchers 18a-e in optimaI locations for defending tactical positionis. The number of launchers 18a-e and target sensors 12a-c is variable and launcher assignments can be changed fro~ one fire control center 16 to ano~her. The dashed and 601id lines between the fire control centers 16a-b and the launchers 20a-e re~lect this interchangeability. ~hus, th~ relative ~ize and ~ire power o~ the network 10 is discretionary and permits ~ontinual ~djust~ent ~s ~:actical condition~ vary.
The distributed launcher network 10 i~ less vulnerable to destruction than traditional weapon systems.
Locating the launchers 18a-e remotely from the target sensors 12a e makes them far less vulnerable to destruction by a weapon which is attracted by tile presence of an emitting target 6ensor. Due to the distri~uted :~
~ .

- , . . . . . . . . ... . .
.: . . . . .
. . .
. . ' ,, . ~ ~ : i ,, -., 5 20297~t~ :

1 nature of the network 10 the launcher~ 12a-e are ~uch less likely to b~ ~potted by aerial reconnaissance; there is much less heavy ~quipment assembled in the ~ame location.
Because it is less vulnerable to destruction, it provides a grea~er defense o~ a given area than a traditional weapon ~ystem.
Finally, t~e distrlbuted launcher network 10 has other advantages. It ha~ bettar freedom o~ movement than a traditional weapon 6ystem. Instead of shutting down the entire launcher battexy and loosing all apability d~ring tactical movement different modules ~ay be unplugged and moved independently lea~ing the rest of the system operational. The invention also provides better coordination of fire power. ~ultiple simultaneous 15 launches airborne vehicles to defend against enemy wave raids is possible. Each launcher has a full 360 azimuth capability.
Although the invention has been described with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, variations and ~odifications can be effected within the spirit and ~cope of the following claims.

, , ,

Claims (17)

1. An apparatus for controlling at least one airborne vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
(a) at least one control means for controlling the launch and flight of at least one of said airborne vehicles; and (b) at least one launcher communicating with the control means but spaced therefrom a sufficient distance such that distruction of the control means would not destroy the launcher.
2. The apparatus of Claim 1, further comprising:
(c) at least one target position sensor communicating with said control means but spaced therefrom a sufficient distance such that destruction of the target position sensor would not destroy the launcher.
3. The apparatus of Claim 2, further comprising:
(d) at least one integrating means for combining the target position information from each target position sensor for use by said control means, said integrating means being spaced therefrom a sufficient distance such that destruction of the target position sensor would not destroy the integrating means.
4. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said control means comprises at least one fire control center.
5. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said integrating means comprises at least one tactical data net.
6. The apparatus of Claim 3, which is modular in construction and includes a plurality of target position sensors, integrating means, control means, and launchers.
7. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said airborne vehicle is a missile.
8. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said launchers are geographically distributed, being spread out to maximize area coverage.
9. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said launchers have a 360° azimuth capability.
10. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said launchers include a guidance means for transmitting updated target position information to said airborne vehicles.
11. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said control means includes means for communicating with each of said launchers, said communications means being capable of receiving launcher and airborne vehicle status information and issuing control orders to said launcher and airborne vehicle.
12. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said target position sensors are geographically distributed, being spread out to maximize surveillance area.
13. The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said target position sensors are capable of generating three-dimensional target position information.
14. An apparatus for controlling at least one airborne vehicle said apparatus comprising:
(a) at least one control means for controlling the launch of at least one of said airborne vehicles;
(b) at least one launcher, said launchers being geographically distributed to maximize area coverage, said launchers having a 360° azimuth capability, and said launchers including a guidance means for transmitting updated target position information to said airborne vehicle after launch;
(c) at least one target position sensor;
said target position sensors being geographically distributed, being spread out to maximize surveillance area, said target position sensors being capable of generating three-dimensional target position information; and (d) integrating means for combining the target position information from the target position sensors for use by said control means.
15. The apparatus of Claim 14 which is modular in construction and includes a plurality of target position sensors, integrating means, control means, and launchers.
16. A method for controlling at least one airborne vehicle, said airborne vehicle being a part of a distributed launcher network comprising at least one target sensor, at least one launcher, and at least one controlling means for controlling the launch and flight of said airborne vehicle, said controlling means having a communications means for communicating with said launcher and said airborne vehicle, said method comprising:
(a) receiving target position information from at least one target sensor;
(b) combining target position information into a summary of multi-target activity for use by at least one of said controlling means;
(c) sending updated position information and launch and control orders using said communications means to at least one of said launchers and airborne vehicles; and (d) sending updated position information using said communications means to said airborne vehicle after launch.
17. The method of Claim 16 wherein said airborne vehicle is a missile.
CA002029752A 1989-12-07 1990-11-13 Distributed launcher network for active radar missiles Abandoned CA2029752A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US44729389A 1989-12-07 1989-12-07
US447,293 1989-12-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2029752A1 true CA2029752A1 (en) 1991-06-08

Family

ID=23775781

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002029752A Abandoned CA2029752A1 (en) 1989-12-07 1990-11-13 Distributed launcher network for active radar missiles

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0431892A3 (en)
JP (1) JPH03217797A (en)
CA (1) CA2029752A1 (en)
IL (1) IL96331A (en)
NO (1) NO306580B1 (en)
TR (1) TR26799A (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2090477T3 (en) 1992-01-15 1996-10-16 British Aerospace WEAPONS.
DE59707722D1 (en) * 1996-12-09 2002-08-22 Contraves Ag Gun battery for anti-aircraft fire units
US8321070B2 (en) * 2009-05-18 2012-11-27 Raytheon Company Threat object map creation using a three-dimensional sphericity metric
US9092697B2 (en) 2013-02-07 2015-07-28 Raytheon Company Image recognition system and method for identifying similarities in different images
JP6966277B2 (en) * 2017-09-27 2021-11-10 三菱重工業株式会社 Goal allocation system, command system, goal allocation method and goal allocation program

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4093153A (en) * 1965-11-18 1978-06-06 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Ground-controlled guided-missile system
FR2389307A5 (en) * 1971-02-25 1978-11-24 Hawker Siddeley Dynamics Ltd Target detector for guiding ordnance missile - has pilotless aircraft with light detector relaying necessary information to ground installations
FR2603695B1 (en) * 1986-09-09 1990-10-19 Thomson Csf METHOD AND DEVICE FOR VIEWING TARGETS AND / OR TARGET POSITIONS USING MEANS OF ACQUISITION OF WEAPONS SYSTEM

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO306580B1 (en) 1999-11-22
TR26799A (en) 1994-08-08
EP0431892A2 (en) 1991-06-12
NO905283D0 (en) 1990-12-06
JPH03217797A (en) 1991-09-25
IL96331A (en) 1994-08-26
EP0431892A3 (en) 1992-09-23
NO905283L (en) 1991-06-10

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Discontinued