WO2016122429A1

WO2016122429A1 - A weapon interface unit

Info

Publication number: WO2016122429A1
Application number: PCT/TR2016/050020
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yuksel SERDAR; Huseyin Dincer CALISLAR; Rafet EROGLU; Sait SARI; Bulent CAGLAR
Original assignee: Aselsan Elektronik Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2015-01-27
Filing date: 2016-01-27
Publication date: 2016-08-04
Also published as: UA124076U

Abstract

The present invention relates to a weapon interface unit (1), which enables to fire the weapon loads that are integrated into the aircraft (platform), and which basically comprises at least one main body (2); at least one interface card (3), which is adapted to transfer power and discrete signals to all of the weapon loads located on the aircraft in accordance with the signals coming from a mission computer and the units located on the platform and thus to fire the weapon loads; and at least one connection interface (4), which comprises the interfaces that provide connection for signal and power transfer between the mission computer and the units located on the platform and the interface card (3).

Description

DESCRIPTION

A WEAPON INTERFACE UNIT Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a weapon interface unit which is designed to generate the power and discrete signals defined in the MIL-STD-1760 military standard and required to fire the laser guided rockets, air-to-air missiles and antitank missiles that are integrated to aircrafts and to provide the power and discrete signals required to fire the unguided rocket system. By means of the present invention, the condition and status information of the discrete and power signals are communicated to the aircraft mission computer via a digitally defined data bus in order to enhance reliability and safety of the weapon system.

Background of the Invention

In inboard and outboard stations on aircrafts used for military purposes, there are various weapon systems such as antitank missiles, guided and unguided rockets and air-to-air missile system. In the state of the art, firing the said weapon loads of the aircrafts is enabled by using many distributed equipment. However, use of a plurality of equipment for the firing system increases cable connections between the equipment on the platform and the weight of the platform. In the case that a new weapon is incorporated to the aircrafts, hardware change is required to be made in each equipment in order to fire the said weapon loads. Making and verifying these changes coordinately increases the cost. Furthermore, the condition and status information of the discrete and power interface signals of the weapon loads is not communicated to the weapon management or mission computer via a digitally defined data bus, and therefore system reliability and safety decreases. Problems Solved by the Invention

The objective of the present invention is to provide a weapon interface unit which enables to fire the laser guided rockets, air-to-air missiles, antitank missiles and unguided rocket systems, which are integrated on aircrafts, by using a single unit that transfers power and discrete signals to the concerned weapon loads. One weapon interface unit is used for each wing of the aircraft in order to fire the weapon loads integrated on the aircraft. Thus platform cable connections and cable weights are reduced. Reliability and safety of the system is enhanced by means of sending the status and condition information of the discrete and power signals in the weapon interface unit to the mission computer of the aircraft via a digital data bus. The weapon interface unit (1) of the present invention is designed in compliance with the environmental requirements determined by military standards (MIL- HDBK-5400, MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-704 and MIL-STD-461). Within this framework, altitude, low and high temperature, thermal shock, humidity, vibration, mechanical shock, dust, salty atmosphere, acceleration, temperature- altitude, temperature-vibration, power and EMI/EMC tests are applied to the devices. Furthermore, the said weapon interface unit is designed in compliance with the aircraft weapon loads interface requirements determined by MIL-STD- 1760 military standard. Detailed Description of the Invention

A weapon interface unit developed to fulfill the objectives of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the weapon interface unit of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the weapon interface unit.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the weapon interface unit from another angle.

The components in the figures are given reference numbers as follows:

1. Weapon interface unit

2. Main body

3. Interface card

3.1. Inboard station unguided rocket power management module

3.2. Inboard station rocket/missile power and signal management module

3.3. Outboard station rocket/missile power and signal management module

3.4. Outboard station unguided rocket power management module

4. Interface unit

4.1. Inboard station unguided rocket interface

4.2. Inboard station rocket/missile interface

4.3. Discrete interface

4.4. Power interface

4.5. Outboard station rocket/missile interface

4.6. Outboard station unguided rocket interface

A weapon interface unit (1), which enables to fire the weapon loads that are integrated into the aircraft (platform), basically comprises

- at least one main body (2),

- at least one interface card (3), which is adapted to transfer power and discrete signals to all of the weapon loads located on the aircraft in accordance with the signals coming from a mission computer and the units located on the platform and thus to fire the weapon loads, including

- at least one inboard station unguided rocket power management module (3.1) adapted to adjust the power that will be transferred to the unguided rockets at the inboard station, - at least one inboard station rocket/missile power and signal management module (3.2) adapted to fire the rockets/missiles at the inboard station,

- at least one outboard station rocket/missile power and signal management module (3.3) adapted to fire the rockets/missiles at the outboard station, - at least one outboard station unguided rocket power management module (3.4) adapted to adjust the power that will be transferred to the unguided rockets at the outboard station,

- at least one connection interface (4), which comprises the interfaces that provide connection for signal and power transfer between the mission computer and the units located on the platform and the interface card (3), including

- at least one inboard station unguided rocket interface (4.1) which provides a connection interface for the power signals sent from the inboard station unguided rocket power management module (3.1),

- at least one inboard station rocket/missile interface (4.2) which provides a connection interface for the power and discrete signals sent from the inboard station rocket/missile power and signal management module (3.2),

- at least one discrete interface (4.3) which provides connection for the discrete signals coming/going from a mission computer and the units located on the platform,

- at least one power interface (4.4) which provides connection for power transfer from the platform to the interface card (3),

- at least one outboard station rocket/missile interface (4.5) which provides a connection interface for the power and discrete signals sent from the outboard station rocket/missile power and signal management module (3.3),

- at least one outboard station unguided rocket interface (4.6) which provides a connection interface for the power signals sent from the outboard station unguided rocket power management module (3.4). One weapon interface unit (1) is used for each wing in order to fire the weapon loads integrated to the inboard and outboard stations on the aircraft. Each weapon interface unit (1) basically comprises four basic parts namely main body (2), interface card (3), and connection interface (4).

In one embodiment of the invention, the main body (2) is designed for precision casting method and is produced with the said method. The said main body (2) provides a mounting interface for the interface card (3) provided therein. The interface card (3) used in the unit is cooled via heat transmission and heat discharge means are taken into consideration during layout design of the electronic materials provided on the card.

The data and power communication between the weapon interface unit (1) and the mission computer and platform is provided via the connection interface (4). Data coming from an inboard station unguided rocket interface (4.1), an inboard station rocket/missile interface (4.2) compatible with MIL-STD-1760, a discrete interface (4.3), a power interface (4.4), an outboard station rocket/missile interface (4.5) compatible with MIL-STD-1760 and an outboard station unguided rocket interface (4.6), which are all provided on the connection interface (4), is distributed by means of the interface card (3) to the concerned modules that will fire the rockets and missiles at the inboard and outboard stations and will transfer the required power to them.

In the weapon interface unit (1) of the present invention, in order to enhance reliability and safety of the weapon system in the aircraft, the condition and status information of the discrete and power signals generated by the concerned modules provided on the interface card (3) are communicated to the aircraft mission computer via the discrete interface (4.3) that is a digitally defined data bus.

Claims

1. A weapon interface unit (1), which enables to fire the weapon loads that are integrated into the aircraft (platform), basically comprising

- at least one main body (2),

and characterized by

at least one interface card (3), which is adapted to transfer power and discrete signals to all of the weapon loads located on the aircraft in accordance with the signals coming from a mission computer and the units located on the platform and thus to fire the weapon loads, including

- at least one inboard station unguided rocket power management module (3.1) adapted to adjust the power that will be transferred to the unguided rockets at the inboard station,

- at least one inboard station rocket/missile power and signal management module (3.2) adapted to fire the rockets/missiles at the inboard station,

- at least one outboard station rocket/missile power and signal management module (3.3) adapted to fire the rockets/missiles at the outboard station,

at least one outboard station unguided rocket power management module (3.4) adapted to adjust the power that will be transferred to the unguided rockets at the outboard station,

at least one connection interface (4), which comprises the interfaces that provide connection for signal and power transfer between the mission computer and the units located on the platform and the interface card (3).

2. A weapon interface unit (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by a connection interface (4) basically comprising

at least one inboard station unguided rocket interface (4.1) which provides a connection interface for the power signals sent from the inboard station unguided rocket power management module (3.1), at least one inboard station rocket/missile interface (4.2) which provides a connection interface for the power and discrete signals sent from the inboard station rocket/missile power and signal management module (3.2), at least one discrete interface (4.3) which provides connection for the discrete signals coming/going from a mission computer and the units located on the platform,

at least one power interface (4.4) which provides connection for power transfer from the platform to the interface card (3),

at least one outboard station rocket/missile interface (4.5) which provides a connection interface for the power and discrete signals sent from the outboard station rocket/missile power and signal management module (3.3),

at least one outboard station unguided rocket interface (4.6) which provides a connection interface for the power signals sent from the outboard station unguided rocket power management module (3.4).

A weapon interface unit (1) according to Claim 2, characterized by the discrete interface (4.3) which provides a connection for transmitting condition and status information of the discrete and power signals generated by the concerned modules provided on the interface card (3) to the aircraft mission computer.

A weapon interface unit (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by the main body (2) which provides a mounting interface for the interface card (3) and is produced with precision casting method.

A weapon interface unit (1) according to Claim 1, characterized by the interface card (3) which is cooled via heat transmission.