DE102022202707A1 - Weapon system with a first weapon and a second weapon - Google Patents

Abstract

A weapon system (22) with an interrupter unit (36), a first weapon (22a), and a second weapon (22b) is disclosed. The first weapon (22a) is designed to fire a first ammunition within a first corridor (24). The second weapon (22b) is designed to fire a second ammunition within a second corridor (26), the first corridor (24) and the second corridor (26) overlapping in an area (28) in which a collision of the first and the second ammunition represents a danger to a carrier platform (20) of the weapon system. The interrupter unit (36) is designed to stop the second weapon (22b) from firing when the first weapon (22a) fires.

Description

The invention relates to a weapon system with two weapons. The weapon system can include the weapon system of a watercraft, for example a surface combat ship.

Weapon systems, especially on platforms that have various weapons in a small space, such as on a surface ship, have the problem that the ammunition fired from different weapons can hit each other after firing. However, this can pose a danger to the carrier platform on which the weapon system is arranged. For ballistic projectiles as ammunition, for example, the trajectory can change, which can result in a target being missed, which then continues to pose a danger to the carrier platform. If the large-caliber ammunition, such as a rocket, is hit by another weapon, it can explode and at least damage the carrier platform. Previous solutions involve a permanent restriction of the effective radius, i.e. the corridor in which the weapon can fire its ammunition. For example, a rotatable weapon is limited by mechanical stops in such a way that the ammunition fired from this weapon and another weapon cannot meet. However, this unnecessarily restricts the weapon's radius of action.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create an improved concept for weapon systems.

The task is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

Embodiments show a weapon system with an interrupter unit, a first weapon and a second weapon. The first weapon is designed to fire a first ammunition within a first corridor. The second weapon is designed to fire a second ammunition within a second corridor, the first corridor and the second corridor overlapping in an area in which a collision of the first and the second ammunition poses a danger to a carrier platform of the weapon system. The interrupter unit is further designed to stop the second weapon from firing when the first weapon fires.

A weapon system of a watercraft, for example a surface ship, can have, in addition to the carrier platform, the combat system (CS, German: weapon deployment system), navigation system (NAV) and communication system (COMMS) segments. In addition to the Combat Management System (CMS, German: command system), the Combat System can have a sensor system (including tactical (3D) radar, target tracking radar(s), infrared sensor(s), etc.) and (various) weapons (including missiles). system, barrel weapon, etc.). The role of the CMS is to assign sensor information about targets to be attacked to the weapons. This function creates the so-called function chains. A function chain is defined and implemented by selecting a target to engage, assigning a fire control sensor and assigning a weapon (or a fire channel of a weapon that can engage more than one target at the same time). These can be initiated and executed manually by the operator on a CMS console or automatically suggested by the CMS. Automatic execution is also possible.

On surface combat ships, barrel weapon systems of various calibers are used for self-defense. The calibers used range from short-range 12.7mm cannons to medium calibers of 20mm, 27mm, 30mm and 76mm up to the currently largest caliber used of 127mm. The greatest threat to a surface combat ship is an attack from the air, for example from a missile. The ship is therefore always equipped with a missile system against threats from the air (Surface to air (SAM) system).

The SAM system is designed as a Vertical Launch System (VLS) to achieve 360-degree coverage. The rocket first rises vertically from the weapon in the foredeck and then, already in the air, swings in the direction of the threat. Between the VLS and the bridge, viewed from the bow to the stern of the ship, there is typically a short-range, forward-facing cannon (Short Range Gun - SRG fwd). The SRG can be of any caliber. Due to the typical installation locations determined by shipbuilding design, there is always the risk that the SRG fwd will shoot into the launching rocket.

The first weapon can be an ammunition that can be fired using a vertical launch system, for example a rocket. The second weapon can be a short-range cannon or a medium-caliber cannon. This is an example of the first weapon and the second weapon being weapons of different types. For example, rockets or ballistic ammunition can be used as ammunition. As a corridor is the area defined by the set of curves of all possible flight curves of the ammunition of a weapon.

Furthermore, preventing the second weapon from firing when the first weapon is firing means that it is prevented that the second weapon, for example the SRG fwd, can be fired for a certain period of time when the weapon is not currently firing and if it is already firing Once it has been grasped, it should stop firing immediately (i.e. even during a burst).

The idea is to enable full spatial use of the weapons. The spatial use of the weapons results from their specifications or the manufacturer's specifications. Only when the weapons are integrated into a weapon system does the problem arise that the ammunition fired can hit each other. Enabling full spatial use of weapons means that the firing corridor of a weapon is not interfered with. Rather, the weapon's firing circle is intervened for a certain period of time. This means that a temporal intervention is made in the weapon instead of a spatial intervention. This procedure is significantly less invasive than spatial surgery. This enables the simultaneous, safe use of both weapons, for example the SAM and Short Range Gun (SRG) for self-defense. This means that the ability to defend yourself is increased.

Embodiments show that the interrupter unit is designed to start or continue firing the second weapon when the first weapon no longer fires and there is a shooting command to fire the second weapon. This means that, for example, a burst is interrupted to fire the first weapon, but continues after the first weapon is fired if the weapon's firing circuit is still armed.

In further exemplary embodiments, the interrupter unit is designed to determine the time at which the first weapon no longer fires by the expiration of a predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time being chosen to be longer than a maximum firing period of the first weapon. This means that the maximum period of time for which the first weapon can fire is limited by hardware or software technology. A hardware limitation is, for example, to be understood as meaning that only one or a predetermined number of ammunition, for example rockets, can be fired, for example because they then have to be reloaded. A software limitation is, for example, to be understood as meaning that only one or a predetermined number of ammunition, for example rockets, may be fired, or that a firing duration is limited. This software limitation can be preset or set manually, for example by a weapon operator. The predetermined time period can therefore also be preset or the manual setting is adopted. If the manual setting is adopted, optimized, i.e. reduced, the time in which the second weapon cannot fire.

Further exemplary embodiments show that the first weapon is fired essentially vertically. This means the first weapon is a VLS. The first weapon can thus include a ground air weapon, for example a SAM.

Further exemplary embodiments show that the second weapon comprises a ballistic weapon, for example an SRG.

In exemplary embodiments, the interrupter unit is designed as a controllable switch in hardware. For example, the interrupter unit can include or be a time relay. In particular, the controllable switch can be integrated into a firing circuit of the second weapon, with the controllable switch being opened when the first weapon fires. The controllable switch can also be controlled using software. In this case, the weapon system also has a computing unit, for example the CMS. A fire signal for firing the first weapon can be detected directly by means of the computing unit, for example a computer, or can be detected, for example, by means of a hardware sensor, for example an ammeter, which sends a corresponding notification to the computing unit. Based on the detected fire signal, the controllable switch is then switched by means of the computing unit in order to prevent the second weapon from firing, i.e. firing. The controllable switch can already be implemented by the manufacturer of the second weapon, advantageously in hardware. This is called a circuit breaker, for example, and is a qualified safety mechanism.

In further exemplary embodiments, the interrupter unit is designed in software. In this case, the firing circle of the second weapon can also be designed in software.

Regardless of whether the firing circuit is designed in hardware or in software and whether the controllable switch is designed in hardware or in software, the interrupter unit according to the two previously described exemplary embodiments can intervene in a firing circuit of the second weapon in order to stop the second weapon from firing prevent. This means that the firing of the second weapon can be safely prevented. The fire circle is understood to be the implementation of the release chain. The release chain can regularly include any selection and combination of the following (hardware or software) switches: dead man's switch, fire button, key switch, commander release. This series connection can now be supplemented by the interrupter unit as an additional switch in the series connection.

Analogously, a corresponding method for controlling a weapon system comprising a first weapon and a second weapon is also disclosed, wherein the first weapon is designed to fire a first ammunition within a first corridor; wherein the second weapon is configured to fire a second ammunition within a second corridor, the first ammunition being different from the second ammunition; wherein the first corridor and the second corridor overlap in an area in which a collision of the first and second munitions poses a risk to a support platform of the weapon system; wherein the method includes stopping the second weapon from firing when the first weapon fires.

• 1: eine schematische Darstellung des Waffensystems auf einem Überwasserkampfschiff als (Träger-) Plattform, wobei 1a eine schematische Seitenansicht und 1b eine schematische Draufsicht der Plattform offenbart;
• 2: eine schematische Darstellung eines Feuerkreises der zweiten Waffe.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 : a schematic representation of the weapon system on a surface combat ship as a (carrier) platform, where 1a a schematic side view and 1b discloses a schematic top view of the platform;
• 2 : a schematic representation of a firing circle of the second weapon.

Before exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings, it should be noted that identical, functionally identical or equivalent elements, objects and/or structures are provided with the same reference numerals in the different figures, so that those shown in different exemplary embodiments Description of these elements is interchangeable or can be applied to one another.

1a shows a schematic side view of a surface combat ship 20 as a support platform for a weapon system 22 comprising a first weapon 22a and a second weapon 22b. The first weapon shown is a VLS. The second weapon shown is a barrel weapon, for example an SRG. The first weapon 22a fires its ammunition within a first corridor bounded by lines 24a and 24b. The second weapon fires its ammunition within a second corridor bounded by lines 26a and 26b. The lines 26a and 26b are defined by a vertical pivoting range of the second weapon. An overlap area 28 of the two corridors is now shown hatched.

1b shows one 1a corresponding schematic top view of the surface combat ship 20. Here, a horizontal pivoting area is shown for the second weapon, which defines the lines 26c and 26d. Ie, the lines 26c, 26d delimit the second corridor horizontally. This results in a volume in the room for the second corridor. The first corridor has no significant horizontal extension. Here the lines 24a, 24b would emerge vertically from the image plane. The overlap area, which is not shown here for reasons of clarity, is therefore in 1b over the first weapon and would cover it.

2 shows a schematic representation of two fire circles 30a, 30b. The first firing circle 30a enables the first weapon 22a to be fired and the second firing circle 30b enables the second weapon 22b to be fired. Both fire circuits each have different switches 32. A first switch 32a, 32a' is, for example, a dead man's switch. A second switch 32b, 32b' and further switches 32c, 32c' indicated by the three dots can have other functions. For example, switches for a fire button and/or a key switch and/or a captain's release may be provided. One of the switches also symbolizes the final fire command that closes the circuit. The fire circuits are each powered by a voltage source 34, 34`. Alternatively, a common voltage source can also be provided for both fire circuits. Furthermore, it is not necessary for both fire circuits to be identical, for example with the same number of switches 32.

Furthermore, the interrupter unit 36 is shown here in the form of a time relay. The time relay can be switched, ie opened, by closing the first firing circuit, ie firing the first weapon 22a. This automatically interrupts the second fire circuit 30b. The first weapon 22a can now be designed in such a way that, after an impulse by closing the first firing circle 30a, it automatically fires a predetermined number (also referred to as a volley) of shots, ie, for example, rockets. In this case, the time relay can be set so that it automatically closes again when all shots have been fired predetermined number of shots are fired. This period of time can be determined in advance.

Alternatively, the first weapon 22a is designed to fire its ammunition as long as the firing circle 30a is closed. The time relay can then be set so that the time until the time relay closes again is selected to be long enough for a shot of ammunition, for example a rocket, to be fired.

It should be noted that both fire circles only schematically represent exemplary embodiments. Other configurations are also conceivable. In particular, the fire circuits can also be designed differently, for example have a different number of switches 32.

Although some aspects have been described in connection with a device, it is understood that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, so that a block or a component of a device is also to be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. Analogously, aspects that have been described in connection with or as a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or detail or feature of a corresponding device.

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It will be understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will occur to others skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the following claims and not by the specific details presented from the description and explanation of the exemplary embodiments herein.

List of reference symbols:

20

surface combat ship

22

Weapon system

22a

first weapon

22b

second weapon

24

first corridor

26

second corridor

28

Area of overlap between the first and second corridors

30

Fire circle

32

Switch

34

voltage source

36

Breaker unit

Claims (12)

Weapon system (22) with the following features: a breaker unit (36); a first weapon (22a) configured to fire a first ammunition within a first corridor (24); a second weapon (22b) which is designed to fire a second ammunition within a second corridor (26), wherein the first corridor (24) and the second corridor (26) overlap in an area (28) in which a collision of the first and second ammunition poses a danger to a support platform (20) of the weapon system; wherein the interrupter unit (36) is designed to prevent the second weapon (22b) from firing when the first weapon (22a) fires. Weapon system (22) according to Claim 1 , wherein the interrupter unit (36) is designed to start or continue firing the second weapon (22b) when the first weapon (22a) no longer shoots and there is a shooting order to fire the second weapon (22b). Weapon system (22) according to Claim 2 , wherein the interrupter unit (36) is designed to determine the time at which the first weapon (22a) no longer fires by the expiration of a predetermined period of time, the predetermined period of time being chosen to be longer than a maximum firing period of the first weapon. Weapon system (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interrupter unit (36) intervenes in a firing circuit (30b) of the second weapon (22b) in order to prevent the firing of the second weapon (22b). Weapon system (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the weapon system is designed to fire the first weapon (22a) substantially vertically. Weapon system (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first weapon (22a) comprises a ground air weapon. Weapon system (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second weapon (22b) comprises a ballistic weapon. Weapon system (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interrupter unit (36) is designed as a controllable switch in hardware. Weapon system (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interrupter unit (36) comprises a time relay. Weapon system (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the interrupter unit (36) is designed in software. Weapon system (22) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first weapon (22a) and the second weapon (22b) are weapons of different types. Method for controlling a weapon system (20) comprising a first weapon (22a) and a second weapon (22b), wherein the first weapon (22a) is configured to fire a first ammunition within a first corridor; wherein the second weapon (22b) is designed to fire a second ammunition within a second corridor, the first ammunition being different from the second ammunition, wherein the first corridor (24) and the second corridor (26) overlap in an area in which a collision of the first and second ammunition poses a danger to a carrier platform (20) of the weapon system (22), wherein the method includes stopping the second weapon (22b) from firing when the first weapon (22a) fires.

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