DE69212975T2 - weapons - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the control of a battery of weapons, for example guided missile launch stations (launching units).

A battery of scattered missile launch stations, sometimes referred to as launch units, may be connected to a central command station which, for example, allocates different targets to the respective launch units. Without such control, several launch units could be directed to the same target while other targets are not threatened. A known dispersed launch network is described in EP-A-431 892. This involves a central command station which issues launch control commands to several launch units. The concept of the known arrangement is to place a command station in the hub of a radial array of launch units, each of which has a corresponding communication link with the 'hub'. In this way, information such as target position and speed is always provided by the launch units to the command station and the assignment decisions are then provided by the command station to the launch units. As a result, the response time may be too long, particularly in a high-demand scenario where a battery of surface-to-air missile launch units are distributed to protect an installation that is simultaneously under attack by several or many enemy aircraft.

The invention is based on the object of creating a system which has improved response times.

The invention consists of a:

distributed weapon system with the following features:

a central communications station;

several weapon launch stations;

a communications link between each weapon launch station and the central communications station;

characterized in that each weapon launch station has the following features:

(i) means of threatening a first objective;

(ii) means for transmitting data relating to the location of the first target to other weapon launch stations via the central communication station;

(iii) means for receiving from another weapon launch station via the central communications station data relating to the location of another target already threatened by the other weapon launch station;

(iv) means of preventing a threat to the target already threatened by another weapon launch station.

Accordingly, certain important control functions are performed at each launcher rather than relying entirely on the central command station. In concept, the control system then begins to have a mesh design, although the actual connection between the launchers may still be based on the respective connections between the launchers and the command station. The difference is that the command station now only transmits back the information fed to it.

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawing. The only figure in the drawing shows a simplified diagram of a battery of four launch units arranged around a central communication station.

The drawing shows four launch units 1 to 4, each of which is connected to a central communication station 5 via suitable data lines, for example optical or electrical cables, or wirelessly. Each launch unit transmits five pieces of data to the communication station, which relate to the position and speed of targets that the missile is currently following. These pieces of data are then immediately transmitted back, i.e. transmitted from the communication station 5 to all other launch units 1 to 4. The communication station 5 also sends data request signals to the launch units 1 to 4.

Each launch unit 1 to 4 has a computerized control system which includes a target sensor and a tracking device and can respond to information fed to it to 'lock out' specific targets which would otherwise be threatened. The first sensor to see a specific target makes this known to the other launch units 1 to 4, which are then locked out from threatening the same target, although they continue to see the target, i.e., track the target. This effect is the result of an overall control algorithm described below. The computation comprising the control algorithm is done at the launch units 1 to 4 themselves. The central communication station 5 remains as a 'deaf' element, serving only to send back the information provided by the launch units 1 to 4.

If a target enters the field of view of a particular launcher while another launcher 1 through 4 that has previously locked onto that target is still attempting to threaten that target, then that threat continues. In the following, it is assumed that any one launcher only causes the other launchers to lock out a target, but this need not be the case. If each launcher is able to track and threaten two targets simultaneously, then the algorithm can be modified accordingly so that those targets remain locked out from the other launchers.

In addition, the system may incorporate anti-anti-radiation missile features, such as sequentially turning off the tracking to then track targets that appear while the system is partially turned off, then the tracking devices of those launch units that are turned on have some authority over those that are turned off.

Now reference is made to the overall tax algorithm. Its teachings include:

a. it prevents those launcher units 1 to 4 from threatening a target that is already threatened by another launcher unit in the battery;

b. Improving performance, i.e. the probability of the battery hitting a large number of targets;

c. information is provided to the launch unit if the monitoring sensor fails;

d. it improves the performance of the battery when it has to operate in the presence of electronic countermeasures; and

e. it prevents degradation of the performance of each unit when the algorithm cannot be applied.

The algorithm is implemented as an element of a goal management system.

When a target is detected, its tracking is commanded in the conventional manner, and if the target is found to be tracking to a protected area, and if it is within the missile interception range, then the 'threat' value is determined and compared to other targets already in the threat table. The highest threat is passed to the launcher tracking unit, which then acquires the target. Shortly after locking, a missile is launched by an operator.

When a target is identified and tracked by a launch unit 1, the following information is fed to the communication station 5:

a. Target trajectory

b. A STATUS KILL UNIT flag; and

c. A TARGET STATUS flag.

The communication station 5 sends this information to all other launch units 2, 3, 4. Upon receipt, the launch units 2, 3, 4 take the data and do the following with it:

a. THE TRACE IS SAVED AND SECURED;

b. a 'window' is placed around the TRACK DATA to encompass all foreseeable errors;

c. the target data in the threat tables is compared with the target in the 'window';

d. each target that fits within the window is given a low threat level, depending on the KILL UNIT STATUS flag and the TARGET STATUS flag; and

e. If the target is locked to a Receiver-Launcher Unit 1, then either:

1. prevents the launch of a guided missile; or

ii. if a further threat is present, then the tracking device is unlocked and controlled in such a way that this further target is threatened.

By using a low threat value, it is ensured that if there are other targets present, the launcher receiver will acquire them, but if this is the only target, then the receiving launcher will begin acquiring that target. The level at which acquisition is suspended depends on the LAUNCHER UNIT STATUS FLAG and the TARGET STATUS FLAG.

In the given example, the target coordinates must be Cartesian coordinates, the same as those used in geographic alignment. These are northing, easting, and altitude.

The LAUNCH UNIT STATUS FLAG indicates EITHER TRACKING or LAUNCHING THE WEAPON.

The TARGET STATUS flag indicates:

a. IN OVERLAY, APPROACH; or

b. IN OVERCOVER, EMIGRATION; or

c. OUT OF COVER.

The response to the LAUNCH UNIT STATUS flag is following:

a. IF the FLAG is = GUIDED WEAPON LAUNCHED, then FIRE AT THE TARGET IN THE WINDOW is prevented by the receiver-launcher unit; and

b. IF FLAG = TRACKING, then this flag is used in conjunction with the TARGET STATUS FLAG.

The response of the TARGET STATUS flag is as follows:

a. IF the LAUNCHER UNIT STATUS FLAG = FOLLOW-UP, then;

b. IF the TARGET STATUS FLAG = IN OVERLAY/ APPROACHING, then the THREAT VALUE is set to MINIMUM. A LITERATION AGAINST THE TARGET LOCATED IN THE WINDOW by the receiving launcher unit is PREVENTED;

c. IF the TARGET STATUS FLAG = IN COVERAGE/ EMIGRATION, then THREAT VALUE IS SET TO NORMAL;

d. a FIRING AGAINST THE TARGET LOCATED IN THE WINDOW is PREVENTED by the receiver-launcher unit; and

e. IF the TARGET STATUS FLAG = OUTSIDE COVERAGE, then the THREAT IS SET TO NORMAL and the KILL BLOCK IS UNLOCKED.

Claims (5)

1. A distributed weapon system comprising the following parts: a central communications station (5); several weapon launch stations (1 - 4); a communication link between each weapon launch station (1 - 4) and the central communication station (5); characterized in that each weapon launch station comprises the following parts: (i) means for detecting a first target; (ii) means for transmitting data relating to the location of the first target to another missile launch station via the central communications station (iii) means for receiving from another missile launch station, via the central communications station, data relating to the location of the other target already acquired by the other missile launch station; (iv) Means to prevent a threat to the target already acquired by the other missile launcher. 2. Distributed weapon system according to claim 1, in which the receiving device has means for receiving a target track and means are provided for creating a window around this track in order to compensate for predictable errors, and Means are provided to compare the trace in the window with target data in threat tables. 3. A distributed weapon system according to claim 2, wherein each missile launch station has means for assigning a low threat level to each target represented by target data in the threat table that is outside the lane in the window; Means of determining whether another target exists; and means of detecting the other target if the means of detection indicate that another target is present; and Means for preventing the launch of a guided missile at the target represented by target data in the table if the determination means determine that no other target is present. 4. Distributed weapon system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the target attitude data comprises tracking data for the position and the flight speed of the target. 5. A distributed weapon system according to claim 4, wherein the tracking data comprises a target tracking flag, a launch unit status flag and a target status flag.