EP0708305B1 - Method for protecting radiation emitting devices from missiles, in particular infrared radiation emitting devices such as ships - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for protecting objects, in particular ships, emitting radiation, in particular IR radiation, against missiles which are equipped with intelligent search heads, in particular scanning, imaging, correlating and / or spectrally filtering search heads, preferably IR search heads , in which by firing a flammable throwing body from a launching tube installed on or near the threatened object, disassembling the throwing body and simultaneously firing and distributing the throwing material in addition to the target in the area of the search optics of the seeker head, an apparent target cloud, in particular infrared - Apparent target cloud, with higher radiation power, in particular infrared radiation power, than the threatened object.

Such a method, with which objects, for example S-boats, can be adequately protected against missiles equipped with infrared guidance seekers under certain circumstances, forms the basis for those described in DE-OS-34 21 734 A1 (see the preamble of claim 1 ) and EP-PS 0 240 819 B1 inventions disclosed. It uses the function of the search heads as follows: The search heads have optics that have relatively large opening angles at the beginning of the so-called search phase, which usually begins at a distance of about 10 to 15 km from the object, so that they have, for example, a search range of about 3000 to 5000 m in azimuth and approximately 300 to 500 m in elevation. After the object has been recognized, the search head switches as the missile approaches the object, which is also referred to as lock-on. With this process, the angle of view of the optics of the seeker head is greatly reduced, both in azimuth and in elevation. At a distance of about 5 to 8 km, at which the object is usually connected, the area covered by the search window of the search head is then only 100 m in azimuth and about 50 m in elevation. This area then becomes smaller and smaller as the missile approaches to the point of impact. The infrared target cloud to be formed to deflect the missile may therefore only be about 40 to 50 m to the side of the object's center of radiation and only about 25 to 30 m above the boat, so that it can still be seen from the already reduced viewing angle of the optics of the infrared steering seeker head is detected. Furthermore, it must have a significantly higher infrared radiation power compared to the actual object.

However, the conventional method has the disadvantage that there is still no distraction or protection in the time between the launch and the deployment of the dummy target. In addition, there is a spatial distance between the firing point and the point of action (disassembly point), which places an increased requirement on the positioning of the dummy target in the field of view of the seeker head - especially in the case of seduction after lock-on - otherwise the desired peeling effect is not achieved .

From DE 33 26 884 C2 a method is known in which a shielding effect effective in the infrared range is achieved by a throwing body which develops a hot aerosol shortly after the launch. This is a shielding or nebulizing process, which does not give the possibility of guiding a search head that is already connected to the object to be protected away from the object.

DE-AS 10 96 805, DE-PS 258 538 and DE 34 21 734 A1 describe projectiles which emit effective energy during the flight in the infrared range, but there are no references to the placement of seekers here.

The invention has for its object to improve the apparent target effectiveness of the generic method in such a way that a search head on the object to be protected can be reliably guided away from the object.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in a further development of the generic method in that, when the throwing body is fired, a radiation device located in the throwing body is put into operation, which forms a form of energy corresponding to the subsequent apparent target, starting immediately after the launch until the false target is built up, in particular an IR false target , radiates in search head relevant intensity.

It can be provided that the radiation device emits continuously.

The invention also proposes that the radiation device emits in a clocked manner.

According to the invention it can also be provided that further throwing bodies are fired at such a temporal and / or spatial offset, their respective emitting devices are put into operation and, with subsequent ignition and distribution of the throwing means located in them, are disassembled such that one propagates from the previous apparent target cloud Chain of successive further new dummy target clouds, in particular infrared dummy target clouds, is created by those of the respective radiation devices caused energy beam trajectories are connected.

The radiation device in the invention can be a pyrotechnic set, e.g. have a gas generator, a flare or a rocket engine.

The invention is based on the surprising finding that it is possible to decisively improve the protection effectiveness of the known method by generating a preliminary apparent target in the silhouette of the object to be protected even when the projectile is shot down by means of the radiation device which takes effect immediately, and which produces the rest of the object to be protected outshines and is identified by the seeker head. From this moment on, the search head no longer "sees" the rest of the object to be protected, to which it has already been connected, but the provisional apparent target. As the throwing body moves away from the object to be protected, the search head follows the preliminary apparent target that is moving out of the silhouette of the object to be protected, which is formed by the radiation device in the manner of a tracer ammunition, and is thus reliably guided into the later, final apparent target. In this way, the search head can also be deflected if the dummy target e.g. blooms due to poor positioning outside the field of view of the seeker head. This results in a simplification of the self-protection system, the protective effect taking effect immediately after the shot.

The method according to the invention is explained below with reference to the attached drawing.

The drawing, consisting of a single figure, shows a search body approaching an object the sequence of the method according to the invention.

As the drawing shows, a controlled missile FK provided with an infrared seeker head, which has located a ship S, initially moves towards the ship S on a flight path F1. At a point in time at which the missile FK has already switched to the ship S, a missile is launched from the ship S to be protected along a throw path WB from a position WK1 in the direction of the position of an apparent target SZ. Already in position WK1 a rocket motor is ignited with the launch of the missile, which continuously emits heat similar to a tracer ammunition, whereby the ship S is already outshone when the missile is fired in position WK1 for the infrared seeker head of the missile FK. The missile FK therefore already targets it in the missile position WK1 and then changes its trajectory continuously from F1 to F2, F3, F4 and F5, while the missile continuously moves through the positions WK2, WK3 and WK4 along the trajectory WB in the direction of the Sham target position SZ, missile position WK5, moves and then forms the sham target SZ, where the missile FK hits the sham target.

Claims (4)

1. A method whereby objects, more particularly ships, which emit radiation, more particularly IR radiation, are protected against missiles equipped with intelligent homing heads, more particularly scanning, imaging, correlating and/or spectral-filtering homing heads, more particularly IR homing heads, wherein a decoy target cloud, more particularly an infrared decoy target cloud, having a radiation output, more particularly an infrared radiation output, higher than the threatened object, is formed by the launching of a projectile carrying a combustible charge, from a launching tube installed on or in the vicinity of the threatened object, disintegration of the projectile and simultaneous ignition and distribution of the projectile charge next to the target in the range of the homing head optical system, characterised in that when the projectile is actually launched a radiation-emitting device provided in the projectile is operated which emits radiation, at an intensity relevant to the homing head, in an energy form corresponding to the subsequent decoy target, such radiation beginning immediately after the launch until the decoy target, more particularly an IR decoy target, is built up.
2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the radiation-emitting device emits radiation continuously.
3. A method according to claim 1, characterised in thpt the radiation-emitting device emits radiation cyclically.
4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that additional projectiles are launched in staggered time and/or space relationship, their respective radiation-emitting devices are operated and disintegrated with subsequent ignition and detonation of the projectile charge therein, such that a chain of successive additional new decoy target clouds, more particularly infrared decoy target clouds, propagated from the preceding decoy target cloud in each case, is formed, said additional decoy target clouds being connected by the homing head relevant energy emission paths produced by the respective radiation-emitting devices.

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