EP3118561A1 - Directed energy system and weapon system - Google Patents

Abstract

An energy conversion system (2) with a high-energy laser source (4) for laser radiation (6) for military combat of a target object (8) comprises a modulator (10) for time modulation of the laser radiation (6) according to a modulation pattern (12) for illuminating the target object (8) under a follow-up procedure. A weapon system (14) contains an energy-return system (2) according to the invention and a target-tracking unit (16) for aligning the laser radiation (6) with the target object (8). The high energy laser source (4) of the energy system of the invention (2) or weapon system (14) is used to illuminate the target object (8) as part of the target tracking process.

Description

The invention relates to an energy system with a high-energy laser source, which is designed to emit laser radiation to a target object. The high energy laser source is further designed such that a military combat of the target object is made possible by the laser radiation.

In the military environment, the control of target objects is known, inter alia, by the use of a high-energy laser. The high energy laser is part of an energy system and in particular a weapon system. It is also known, alternatively or additionally, to combat target objects with the aid of projectiles. Such a projectile is for example an ammunition or a missile.

A "SAL (coherent reception) SAL (Semi-Actives-Laser) target acquisition method" is known, for example, from US Pat DE 10 2007 014 256 A1 known. There, a laser seeker is proposed, which makes it possible to detect and evaluate continuous wave designator radiation, which in turn can only be detected by countermeasures triggering laser warning sensors very difficult. At the same time, the possibility is created to transfer information between designators and viewers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved power system, an improved weapon system and an improved use of a high energy laser source.

With regard to an energy system, the object is achieved by an energy system according to claim 1. Preferred or advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims, the following description and the accompanying drawings.

The energy system includes a high energy laser source. The laser source is designed to emit laser radiation towards a target object. "High energy" is to understand that the laser source generates laser radiation with a sufficiently high energy that a military combat of the target object is made possible by the laser radiation. A high-energy laser source thus has a high average power, in particular in the range of a few kilowatts. The energy system also includes a modulator. The modulator is designed for temporal modulation of the laser radiation according to a modulation pattern such that the laser radiation - in addition to the military combat - to illuminate the target object as part of a target tracking method is used.

The invention is based on the following observation: The military combat of a target object is known to take place by means of a high-energy laser and / or with a projectile which, e.g. directed by a "semi-active laser" method. A "projectile" in the sense of the invention is an ammunition and / or a missile. Here target designers are used, which are based on pulse lasers. The pulse durations are in the range of about 10 nanoseconds. Alternatively, corresponding projectiles are directed via a "passive homing" method. Alternatively, completely unguided projectiles are used.

The alternative energy to the high energy laser weapons are usually used when the use of the high-energy laser is insufficient to combat the target object. According to the invention, the use of a projectile can take place simultaneously and without delay for this case, without interrupting the control process with the high-energy laser. Because the fighting high-energy laser also serves as a marker laser for the target on the target object, so the radiated on the target object recognition pattern. Also, therefore, no further weapon system needs to be used that includes a conventional laser designer. The target tracking is already done by the high energy laser source by the laser beam is used to illuminate the target object as part of the target tracking method. A beam overlay between the laser radiation of the high energy laser source and another laser designer is not required. An additional target tracking unit for the second weapon in addition to the high energy laser is also not necessary, since the laser radiation of the high energy laser source naturally - namely for the purpose of combat - already as long as possible on the target shows or pursues this.

According to the invention, the laser radiation of the high-energy laser source is modulated in time, in particular used in a "quasi-cw" operation, and the target object with the modulated laser radiation illuminated. The radiation reflected back from the target object can then be detected, for example, by a - in particular imaging - sensor of a projectile and continuously evaluated by means of signal processing methods. Thus, directional information about the target object can be derived for the projectile.

According to the invention, an extension of the military application spectrum of the high energy laser source is made in that, in addition to the intended effect of directional energy exposure on the target object, there is a possibility of projectiles equipped with suitable sensors being directly and interference-proof to the target object through the modulated target designer instruct.

According to the invention, therefore, an energy-saving system with integrated semi-active control system is provided. In addition to targeting by means of directed energy action, a projectile can switch to a target object based on a sensor and combat it. For this purpose, the high-energy laser source or its laser radiation is modulated in time.

In operation, the high-energy laser source according to the invention thus also works as a laser designer.

In a preferred embodiment, the modulator is designed for modulation during combat. Target tracking and combat can thus be performed simultaneously on the target object. In particular, the fight against the use of the tracking procedure on the basis of modulation need not be interrupted.

In a preferred embodiment, the modulator is designed for temporal modulation of the power of the laser radiation. In other words, therefore, the laser emission of the high-energy laser source is modulated. Performance modulation is a simple and common method that is easy to do. The power modulation takes place in the quasi-cw operation of the laser source, ie that this permanently generates a basic power to which a temporally variable additional power is modulated. The additional power is only a fraction of the basic output in the one to two digit per mille range. The continuous power serves to combat the target object. The additional service serves the target marking.

In a preferred embodiment, the modulation pattern is changeable. In particular, the modulation pattern is programmable in the modulator. The high energy laser source can thus emit differently modulated laser radiation, for example to illuminate different target objects with different modulation patterns, in order to make them distinguishable again in target tracking methods.

In particular, the modulation is adjustable so that it is based on valid standards (STANAG - "Standardization Agreement" of the NATO member states) for laser designators.

In a further preferred embodiment, the modulation pattern is a target marking pattern of the target detection method. In particular, the targeting pattern is associated with the target object. The target object is thereby uniquely marked by the target marker pattern, e.g. Projectiles targeted at the specific target object. In addition to the target marking pattern, the spectral characteristic of the laser radiation is optionally additionally taken into account in the target detection method.

With regard to the weapon system, the object is achieved by a weapon system according to claim 6. The weapon system comprises an inventive energy district system. The weapon system also includes a target tracking unit. This is designed to align the laser radiation on the target object in the context of the target tracking method. The target tracking unit and the target tracking method are for directing the laser radiation of the high energy laser source on the target object or to hold on the target object, even if the target object moves.

In the event that, alternatively or additionally, a projectile is to be used to combat the target object, which is likewise to be instructed on the target object based on the back-reflected laser beam and the modulation pattern, the target tracking unit also serves for its targeting. In the weapon system, therefore, only a single target tracking unit is necessary for both the energy system and the projectile. In particular, this is independent of a projectile for the projectile so that existing projectors can be used without a target tracking unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the weapon system includes a monitoring unit. This is designed to monitor a given space area on there target object. In addition, the monitoring unit is designed to communicate the target object to the target tracking unit. The monitoring unit thus serves to detect a potential or arbitrary target object. When the target object is discovered, it transmits information regarding the location of the target object to the target tracking unit so that it can align the laser radiation of the high-energy laser source with the target object in order to illuminate it.

In a preferred embodiment, the weapon system includes a projectile that is assignable to the target object such that military combat of the target object by the projectile is enabled. The weapon system, in particular its projectile, contains a sensor unit. The sensor unit is designed to receive the laser radiation reflected by the target object in such a way that the targeted introduction of the projectile to the target object is made possible. Such a sensor is also called a "viewfinder" and serves to detect and evaluate the reflected radiation to determine the type, location and movement of the target object.

In a preferred variant of this embodiment, the sensor unit is an electro-optical, in particular an imaging sensor unit. By means of the sensor unit in question, detection and evaluation of the laser radiation reflected by the target object in the form of the modulated target signal generator is particularly simple.

In the context of the invention, therefore, a use of a high-energy laser source of an energy system according to the invention or of a weapon system according to the invention for illuminating the target object is used within the scope of the target tracking method.

The invention, including any preferred embodiments, is summarized as follows:

The laser unit, ie the high-energy laser source, is characterized in particular by the fact that its cw power for controlling certain classes of air, ground and sea targets as target objects under certain boundary conditions, eg sufficiently high irradiation time, is sufficient to destroy or to achieve a mission abort at the target object. On the other hand, the laser emission of the High-energy laser source, ie, the laser radiation, modulated in time, so that the time profile of the emitted laser power, so the laser radiation, in particular certain programmable forms can take. At the same time, a high average laser power can be maintained.

With a target tracking sensor system of a weapon system or a laser source, a target object can be tracked after its discovery. After target identification, the target can be illuminated with the laser radiation emitted by the high-energy laser source. The effect on the target object can be tracked via a suitable sensor. Additionally or alternatively, the target object can be fought by means of a projectile. To do this, the energy from the high energy laser source of the energy system, i. time-modulated laser radiation emitted by the laser unit. The projectile to be used is equipped with an electro-optical sensor which is sensitive to the modulated laser radiation, but which is preferably not necessarily imaging. The target marking is due to the defined temporal modulation - and in particular the spectral characteristics - the laser radiation highly selective.

In lock-on-before-launch mode, the sensor can deploy the projectile to the target by receiving reflected laser radiation there. The electro-optical sensor of the projectile has a large field of view, so that after firing the projectile the target object remains completely in the field of view. The projectile is directed into the target object based on the angular deviation determined by the electro-optical sensor, which is continuously irradiated by the high-energy laser source. The sensor is characterized by a high level of dynamics, so that the laser radiation reflected by the target object can be continuously recorded and evaluated by the integrated signal processing. Since the target lighting is independent of a launcher and the projectile itself is steered via the sensor, existing launcher can be used, which need not be specially adapted.

The invention is based in particular on a system which includes a sensor system for monitoring and tracking and a high-energy laser source (HEL). The system on which the invention is based contains a sensor system for monitoring a predetermined spatial area as well as for target tracking and a laser unit.

Figur 1

ein Waffensystem mit einem Energiewirksystem und einem Zielobjekt.

Further features, effects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying figures. This shows in a schematic outline sketch:

FIG. 1

a weapon system with an energy system and a target object.

FIG. 1 shows an energy system 2 with a high-energy laser source 4, which emits laser beam 6 in the form of a laser beam to a target object 8 during operation. By the irradiation of the target object 8 by means of the laser radiation 6, a military combat of the target object 8 takes place.

The energy system 2 includes a modulator 10, which causes a temporal modulation of the laser radiation 6 during operation. The temporal modulation takes place according to a symbolically indicated modulation pattern 12, so that the result is a laser radiation 6 in the form of a "quasi-cw" radiation. In other words, the power of the laser radiation 6 remains almost constant over time. The modulation leads only to slight variations in power, e.g. in the one to two digit percentage range.

Thanks to the modulation pattern 12, the irradiation of the target object 8 with the laser radiation 6 serves not only to combat it militarily, but also to illuminate the target object as part of a target tracking process. The modulation pattern 12 serves as a target designer. FIG. 1 shows the target object 8 at two different times in a movement through the space area 9. A first position is drawn, a later second position shown in dashed lines. Thanks to the target tracking method, the laser radiation 6 is always tracked to the target object 8 or held on this.

The energy-saving system 2 is part of a weapon system 14, which also contains a target-tracking unit 16 in addition to the energy-saving system 2. This serves to carry out the above-mentioned target tracking method, so as to follow the target object 8 in the movement through the space area 9 or to direct the laser radiation in the appropriate direction to permanently illuminate the target object. According to the target tracking method, the target tracking unit 16 determines the current position of the target object 8 in space and, together with the power system 2, effects the respective orientation of the laser radiation 6 on the target object 8. The respective position determination is indicated by dash-dotted lines.

The weapon system 14 also includes a monitoring unit 18 which serves to monitor the space area 9. The monitoring is represented symbolically by a monitoring cone 20. The monitoring unit 18 monitors the spatial area 9 in response to the occurrence of a target object 8 and if necessary notifies the target tracking unit 16 or the energy recovery system 2 that a corresponding target object 8 has been identified. Thereafter, the above-mentioned target tracking method starts and the illumination with the laser radiation 6 starts.

The weapon system 14 also includes a projectile 22. This can be assigned to the target object 8 such that a military combat of the target object 8 by the projectile 22 is made possible. The weapon system 14, in the exemplary embodiment more precisely the projectile 22, contains a sensor unit 24. This is suitable for receiving the laser radiation 26 reflected by the target object in such a way that the projectile instruction of the projectile 22 on the target object 8 is made possible. In other words, by receiving the reflected radiation 26, the sensor unit allows the target object 8 to be identified on the basis of the modulation pattern 12 and to determine its location in the spatial region 9. FIG. 1 shows a first position of the projectile 22 pulled out, a second later position shown in dashed lines on the way to the target object 8.

Altogether, therefore, the high-energy laser source 4 or its laser radiation 6 is used for illuminating the target object 8 in the context of the above-mentioned target tracking method in order to instruct the projectile on the target object 8 on the basis of the modulation pattern 12.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

Energy-control system

4

laser source

6

laser radiation

8th

target

9

space area

10

modulator

12

modulation pattern

14

weapon system

16

Target tracking unit

18

monitoring unit

20

surveillance cone

22

bullet

24

sensor unit

26

reflected laser radiation

Claims (10)

Energiewirksystem (2), with a high-energy laser source (4), which is designed to emit laser radiation (6) towards a target object (8) such that a military combat of the target object (8) by the laser radiation (6) is made possible .
characterized in that
the energy conversion system (2) contains a modulator (10) which is designed for temporal modulation of the laser radiation (6) according to a modulation pattern (12) such that the laser radiation (6) additionally serves to illuminate the target object (8) in the context of a target tracking method , Energy conversion system (2) according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the modulator (10) is designed for modulation during combat. Energy conversion system (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the modulator (10) is designed for temporal modulation of the power of the laser radiation (6). Energy conversion system (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the modulation pattern (12) variable, in particular in the modulator (10) is programmable, is. Energy conversion system (2) according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the modulation pattern (12) is a target marking pattern of the target tracking method, in particular linked to the target object (8). Weapon system (14),
characterized in that
the weapon system (14) includes an energy conversion system (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a target tracking unit (16) adapted to align the laser radiation (6) with the target object (8) as part of the target tracking process. Weapon system (14) according to claim 6,
characterized in that
the weapon system (14) includes a monitoring unit (18) adapted to monitor a predetermined space area (9) towards the target object (8) and to communicate the target object (8) to the target tracking unit (16). Weapon system (14) according to one of claims 6 to 7,
characterized in that
the weapon system (14) includes a projectile (22) which is assignable to the target object (8) so as to permit military combat of the target object (8) by the projectile (22), the weapon system (14), in particular its Projectile (22), a sensor unit (24) includes, which is adapted to receive from the target object (8) reflected laser radiation (26) such that the targeted introduction of the projectile (22) on the target object (8) is made possible. Weapon system (14) according to claim 8,
characterized in that
the sensor unit (24) is an electro-optical, in particular an imaging, sensor unit. Use of a high-energy laser source (4) of an energy-efficient system (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5 or of a weapon system (14) according to any one of claims 6 to 9 for illuminating the target object (8) as part of the target-tracking method.

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