GB2029943A

GB2029943A - Method of attacking ground targets

Info

Publication number: GB2029943A
Application number: GB7928266A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
Current assignee: Rheinmetall Industrie AG
Priority date: 1978-09-13
Filing date: 1979-08-14
Publication date: 1980-03-26
Also published as: GB2029943B; SE7907307L; FR2436360A1; DE2839764A1

Abstract

A method of attacking a ground target 1 uses a target marking projectile 10 which is fired from weapon 9 at close range and which impacts the target to produce high temperature radiation. Subsequently a missile 13 is launched and this homes onto the target radiation guided by a seeker head 14. The missile 13 does not require active guidance from the firing point after launch. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method of attacking ground targets This invention relates to a method of attacking ground targets and to a means for carrying out the method, using a target marking means.

In one known method the target is illuminated by means of a laser and a weapon is used which is equipped with a device which responds to the radiation reflected from the target.

Other methods known operate by systems which can be compared to tracer bullets.

A disadvantage of these methods is the necessity of iiluminating the target during the whole attack phase, and the position of the laser and consequently also that of the adjacent weapon can be detected.

Sensors are also known which detect a target, for example an armoured vehicle, by means of its characteristic temperature radiation. In order to be able to respond to the small differences in temperature between target and environment the sensors require cooling to a temperature at least that of liquid nitrogen (77K).

The marking of a target at night by illumination is a disadvantage in that detection is probable before the start of the actual attack.

The object of this invention is to provide a method of attack which avoids the above mentioned disadvantages and which is simple.

According to this invention there is provided a method of attacking ground targets using separately located target marking means and weapon means guided by the marking means, wherein the target marking means comprises a body which emits a higher temperature radiation than that in the environment of the target is placed on the target and the weapon means is aimed at the emitted radiation from the target marking means and fired. This method can be used both by day and night.

Using a weapon for close range with a seeker head to detect the emitted radiation operation on the "Fire and Forget" principle can be effected and with a large calibre long range barrel weapon, particularly during darkness, no preparations are required which may be detectable at the target.

The invention is further explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows an attack on a tank by a "Fire and Forget" method using a missile, Figure la shows the missile used in Figure 1, and Figure 2 shows attack of a tank using a gun.

In both examples, the target marking is effected from a point remote from the actual attacking position of the combat weapon.

Referring to Figure 1, a target tank 1 is obscured behind trees 2 and infantry in fox-holes 3 guard the tank.from close combat. Behind cover 4, at long range from the tank 1, a marksman 5 has a weapon 5' for firing missiles 13 equipped with a seeker head 14. Near the target and remote from the weapon 5' a further marksman 8 is screened behind a group of bushes 7 from the tank 1 and infantry positions 3.

The marksman 8 is equipped with a target marking device 9 which he launches from relatively close range at the tank, so that a target marking missile 10 after covering a short distance 11 hits the tank 1 and emits radiation 12. Following this action the marksman 5 quickly brings the weapon 5' above the cover 4, fires at the tank 1 and immediately retreats behind the cover with the weapon. A sensor 15 disposed in the seeker head 14 (see Figure 1a) detects the radiation 12 and guides the missile 13 through a guidance unit 16 by means of a thrust nozzle 17 and a fin unit 18 along flight path 19 to strike the target tank 1.

Figure 2 shows a night-time situation. Atarget tank 20 lies behind a group of trees 21 and is protected by infantry. An attacking tank 22 with a gun 23 has a sensor 24 which is associated with a fire control and aiming device (not illustrated) and a radio receiving aerial 24', and is obscured behind trees 25 at medium range from the tank 20. A scout is in radio communication with the tank 22 and has located the tank 20 at a comparatively short range from the target site 26 and feeds to the tank 22 a position-coordinate related radio signal 31. From this the gun 23 is roughly aimed at the target. By means of a target marking device 27 a radiation emitting body 28 is fired along a flight path 29 to strike the tank 20 and then emits radiation 30. As a result of the pre-aiming, the radiation can immediately be used for precision aiming of the gun 23 by means ofthe sensor 24.The gun has an armourpiercing projectile 32 which follows flight path 33 to the tank 22.

In both the examples the emitting body 10 or 28 is in the form of a projectile which contains a pyrophoric substance, such as phoshorus, an alkali metal, cerium, mixed (misch) metal, magnesium, zirconium or a mixture of organic compounds thereof. By this means the emitted radiation has a considerably higher temperature than the environment of the target so that the sensor does not require cooling for activation.

As distinct from the above examples, the target marking can be made from the immediate vicinity of the weapon. Here, known measures can be taken to make recognition by the opponent of the target marking more difficult orto avoid it.

1. A method of attacking ground targets using separately located target marking means and weapon means guided by the marking means, wherein a target marking means comprising a body which emits a higher temperature radiation than that in the environment of the target is placed on the target and the weapon means is aimed at the emitted radiation from the target marking means and fired.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the target marking is effected remotely from the firing position of the weapon.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the target marking body is fired to impact the target.

4. Aweapon system for attacking ground targets by the method of Claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein means

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Method of attacking ground targets This invention relates to a method of attacking ground targets and to a means for carrying out the method, using a target marking means. In one known method the target is illuminated by means of a laser and a weapon is used which is equipped with a device which responds to the radiation reflected from the target. Other methods known operate by systems which can be compared to tracer bullets. A disadvantage of these methods is the necessity of iiluminating the target during the whole attack phase, and the position of the laser and consequently also that of the adjacent weapon can be detected. Sensors are also known which detect a target, for example an armoured vehicle, by means of its characteristic temperature radiation. In order to be able to respond to the small differences in temperature between target and environment the sensors require cooling to a temperature at least that of liquid nitrogen (77K). The marking of a target at night by illumination is a disadvantage in that detection is probable before the start of the actual attack. The object of this invention is to provide a method of attack which avoids the above mentioned disadvantages and which is simple. According to this invention there is provided a method of attacking ground targets using separately located target marking means and weapon means guided by the marking means, wherein the target marking means comprises a body which emits a higher temperature radiation than that in the environment of the target is placed on the target and the weapon means is aimed at the emitted radiation from the target marking means and fired. This method can be used both by day and night. Using a weapon for close range with a seeker head to detect the emitted radiation operation on the "Fire and Forget" principle can be effected and with a large calibre long range barrel weapon, particularly during darkness, no preparations are required which may be detectable at the target. The invention is further explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows an attack on a tank by a "Fire and Forget" method using a missile, Figure la shows the missile used in Figure 1, and Figure 2 shows attack of a tank using a gun. In both examples, the target marking is effected from a point remote from the actual attacking position of the combat weapon. Referring to Figure 1, a target tank 1 is obscured behind trees 2 and infantry in fox-holes 3 guard the tank.from close combat. Behind cover 4, at long range from the tank 1, a marksman 5 has a weapon 5' for firing missiles 13 equipped with a seeker head 14. Near the target and remote from the weapon 5' a further marksman 8 is screened behind a group of bushes 7 from the tank 1 and infantry positions 3. The marksman 8 is equipped with a target marking device 9 which he launches from relatively close range at the tank, so that a target marking missile 10 after covering a short distance 11 hits the tank 1 and emits radiation 12. Following this action the marksman 5 quickly brings the weapon 5' above the cover 4, fires at the tank 1 and immediately retreats behind the cover with the weapon. A sensor 15 disposed in the seeker head 14 (see Figure 1a) detects the radiation 12 and guides the missile 13 through a guidance unit 16 by means of a thrust nozzle 17 and a fin unit 18 along flight path 19 to strike the target tank 1. Figure 2 shows a night-time situation. Atarget tank 20 lies behind a group of trees 21 and is protected by infantry. An attacking tank 22 with a gun 23 has a sensor 24 which is associated with a fire control and aiming device (not illustrated) and a radio receiving aerial 24', and is obscured behind trees 25 at medium range from the tank 20. A scout is in radio communication with the tank 22 and has located the tank 20 at a comparatively short range from the target site 26 and feeds to the tank 22 a position-coordinate related radio signal 31. From this the gun 23 is roughly aimed at the target. By means of a target marking device 27 a radiation emitting body 28 is fired along a flight path 29 to strike the tank 20 and then emits radiation 30. As a result of the pre-aiming, the radiation can immediately be used for precision aiming of the gun 23 by means ofthe sensor 24.The gun has an armourpiercing projectile 32 which follows flight path 33 to the tank 22. In both the examples the emitting body 10 or 28 is in the form of a projectile which contains a pyrophoric substance, such as phoshorus, an alkali metal, cerium, mixed (misch) metal, magnesium, zirconium or a mixture of organic compounds thereof. By this means the emitted radiation has a considerably higher temperature than the environment of the target so that the sensor does not require cooling for activation. As distinct from the above examples, the target marking can be made from the immediate vicinity of the weapon. Here, known measures can be taken to make recognition by the opponent of the target marking more difficult orto avoid it. CLAIMS

4. Aweapon system for attacking ground targets by the method of Claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein means for detecting radiation from the body comprises a sensor in a seeker head which effects guidance of a missile carrying same to the target.

5. A weapon system for attacking ground targets by the method of Claim 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the weapon means includes a device for detecting the radiation from the body, the device comprising a sensor forming part of a fire control and aiming device system associated with the weapon.

6. Aweapon system as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the target marking means is a projectile which contains a pyrophoric substance.

7. The method of attacking ground targets substantially as herein described and as exemplified by Figure 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. Means for attacking ground targets substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 or 2 of the accompanying drawings.