GB2124570A

GB2124570A - An aircraft having launcher means

Info

Publication number: GB2124570A
Application number: GB08222034A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Denis Victor Butler
Original assignee: Plessey Co Ltd
Current assignee: Plessey Co Ltd
Priority date: 1982-07-30
Filing date: 1982-07-30
Publication date: 1984-02-22
Also published as: GB2124570B

Abstract

An aircraft (2) having launcher means (4) for launching stored devices (10) from the aircraft whilst the aircraft is in fight, the launcher means being so sited along the aircraft that the stored devices are launchable from the aircraft in a sideways direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An aircraft having launcher means This invention reiates to an aircraft having launcher means for launching stored devices from the aircraft whilst the aircraft is in flight.

Aircraft are well known having launching means for launching stored devices from the aircraft whilst the aircraft is in flight. Thus, for example, modern military high speed aircraft may need to dispense stored devices such for example as decoys, jammers, illuminators and inertial guided weapons. Hitherto, these stores have been deployed in forward looking launching sites in forward parts of the aircraft even although the stores do not need to be accurately aimed by the aircraft and they therefore do not need forward looking launching sites.

The known modern military aircraft also need to carry a multiplicity of weapons and decoys when acting in the role of weapon system platforms. In addition, the aircraft must carry various sensory and communication systems such for example as radios, and active and passive radars. The communication systems require antenna. It is essential for all this apparatus to be mounted in forward looking sites in a forward position on the aircraft and, for any given aircraft, there are only a limited possible number of such sites.

The present invention is based upon the realisation that it is not necessary to take up the limited forward looking sites for launcher means for launching stored devices. This is because the stored devices do not need to be accurately aimed by the aircraft and they therefore do not need forward looking launching sites.

Accordingly, this invention provides an aircraft having launcher means for launching stored devices from the aircraft whilst the aircraft is in flight, the launcher means being so sited along the aircraft that the stored devices are launchable from the aircraft in a sideways direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

Thus, for example, the stored devices may be launched from the aircraft in any plane that includes, or is parallel to, the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The stored devices may be launched at any desired angle in the chosen plane.

The launcher means may be sited at any desired position along the aircraft where there is available space. If there is vacant space towards the front of the aircraft then the launcher means may be positioned in this space. The launcher means can also be positioned towards the rear of the aircraft. The exact positioning of the launcher means will not matter because it will be so sited that the stored devices can be launched in the sideways direction.

The launcher means may be an open rack launcher or a launcher tube.

The launcher racks or launcher tubes can be mounted externally or incorporated in the fuselage or in any plane structures or fins, thereby leaving the usual weapon stations and sensor sites free for their required purpose.

When launched, the centre of gravity of the stores will travel on a vector resulting from the angle of launch relative to the aircraft axis, the muzzle velocity of the store, the forward speed of the aircraft and gravity. In the initial stages, gravity will be insignificant.

If the store has a fin unit or a similar device, it will 'weathercock' onto the vector direction.

Ballistic stores will fall away from and to the rear relative to the aircraft, although the balistic stores may have a forward component relative to the ground zero at release.

Powered stores, such for example as rockets, that continue to accelerate after leaving the launcher means will travel on a locus of changing vectors until the weathercocking is complete.

During this period, the powered stores must make sufficient distance from the aircraft centre line to clear the wings or any other part of the aircraft that may be ahead of the launch position of the powered stores.

The launch or muzzle velocity will be imparted to the stores by the launcher means. When a launcher tube is employed, it will have a closed end and the launcher tube can either launch a rocket or a similar device using its effluent gases.

Ballistic stores will require a closed launcher tube and a separate mortaring charge.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows typical launch from an aircraft in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 illustrates various positions of a decoy motor after launching.

Referring to Figure 1 , there is shown a high speed military aircraft 2 having a plurality of launcher means in the form of launcher tubes 4 sited at a rear part of the aircraft between its wings 6 and its tail 8. As can be seen, the launcher tubes 4 are facing in a sideways direction and they are thus above to launch a rocket weapon 10 in a sideways direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft 2. The rocket weapon 10 will be launched with sufficient velocity to just clear the extremity of the aircraft.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is illustrated a decoy mortar 12 being launched from an aircraft 2. The decoy mortar 12 is launched from the aircraft 2 in a normal to flight path and it weathercocks onto a vector of aircraft/launch speeds. Figure 2 illustrates four positions of the aircraft 2 and the dotted line 14 shows the locus of the decoy mortar 14 and the various positions of the decoy mortar 14 relative to the various positions of the aircraft 2.

The launch tubes in the aircraft 2 illustrated in both Figures 1 and 2 can be positioned within the fuselage so that no weapon stations are taken up.

Furthermore, the launch site can be positioned towards the rear of the aircraft as shown so that forward looking sites essential for weapons and sensor mounting stations are not taken up.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the stored devices can be other than the rocket weapon 10 or the decoy mortar 12, and the stored devices can be launched from positions other than the illustrated positions.

Claims

1. An aircraft having launcher means for launching stored devices from the aircraft whilst the aircraft is in flight, the launcher means being so sited along the aircraft that the stored devices are launchable from the aircraft in a sideways direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

2. An aircraft according to claim 1 in which the stored devices are launchable from the aircraft in any plane that includes, or is parallel to, the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

3. An aircraft according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the launcher means is an open rack launcher or a launcher tube.

4. An aircraft according to claim 3 in which the launcher racks or launcher tubes are mounted externally or incorporated in the fuselage or in any plane structures or fins, thereby leaving the usual weapon stations and sensor sites free for their required purpose.

5. An aircraft substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.