GB2148465A

GB2148465A - Missile control systems

Info

Publication number: GB2148465A
Application number: GB08422836A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nader Dadabhoy Daroga
Original assignee: DAROGA SHIRIN NADER
Current assignee: DAROGA SHIRIN NADER
Priority date: 1983-10-20
Filing date: 1984-09-10
Publication date: 1985-05-30
Also published as: GB2148465B; GB8422836D0

Abstract

A military offensive or defensive missile control system comprises drones or pilotted aircraft transmitting photographs of the battle zone to a receiving station (15, 16, 17, 20) where the photographs are suitably coded, identified and stored. A transfer mechanism (21) transfers a target image to each of a number of cruise missiles in launchers (22) mounted on a transporter (24). The missile when launched follows a set trajectory based on flight data recorded in its auto-pilot. The target image is suitably processed during flight to generate images of the target in various lanes and differing angles of approach. On nearing the target area, the photograph received by the missile's optical system is processed likewise by a master computer which also matches the two sets of images so as to lock the missile on to the target. The control system is housed underground beneath a reinforced concrete bunker roof (11). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in military offensive and defensive missile control systems This invention relates to an integrated, military missile control system which can be used for attacking targets either for offence or defence, for example in repelling attack by massed tanks, destroying enemy lines of communications and supporting auxiliaries, ships and installations. There are several means of dealing with tanks and lines of communications etc. Mines, bazookas, long range heavy guns, air attack etc. The tanks are followed by infantry. If the tanks are destroyed in the first few minutes of the attack being launched, then the infantry would most likely be held back.

Formations of tanks could be spread over a large area. Each formation would possibly have up to 100 tanks, stretching up to several miles. Basis of destroying enemy lines of communications and supporting auxiliary, ships, industrial installations, is the same as for the tank.

According to the pressent invention the system comprises aircraft provided with suitable infra-red, radar, two or three-dimensional television camera combined with a television transmitter to transmit pictures/images and a computer, a cruise missile control station equipped with a receiver to receive television transmission and radio messages from the aircraft, including means to magnify the pictures/images received, segmenting and coding apparatus, transfer means to transfer image/ information derived from the pictures/images to a cruise missile firing control apparatus, and cruise missile firing apparatus firing cruise missiles provided with seeker guidance means.

Further details may be summarised as follows: (A) Pilotted or Pilotless and armed Aircrafts or drones.

One or more pilotted/pilotless, blind radio controlled planes or drones of-adequate specifications fitted with (a) Infra-red, radar or light amplification/ laser devices, and TV camera with capability to take pictures through smog, smoke, fog, rain, snow at high speed.

(b) Television transmitter to transmit pictures to control station.

(c) Computer to analyse and transmit relevant battle area data like speed and direction, number of tanks, transport vehicles etc.

(B) Mobile or fixed missile station comprising: (a) Pilot/s operating control system for the drone and receiving radio messages.

(b) Receiver to receive TV transmission and battle area data from the reconnaisance aircraft.

Analyse such data for use by the Commandant.

(c) Magnifier to magnify the pictures/ images electronically to required magnification.

(d) Coding to code segments of pictures/ images before or after magnification.

(e) Identification and analysing system for each segment with capability to reject unacceptable segments.

(f) Memory system to retain accepted pictures/images and battle area data with playback facility.

(g) Transfer system to transfer the coded and accepted pictures to cruise missiles.

(h) Cruise missiles with seeker guidance technology using infra-red or millimetre wave system and fitted with conventional high explosive and self destruct capability war heads.

(i) Manual or semi automatic firing system.

(j) Transporters or launching Pads for the missiles.

(k) Necessary command personnel with communication facilities with Command Headquarters.

The system is illustrates by way of example by the accompanying diagrammatic drawing Fig. (1) where 10 indicates ground level and 11 is a reinforced concrete roof of a bunker in which most of the system is housed.

A pilot operating control system 14 controls the drone and receives radio messages via the receiver. A receiver 1 5 receives messages from the drone via an outside aerial and relays the control system 14. The pictures/images received by the receiver 1 5 are magnified by the magnifying system 1 6 and segments of the magnified pictures are coded and identified at 1 7 with respect to each missile by one or more of the following methods.

(a) General configuration of enemy tanks/ objects.

(b) Overall size and size of important components.

(c) Triangulation method between three adjacent tanks/objects.

(d) Identification by serial numbers painted on the tanks/objects.

(e) Moving or stationary targets.

(f) Relative position of moving parts or parts of Track Components of tank or other objects.

The coded pictures are transmitted to a memory and playback system 20 connected with a transfer system 21 for transferring allocated messages/images and data to each of the cluster of missiles (in turn) loaded on to the transporters and cruise missile launchers 22. A missile control station 23 is connected to the transfer system 21.

The background technology in computer electronics, optical devices, radar, TV, laser, infra-red etc. has been developed and applied to current weapons as can be seen from various publications on Defence Weapons by Macmillan and others and in particular the following techniques in respect of delivery of the missiles and the matching of the allocated target pictures/images in each cruise missile's memory system, to achieve locking of the missile on to the target.

Technique (A) A set trajectory 77 for the Cruise missile based on computerised flight data independent of a fix from space satellite is typified by Fig. (2).

Technique (B) Matching of the pictures/images of the allocated target by the following technique typified by Fig. (3) and Fig. (4).

(i) Computerised application of photogrammetry to obtain scaled outline/image of the target from the initial photograph in the memory system of each missile. In Fig. (3) the scaled elevation 70 and the plan view 71 of the target are produced from photograph 74 of the target before destruction, by the application of photogrammetry. The bombed target is at 75.

(ii) Automatic application of the Computer Aided Design technology with or without video facility to generate and store outline images of the target in differeing vertical planes and at differing angles of impact of warheads.

(iii) Computerised matching of the stored, allocated images with the inflight images from the missile's optical system using methods described in (i) and (ii) above.

(iv) Locking of the missile on to this target when the two images match, by giving appropriate signals to missile auto-pilot.

In Fig. (4) the photograph/image of the allocated target 77 taken by the drone is stored in missile memory box 78 along with the flight data in auto-pilot 79 through the agency of the transfer system 21 and the missile control system 23. This is done before the missile is fired . During the flight of the missile, the stored ordinary photography/ im,age of the target is processed by computerised photogrammetry system 81 to obtain scaled outline image 77 which is further processed by Computer Aided Design terminal 82 to generate images in differing vertical plane 95 and at differing angle of impact 97 of warheads. These images are stored in Computer 86. Optical system 90 is operated when the missile approaches target area. Magnifier 92 magnifies the pictures/images. With the help of information stored before firing the missile in Computer 91 through the agency of the Transfer System 21 and the missile control system 23, the missile is positioned to line up with the allocated target by operating auto-pilot 79 and flight controllers 80. The technique used for initial line-up is given on page 3 under coding and identification.

The incoming images of the specified target are processed through computerised system 81-82 and the master computer 88.

The computer 88 and memory system 86 are inter-linked to enable the master computer 88 to match the images and relay signals to auto-pilot 79. Flight Controllers 80 are actuated to lock the missile on to the target.

This process is repeated in turn for each missile fired by the Controller either automatically or manually.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Improvements in military offensive and defensive missile control systems provided with:-

1. One or more pilotted/pilotless, blind radio controlled planes or drones of adequate specification fitted with: (a) Infra-red, radar, or light amplification/ laser devices and TV camera with capability to take pictures through smog, smoke, fog, rain, snow at high speed.

(b) Television Transmitter to transmit pictures to control station.

(c) Computer to analyse and transmit relevant battle area data like speed and direction, number of tanks, transport, vehicles etc.

2. Mobile of fixed missile station provided with: (a) Pilot/s operating control system (14) for the drone and receiving radio messages.

(b) Receiver (1 5) to receive TV transmission and battle area data from the reconnaisance aircraft with capacity to analyse such data for use by the Commandant.

(c) Magnifier (16) to magnify the pictures/ images electronically to the required magnification.

(d) Coding device (1 7) to code segments of pictures/images before or after magnification.

(e) Idenitification and analysing system (17) for each segment with capability to reject unacceptable segments.

(f) Memory system (20) to retain accepted pictures/images and battle area data with playback facility.

(g) Transfer system (21) to transfer the coded and accepted pictures to cruise missiles.

(h) Cruise missiles (22) with seeker guidance technology using infra-red or millimeter wave system and fitted with conventional high explosive and self-destruct capability war heads.

(i) Manual or semi-automatic firing system (23).

(j) Transporters (24) or launching pads for the missiles.

2. Improvements relating to a missile control system as claimed in 1 and in which Coding and Identification process is done on the basis of one or more of the following methods: (a) General configuration of enemy Tanks/ objects.

(b) Overall size and size of important components.

(c) Triangulation method between three adjacent Tanks/objects.

(d) Identification by serial numbers painted on the Tanks/objects.

(e) Moving or stationary targets.

(f) Relative position of moving parts or parts of Track components of taks or other objects.

3. Improvements relating to a missile control system as claimed in 1 or 2 provided with an underground bunker (11) or provided with mobile Transporters with or without underground bunker (11).

4. Improvements relating to a missile control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims having outside aerial and all equipment in the bunker electrically inter-connected as required and connected to a master output terminal (27) to which missiles (22) are connected through the respective Transporter terminal.

5. Improvements relating to a missile control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having the necessary water, lighting and electric power supply and other facilities for the maintenance of equipment and personnel operating the missile system.

6. Improvements relating to a missile control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims having a set trajectory (77) for the cruise missile.

7. Improvements relating to a missile control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims having a computerised application of photogrammetry (81).

8. Improvements relating to a missile control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims having application of the Computer Aided Design technology (82) and memory store (86).

9. Improvements relating to a missile control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims having each missile fitted with additional items (relating to the missile system) such as memory box (78), auto-pilot (79), flight controllers (80), optical system (90), magnifier (92), master computer (88) and flight data computer (91). Other requirements like engine, fuel and tanks, warheads with high explosives, detonating devices, self destruct devices, stabilisers etc are provided in the usual manner.

10. Improvements relating to a missile control system as claimed in any of the preceding claims having all equipment in each missile system electrically interconnected as required.

11. Improvements relating to a missile control system substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.