GB2167536A - Attacking targets with submunitions - Google Patents

Abstract

It is desired to reduce the attack range 15 and minimise the scatter radius 14 when attacking target objects 4 by means of submunitions 2 which discharge projectile-forming liners from hollow charges or eject clusters of small munition articles upon target acquisition by sensor 6. Accordingly, when the submunition 2, simultaneously rotating and descending, detects a target 4 for the first time at a relatively great height H, transverse motion 17 is superimposed on the descent motion 16, whereby the submunition approaches along an inclined glide path 19. The transverse motion 17 may be dependent upon the original acquisition height H. Circuitry is provided whereby the sensor 6, upon acquiring a target, is switched off and a propulsion mechanism, e.g. an impulse charge or a segmented braking parachute, is operated to cause the shift 17. The sensor is switched on again after a steadying vertical motion 16.1, and a trigger is set so that detonation occurs when the target is again acquired by the sensor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of and device for attacking target objects by means of submunition The invention relates to a method in accordance with the definition of the species of claim 1 and to a device in accordance with the definition of the species of claim 9.

The measures in accordance with the species are known from German Patent No. 23 53 566 or respectively as the SADARM system. Each of several submunitions jettisoned from a carrier projectile over a target area falls revolving into the target area and scans this at a constructionally predetermined effective angle for a target object that is to be attacked. Upon acquisition of the target object, the charge of the submunition is detonated and fired in the acquisition direction of the instantaneously acquired target object to attack same. As combat charge the submunition is normally equipped with a warhead in the form of a hollow charge with a projectile-forming insert.It is problematical, however, that upon a critical target distance being exceeded the combat effect of such a projectile-forming charge rapidly decreases, because the flight properties thereof become unstable over fairly long attack ranges, and can thereby no longer take effect in the target object. This critical limiting range for effective use of projectile-forming charges is, in the case of submunition, often additionally shortened in that the proper motion of the submunition upon the descent into the target area detrimentally influences the projectile formation, from the hollow-charge insert, upon detonation of the warhead.

In recognition of these factors, the problem underlying the invention is to provide a method and a device of the kind in accordance with the species which, while retaining the fundamental submunition concept, lead to a considerable increase in the effectiveness with respect to the successful attacking of a target object, without a substantial increase in the expenditure in munition technology respects.

In accordance with the invention this problem is essentially solved in that the method in accordance with the definition of the species of claim 1 or respectively the device in accordance with the definition of the species of claim 9 additionally have the partial features of the characterising parts thereof.

Thus, in accordance with this solution, provision is made for not yet attacking the target object immediately from the great range upon the first acquisition by the submunition descending into the target area; but of carrying out the attack only when, and accordingly under optimised factors from shorter range, the submunition is positioned more closely over this once acquired target object.For this approach in the vertical and horizontal direction, the natural descent movement along the vertical into the target area and the knowledge, afforded from the sensor acquisition, regarding the displacement direction relative to the target is utilised; by there being superimposed on the descent movement a transverse movement which is orientated in the direction in which the target object has for the first time been acquired from - for a sufficiently successful attack - still too great a range.Since from the sensor information, taking into account the effective direction of the submunition, the height and lateral displacement of the submunition relative to the position of the target object in the target area can be readily ascertained, by way of the scale magnitude andlor the duration of the transverse movement superimposed on the vertical descent movement, the glide path, inclined relative to the vertical, towards the once acquired target object is in the same way determinable as the movement duration along this glide path, in other words the height difference, to be overcome in this respect, for the height approach to the target object in the target area.This approach, ensuing along the inclined glide path, to the target object is limitable in such an attack residual height above the target area that the effective-direction scanning path of the sensor and thus of the submunition still circumscribes that acquisition area in the target area from which the target object acquired at the start of the gliding movement cannot migrate during the timespan for this transverse shift if a migration or escape speed, which is typical in a system-dedicated manner for the target object specifically of interest, is taken as a basis.Thus then the aperture cone of the submunition effective direction, as a result of lateral shift of the submunition over the once acquired target object under height approach to this, is optimised to the escape radius of the target object and thus ensures favourable attack possibility with the combat charge of the submunition.

Advantageously the sensor of the submunition is switched off after first-time acquisition of a target object in order to prevent, during the lateral movement over the target area, and by reason of the wobbling movement of the submunition caused by the transverse shift, still other target objects being acquired by the sensor and possibly leading to the triggering of the combat charge before the transverse displacement over the target object acquired at the beginning and now solely of actual interest has taken place.For the same reason following on the transverse shift, in other words following on the movement along the inclined glide path, advantageously there is additionally a steadying descent movement, so that again stable movement conditions of the submunition body prevail before the sensor is switched on again; in order then upon next-time acquisition of the target, now situated closer, to trigger the combat charge.

Whereas, in the interests of optimum approach to the target object, the transverse movement that is to be superimposed transiently on the vertical sinking movement is advantageously dimensioned proportionately to the instantaneous height upon first-time acquisition of the target object, it is not necessary to vary also the glide angle, upon the transition from the initial vertical into the vertical through the target object, as a function of the initial acquisition height; an at all times constantly inclined glide path does indeed yield, for greater initial acquisition heights as compared with optimised conditions, a too great glide angle relative to the vertical and thus a somewhat superelevated attack height after conclusion of the transverse shift - which is however even advantageous in view of the fact that the locating factors at great acquisition height are inexact, and a scanning radius, resulting therefrom and dimensioned too narrowly, is reliably avoided after the transverse shift from a great initial height by somewhat superelevated attack height In the event that the braked vertical descent of the jettisoned submunition into the target area is effected by means of a braking parachute, the transverse shift can be simply realised in that, upon firsttime acquisition of a target that is to be attacked, the precisely diametrically opposed panel segment of the parachute is blasted away; with the result that the passage of air there brings about a transverse negative lift of the parachute - carrying the rotating submunition with space-constant descent - in the direction of the just acquired target object. This transverse negative lift is cancelled again, and the descent along the then achieved vertical line continued, in that, after a transverse-shift timespan determined in a height-dependent manner, also the diametrically opposed panel segment of the parachute is blasted away and again symmetrical sinking conditions are thereby afforded.

Additional further developments and alternatives as well as further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the sub-claims and from the following description of a basic exemplified embodiment, shown in a highly simplified manner in the drawings along with a restriction to that which is essential, of a preferred realisation of the method in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1 shows in lateral elevation representation (with perspective consideration of the target object) the descent of submunition with first acquisition of the target object at different heights and accordingly varied lateral shift of the submunition in the direction over the target object; Figure 2 shows in top plan view a descent parachute, with segments which can be separated out in a directed manner for the defined transverse movement of the submunition; and Figure 3 shows in symbolically simplified block diagram representation a device in accordance with the invention for performing the method explained with reference to Figure 1/Figure 2.

A carrier projectile 1, for example an artillery shell or a rocket, conveys a number of submunitions 2 into a great height over a target area 3 in which target objects 4 to be attacked by means of the submunition 2 have been detected or are to be expected. Attacking thereof by this submunition 2 is effected by means of the charge 5 thereof either indirectly or directly, as soon as a target object 4 that is to be attacked has been acquired in the target area 3 by a sensor 6 with which the submunition 2 is equipped.

To be understood here by indirect attack by the submunition 2 is that the sensor 6, upon acquisition of a target object 4, detonates a charge which serves as propelling charge or as ejection charge for a number of small munition articles which for their part are equipped with small combat charges and are discharged in scattered or small-shot fire in the direction of the target object 4. On the other hand, to be understood by direct attack in the present case is that the charge 5 of the submunition 2 directly represents the attack or effective charge thereof, namely more especially as a combat charge, acting over a certain distance to the target object 4, with a projectile-forming shaped-charge insert.

In the interests of a good hit effect, the scatter area, covered by the small-shot fire, in the target area 3 is, in the case of the indirect attack of a target object 4, not to be too large; whereas, in the event of the direct attack with a projectile-forming combat charge, equally the distance to the target object 4 is not to be too great, in order to avoid if possible instabilities upon the projectile motion and a reduction, resulting therefrom, in the hit effect.

Therefore it is not yet upon first-time acquisition of a target object 4 that the charge for the direct or indirect attack thereof is immediately detonated. On the contrary, initially there is effected a quasi-defined approach of the submunition 2 to the target object 4 just - for the first time - acquired and to be attacked without delay.

For the dimensioning and effecting of this approach to the acquired target object 4 in good approximation a start can be made from the fact that the submunition 2 ejected from the carrier projectile 1 descends approximately along a vertical line 7 and with a constant speed of fall into the target area 3; after the ejected submunition 2 has achieved approximately stable motion conditions, because more especially its carrier element 8 - preferably a parachute 10 which is fastened by means of supporting ropes 9 to the submunition 2 and which can be deployed after ejection from the carrier projectile 1 - is put into operation.Preferably the sensor 6, which is for the acquisition and possibly also for the selection of target objects 4 orientated in the effective direction 11 of the submunition charge 5 (or at any rate closely adjacently parallel to this effective direction 11), still remsins put out of action until the stable descent motion conditions of the submunition 2 have occurred; and moreover possibly a maximum preset operational height above the target area 5 is fallen below, in order to ensure as far as possible defined detection conditions with favourable information transmission factors between target objects 4 and the sensor 6.

Through the constructional and possibly dynamic factors of the submunition 2, and possibly its suspension from the descent carrier element 8, the submunition 2 and thus also its sensor 6 carries out an approximately continuous rotary motion about the descent vertical line 7, with a constant effective angle a of the effective direction 11 relative to the vertical line 7. From this it results that from the submunition 2 in the target area 3 a - in practice elliptically distorted - spiral scanning path 12, around the point of intersection 13 of the vertical line 7 through the plane of the target area 3 as central point of rotation, is covered and information regarding a target object 4 which is swept by this scanning path 12 can be picked up by the (active or passive) locating installation of the sensor 6 for a target detection and possi bly target classification.The mean radius 14 of the scanning path 12 becomes, by reason of the constant effective angle a, with the descent of the submunition 2 to a 'esser height H' above the plane of the target area 3, smaller, as is readily evident from the trigonometrical conditions shown in Figure 1.

The distance 15, given upon first-time acquisition of a target object 4, between it and the submunition 2 along the effective direction 11 thereof is to be further reduced before the charge 5 is detonated for the indirect or direct attack specifically of this target object 4. For this, such a force action is brought about on the submunition 2 that there is superimposed on the descent motion 16 a transverse motion 17, with a transverse component in the direction of the effective direction 11 - namely of the instantaneous orientation of this effective direction 11 upon first-time acquisition of the target object 4 at the height H. In accordance with the forces parallelogram 18, the submunition 2 therefore no longer moves along the vertical line 7, but along a glide path 19 at a glide angle y relative to the vertical line 7.By appropriate setting (of the minimum amount) of the transverse motion 17, in relation to the constant vertical descent motion 16, it is ensured that the glide angle y is greater than the constructionally preset effective angle a; namely so that actually the submunition 2 can move along the glide path 19 as far as over the target object 4 even when this continues to move in the plane of the target area 3 in the direction of the transverse motion 17 out of the scanning path 12, as taken into account in Figure 1.

During the initiation and performance of the transverse motion 17, advantageously the sensor 6 is switched off again; in order to avoid the fact that it by reason of overtravelling the target area 3 - and more especially also by reason of the pendulum movements of the submunition 2 which are caused by the transverse acceleration - now acquires still further target objects 4 than the target object 4 just acquired at the height H, to which the submunition body 2 is now to be brought up optimally to increase the hit effect along the glide path 19 to shorten the attack range 15.1 in the vertical and transverse direction.

For the same reason the sensor 6 preferably initially still remains switched off when the transverse motion 17 is finished, so that along the now achieved vertical line 7.1 another descent motion 16.1 links up as steadying phase for the oscillation damping of the submunition 2 with its sensor 6.

Only now, when the submunition 2 has approached with respect to the original acquisition height H by the height difference dh to the plane of the target area 3 with the target object 4 and thus to an attack height H.1, is the sensor 6 switched on again; and the charge 5 for the attack released, as soon as the next passage of the scanning path 12.1 through the target object 41(4) is effected.Since the acquisition characteristic of the sensor 6 - contrary to the symbolically simplified representation in Figure 1 - is not ideally narrow, but is fanned out conically along the effective direction 11, the scanning path 12 actually describes in the target area 3 in strip-shaped manner on both sides of the path curve shown in Figure 1 a radially expanded broad spiral path, so that target objects 41(4) can be acquired and attacked even when they are not disposed exactly on the idealised scanning path 12.

The transverse motion 17 and thus the glide path 19 are preferably to be dimensioned in such a way that during this lateral shift of the submunition 2 the initially acquired target object 4 has still not left the acquisition region of the scanning path 12.1 even when, until the attack height H.1 is reached, it accomplishes a migratory movement 20 in the plane of the target area 3. The maximum speed of such a migratory movement 20 is, for typical target objects 4 of interest, system-dictatedly given and known. For optimum adaptation of the scanning radius 14.1 to the maximum possible migratory movement 20 thus, since the effective angle a of the submunition 2 is constructionally preset, the attack height H.1 is to be adapted to the necessary timespan for the transverse motion 17 along the glide path 19, including the steadying descent 16.1.Optimum conditions with respect to this adaptation and the positioning of the submunition 2 over the previously obliquely acquired target object 4 emerge if the degree of the transverse motion 17 is made dependent upon the instantaneous height H upon first-time acquisition of the target object 4 to be attacked. For this, the magnitude of the transverse component of the glide path 19, in other words of the transverse motion 17, can be selected in a height-dependent manner, with constantly preset timespan for the swinging into the steadying descent motion 16.1. However, it is in respect to apparatus simpler to cause a constant acceleration to act in the direction of the transverse motion 17 over a variable timespan namely proportional to the initial acquisition height H and then to cancel same again for the transition into the steadying descent motion 16.1.

Basically also the duration of the calming descent motion 16.1 can be made dependent upon the initial acquisition height H. The corresponding expenditure cn apparatus and control has, however, proved to be not necessary; i.e., after conclusion of the effect of the transverse motion 17 a constant period of time for the steadying descent motion 16.1 is predetermined, after expiry of which the sensor 6, of the submunition 2.1 transversely offset over the target object 4/(4), is switched on again.

The scanning path 12.1 now reached thus covers, taking into account the possible migratory movement 20 of the target object 4 acquired at the height H, the entire region in the target area 3 in which the target object 4/(4) detected at that time and now to be attacked from reduced range 15.1 can still be found. In this way optimum attack factors by means of the charge 5 are achieved.

From triangular geometry it can be derived that with a constant duration of time for the steadying descent motion 16.1 irrespective of the initial acquisition height H an optimum transverse displacement 21 (out of the initial vertical line 7 in the target area 3 to the shifted vertical line 7.1 through the firstly acquired target object 4) is reached when the glide angle y relative to the vertical line 7, and thus the amount of the transverse motion 17, with reduced height H' of the first-time acquisition of a target object 4' (see Figure 1) is enlarged. The expenditure on apparatus for guaranteeing such a height-dependent variation of the glide angle y has, however, proved not to be necessary.This is because by reason of the fairly severe locating inaccuracies from a fairly great acquisition height H anyway a higher than the geometrically optimised attack height H.1 is to be striven for; in order to ensure that despite these initial inaccuracies the migratory movement 20 of the target object 4 cannot leave the region of the scanning path 12.1. Accordingly thus the glide angle y is advantageously fixedly preset, orientated at the lowest first-acquisition height H' coming into consideration under practical factors, and also maintained for greater first-acquisition height H; in these the glide angle y is thereby greater than a glide angle y which is necessary in a height-dependently-optimised manner and which is indicated in dot-dash lines in Figure 1.

If, by reason of the kinematic factors of the descent motion of the submunition body 2 and of the migratory movement 20 of a target object 4, amountwise slight transverse motions 17 for the position of the submunition 2 over the target object 4 suffice, it can be sufficient to provide impulse charges 23 as driving mechanism 22 directly on the reverse side of the submunition 2, in other words opposite to the direction of the transverse motion 17. Of these, upon the first acquisition of the target object 4 a number, which is proportional to the acquisition height H, is detonated.This impulse introduction in the direction of the transverse motion 17 must however be effected very powerfully and briefly, so that, by reason of the rotational motion of the submunition 2, a spiral migration in other directions (out of the plane of the representation of Figure 1) is not too strongly superimposed, so that the desired approach to the target object 4 is thus actually effected in a short timespan available depending on the rotary speed of the submunition 2.

It is therefore as a rule more expedient to suspend the submunition 2 together with its sensor 6 by way of a rotary coupling 24 to a carrier element which is aligned in a space-stable manner and to equip the carrier element 8 with a propulsion mechanism 22; which directionally orientated, namely in accordance with the orientation of the effective direction 11 upon acquisition of the target object 4 in this direction, can be activated for the transverse motion 17.

For this, the propulsion mechanism 22 on the carrier element 8 which is orientated in a spacefast manner, for example a parachute 10, can consist of a number of propulsion mechanisms which are orientated horizontally in a star-shaped manner. That one of these propulsion mechanisms which upon acquisition of a target object 4 is orientated precisely in the effective direction 11 is - by way of a switchover mechanism in the rotary coupling 24 - detonated for a timespan which is proportional to the acquisition height H, irrespective of the orientation, changing thereafter, of the submunition 2 relative to the carrier element 8.

In apparatus respects it is even simpler in the case of a parachute 10 as the carrier element 8 to fasten the arrangement of the parachute segments 25 (see the top-view basic representation in accordance with Figure 2) so as to be detachable panelwise - in other words individually - by way of (for example pyrotechnical) separating mechanisms 26. Now, by way of the rotary coupling 24 between the space-bound parachute 10 and the submunition 2 rotating thereunder, it is ensured that upon first acquisition of a target object 4 a segment 25 which lies diametrically opposed to this instantaneous orientation of the effective direction 11 is, by controlling of its separating mechanism 26, separated out.The passage of air through this opened parachute segment brings about an unsymmetrical supporting behaviour of the parachute to the effect that it drifts away in the diametrically opposite direction, and thus in the direction of the desired transverse motion 17; irrespective of the fact that the submunition 2 (now with the sensor 6 switched off) continues to carry out its rotary motion about the instantaneous vertical direction.This drift in the direction of the acquired target object 4, in other words the transverse motion 17, is, for the transition into the steadying descent motion 16.1 after a timespan which is again proportional to the acquisition height H, stopped in that diametrically opposed to the opened parachute segment now likewise a segment 25.1 is blasted out; which is why now again symmetrical supporting behaviour of the parachute 10 and thus the desired vertical descent movement 16.1 occurs. This is now effected indeed with a greater descent speed than until the reaching of the acquisition height H, because the supporting surface of the parachute 10 is reduced.The altered supporting and descent behaviour is, however, constructionally preset by way of the parachute dimensioning, in other words can be taken into account for the performance of the transverse motion 17 by an appropriately large glide angle y with a short transverse-shift timespan; in order, in the interests of a still sufficiently great attack radius 14.1, not to fall below the attack height H.1.

In accordance with Figure 3, a device for carrying out the method in accordance with the invention has substantially inside the submunition 2 a sensor 6, in the case of which it is a matter of a passive or preferably - of an active (in other words reflection) location finding installation on the basis of microwave andlor infrared radiation energy. Advantageously a switch-on transmitter 27 is provided which switches on the sensor 6 only as a function of specified factors, or in a programme-controlled manner, after the ejection of the submunition 2 from its carrier projectile 1 (see Figure 1); in any event only after achievement of stable descent factors for correct mode of operation of the sensor 6. By way of a bistable switch ing stage 28 the sensor 6 remains switched on until it detects for the first time a target object 4 that is to be attacked.It now supplies on the one hand an object signal 29 and on the other hand a displacement signal 30. The object signal 29 on the one hand switches the switching stage 28 back and thus initially switches the sensor 6 off again and on the other hand sets a starting circuit 31 for a propulsion mechanism 22 for the initiation of the transverse motion 17 (see Figure 2).In the exemplified case in accordance with Figure 2 this means that by detonating a separating mechanism 26 that parachute segment 25 is burst away which causes the desired transverse motion 17; in which respect this direction is ascertained at the instant of the occurrence of the object signal 29 at the rotary coupling 24 and is retained in a direction store 32 irrespective of further relative rotary motion between the submunition 2 and its carrier element,8, in order after expiry of the transverse-shift timespan to burst off with the opposite separating mechanism 26.1 the appropriate segment 25.1, for the return to symmetrical supporting behaviour and vertical sinking behaviour of the parachute 10.

When this timespan has expired, contains the information of the shift signal 30 according to the geometrical parameters (for the descent and transverse motions 16, 17 as well as for the effective angle a) and in accordance with the acquisition height H above the target object 4. This height H is ascertainable for example directly from the reflection-location mode of operation of the sensor 6 or indirectly from its passive mode of operation, orientated on an otherwise preset reference height.The shift signal 30 sets a time member 33, for the reset of the starting circuit 31 and for the switching on again of the sensor 6 by way of a steadying time transmitter 34, in order - in the exemplified case shown in accordance with Figure 2/Figure 3 - also to blast away the segment 25.1 orientated in the direction of the transverse motion when, by reason of the shift time that has elapsed, approximately the vertical line 7.1 extending through the target object 4 is reached. At the same time thus a trigger gate 35 is prepared, by way of which the charge 5 is detonated when the target object 4/(4) that is to be attacked is acquired anew by the sensor 6, switched on again, in the now optimally shortened attack range 15.1 along the effective direction 11.

List of reference symbols a Effective angle (of 11; 5, 6) y Glide angle (19 relative to 7) H Acquisition height (of 4 by means of 6) dh Height difference (between H and H.1 along 19-16.1) -.1 Parameters for the attack factors after the transverse shift (from 7 over 4) Factors for the first acquisition height H' reduced compared with H (-) Target object (4), migrated out of the acquisition position during the transverse shift, to the attack acquisition point in time.

1 Carrier projectile (with several 2) 2 Submunition (ejected from 1 over 3) 3 Target area (with 4) 4 Target object (in 3) 5 Charge (in 2 for attacking 4) 6 Sensor (in 2 for the acquisition of 4) 7 Vertical line (in 3 through 2) 8 Carrier element (for braked sinking of 2 from 1 towards 3) 9 Supporting rope (between 2 and 10) 10 Parachute (as 8 on 2) 11 Effective direction (of 5/6 in 2; inclined relative to 7 by a) 12 Scanning path (of 11/16 around 7 in 3) 13 Point of intersection (of 7 through 3 in the centre of 12) 14 Radius (of 12 about 13) 15 Range (of 2/5 along 11 towards 4/(4)) 16 Descent motion (of 2 along 7) 17 Transverse motion (of 2 relative to 7 parallel to 3 in the direction of 11 towards 4) 18 Motion parallelogram (for 19 from 16 and 17) 19 Glide path (of 2 under the influence of 17, inclined by y relative to 7) 20 Migratory movement (of 4 towards (4) during 19-16.1 of 2) 21 Transverse shift (of 2 from 7 towards 7.1) 22 Propulsion mechanism (on 2 or 8 for 17/21) 23 Impulse charge (on 2 as 22) 24 Rotary coupling (between 2 and 8/10) 25 Sectors (of 10) 26 Separating mechanisms (for 25 from 10) 27 Switch-on transmitter (for 6) 28 Switching stage (between 27/31 and 6) 29 Object signal (from 6 upon acquisition of 4/(4)) 30 Shift signal (from 6 according to H) 31 Starting circuit (behind 6i30 for 22) 32 Direction store (for 22 on 24 between 2 and 8) 33 Time member (between 6/30 and 31) 34 Steadying time transmitter (between 31 and 28-6 for 16.1) 35 Trigger gate (for 5 at 2.1 above 4/(4))

Claims (12)

1. A method of attacking target objects by means of submunition which is ejected over the target area and which descends into the target area and releases its charge when its sensor acquires a target object in the effective direction, characterised in that, upon first-time acquisition of a target object the charge is still not released, but on the contrary a transverse motion in the acquisition direction of the target object is superimposed on the descent motion of the submunition.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterised in that during the superimposition of the transverse motion the sensor of the submunition is switched off.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that even after termination of the superimposition of the transverse motion the sensor still remains switched off for a steadying descent timespan.

4. A method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the superimposed transverse motion according to its scale magnitude andor its duration is selected proportional to the height of the submunition over the acquired target object upon commencement of the transverse motion.

5. A method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensor upon firsttime acquisition of a target object starts up a propulsion mechanism which thenceforth acts in this direction for a transverse-shift time which is dependent upon the height of that first acquisition above the plane of the target area.

6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that an impulse charge is detonated as the propulsion mechanism.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 5, characterised in that as propulsion mechanism a braking parachute is opened segmentwise diametrically opposite to the transverse-motion direction and after conclusion of the transverse-shift timespan symmetrical supporting behaviour of the parachute is established again.

8. A method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the glide angle of the transverse-shift glide path and'or the steadying extent of the descent motion after the transverse shift are fixedly preset irrespective of the transverse-shift initial height and are orientated at the system-dicated transverse-shift minimum initial height.

9. A device for attacking target objects (4) by means of submunition (2) which is ejected over a target area (3) and which descends revolving into the target area and releases its charge (5) when its sensor (6) acquires a target object (4) in the effective direction (11), more especially for carrying out one of the methods as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that connected subsequent to the sensor (6) is a starting circuit (31) for a transverse motion (17) which is superimposed transiently on the vertical descent motion (16) and after the conclusion of which a trigger gate (35), connected subsequent to the sensor (6), for the combat charge (5) of the submunition (2) is freed.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that a switch-off switching stage (28) which is switched over for the duration of the transverse shift is connected prior to the sensor (6).

11. A device as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the sensor (6) supplies a shift signal (30) for the switching-off of a transverse-shift propulsion mechanism (22) after a transverse-shift timespan which is proportional to the acquisition height (H) at the start of the transverse shift (21).

12. A device as claimed in Claims 9 to 11, characterised in that a braking parachute (10) of the submunition (2) with segments (25, 25.1) which can be separated out regionally is provided for the transverse shift (21).