GB2347494A

GB2347494A - Proximity fuze and warhead system for last ditch defence

Info

Publication number: GB2347494A
Application number: GB9912581A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colin Whatmough
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-03-05
Filing date: 1999-05-27
Publication date: 2000-09-06
Also published as: GB9912581D0

Abstract

A proximity fuze and warhead system for close-in defence of e.g. fixed targets, tanks or ships against attacks by Cruise Missiles (Guided Bombs), Battlefield Missiles and Sea Skimming Missiles consists of several independent passive infra-red fuze elements each of which can have an optical system providing forward and rear 6 micron and possibly other spectral detector beams so that in conjunction with detector/amplifier designs, the aerodynamic heating of the incoming supersonic and sub sonic missile nose sections can be detected and therefore warhead sections of these incoming missiles located and destroyed or severely disrupted by the target's on-board warheads which have a suitable size and beam pattern and which are initiated by the passive infra-red sensors. The sensors are insensitive to other than the designated missiles, have low false alarm rates, are very reliable and together with the warheads are autonomous and can be added close to or on board the target without integration with any target on board system.

Description

LAST DITCH DEFENCE SYSTEM (LDDS) DEFENCE AGAINST CRUISE MISSILE ATTACK SEA SKIMMING MISSILE ATTACK BATTLEFIELD MISSILE ATTACK This invention relates to passive infra-red fuze systems Description Targets are vulnerable to cruise missile attack, battlefield missile attack and sea skimming missile attack.

This invention provides a proximity fuze sensor to detect the aerodynamic heating effect on the nose section of incoming missiles and thus locate the warhead position and then to initiate the associated defending warhead, of suitable size and beam pattern to destroy or severely disrupt the incoming missile warhead.

1 Defence against Cruise Missile Attack Targets are vulnerable to cruise missile attack. This invention provides a system with a set of passive infra-red sensors capable of detecting the nose section and hence locating the warhead section of incoming cruise missiles. The relevant sensor then initiating a warhead having a size and pattern such as to destroy or severely disrupt the incoming cruise missile (or guided bomb) warhead.

The passive infra-red sensors which can be located to provide all round cover for the target are sensitive to the aerodynamic heating of the nose section of the incoming cruise missile either tight in the 6 micron band or in other absorbtion bands of the spectrum. These passive infra-red sensors have beam widths and look angles and detector amplifier characteristics sensitive to the characteristics of the incoming cruise missiles and provide for warhead detonation with size and patterns to destroy or severely disrupt the incoming cruise missile warhead.

The passive infra-red fuze sensors are autonomous and can be battery powered so as to allow easy installation and independence of traditional power sources, which may be disrupted.

The passive infra-red sensors and warheads can be located at various altitudes and positions to provide a degradable defence against the incoming cruise missile. For example barrage type balloons, scaffolding etc. may be used to elevate the sensors/warheads with earth mounds/natural terrain for ground based systems. Warhead size and beam patterns are designed to destroy or severely disrupt the incoming cruise missile warhead.

The advantage of the passive infra-red sensor is its ability to offer continuous operation, to be only sensitive to those designated cruise missile targets and safe for operation with troops or other battlefield systems and with restricted range so as to not interfere with other friendly flight systems.

The sensor is unique in offering full dynamic bench test ability where the actual missile nose sections can be heated to the aerodynamic heating temperature and the fuze beam transversed at full target speed.

Another aspect of this invention is to allow for the replenishment of any detonated cruise missile defence system warheads or damaged sensors with new stock carried by the defended target.

Another aspect of this invention is to provide direction' information of the incoming missiles to other battlefield systems.

Another aspect of this visible defence system is to allow for decoy installations to be used.

2 Defence against Sea Skimming Missile Attack Ships are vulnerable to sea skimming missile attack. This invention provides the ship with a set of passive infra-red sensors capable of detecting the aerodynamic heating of the nose section and hence able to locate the warhead section of incoming supersonic or sub sonic sea skimmimg missiles. These sensors then initiating a set of warheads carried by the ship, having a size and pattern such as to destroy or severely disrupt the incoming sea skimmimg missile warhead.

The passive infra-red sensors which are located to provide all round cover for the ship are sensitive to the aerodynamic heating of the nose section of the incoming sea skimmimg missile either tight in the 6 micron band or in other absorbtion bands of the spectrum. These passive infra-red sensors have beam widths and look angles and detector amplifier characteristics sensitive to the characteristics of the incoming sea skimmimg missiles and provide initiation for suitable sized warheads located on the ship with detonation patterns to destroy or severely disrupt the incoming missile warhead.

The advantage of the passive infra-red sensor is its ability to detect aerodynamic heating of the nose sections of incoming sea skimmimg missiles, to offer continuous operation, be only sensitive to those designated targets and be safe for operation at sea.

The sensor is unique in offering full dynamic bench test ability where the actual missile nose sections can be heated to the aerodynamic heating temperature and the fuze beam transversed at full target-speed.

Another aspect of this invention is to allow for redundancy or replenishment of any exploded ship on board warhead or damaged sensor with new stock carried by the ship so as to allow the ship to continue to be protected.

Another aspect of this invention is that it is autonomous in operation with very high reliability and need not be integrated with any of the existing ship systems.

3 Defence against Battlefield Missile Attack Tanks and associated battlefield systems are vulnerable to missile attack. This invention provides the tank with a set of passive infra-red sensors capable of detecting the nose section and hence the warhead section of incoming missiles. These sensors then initiating a set of warheads carried by the tank, having a size and pattern such as to destroy or severely disrupt the incoming missile warhead.

The passive infra-red sensors which are located to provide all round cover for the tank are sensitive to the aerodynamic heating of the nose section of the incoming missile either tight in the 6 micron band or in other absorbtion bands of the spectrum. These passive infra-red sensors have beam widths and look angles and detector amplifier characteristics sensitive to the characteristics of the incoming missiles and provide initiation for warheads located on the tank with detonation patterns to destroy or severely disrupt the incoming missile warhead.

The advantage of the passive infra-red sensor is its ability to detect the nose sections of incoming missiles, to offer continuous operation, be only sensitive to those designated targets, be safe for operation with troops or other battlefield systems and have restricted range so as to not interfere with other friendly flight systems.

Another aspect of this invention is to allow for redundancy or replenishment of any exploded tank carried warhead with new stock carried by the tank or the tank support vehicles, so as to allow the tank to continue to be protected.

Another aspect of this invention is to provide direction information of the incoming missiles to other battlefield systems.

Another aspect of this invention is that it is autonomous in operation and need not be integrated with any of the existing tank systems.

Drawings Figure 1 Typical Sensor Layouts Figure 2 Typical Arrangement against Cruise Missile Attack Figure 3 Typical Sensor Warhead Operation 1 Figure 4 Typical Sensor Warhead Operation 2 Figure 5 Typical Bridge Installation Figure 6 Typical Bunker Installation Figure 7 Typical Ship Mounted Sensor Warhead Arrangement Figure 8 Typical Ship Sensor Warhead Cover Figure 9 Typical Tank Installation 1 Figure 10 Typical Tank Installation 2 Figure 11 Typical Dynamic Test Set Up

Claims

Claims: A Proximity Fuze and Warhead system for close in defence against Cruise Missile Attack, Battlefield Missile Attack and Sea Skimming Missile Attack.

1 A proximity fuze and warhead system consisting of several independent passive infra-red fuze elements each of which has an optical system arranging a 6 micron and possible other spectral detector beams so that in conjunction with detector/amplifier designs, the aerodynamic heating of the incoming missile nose sections can be detected and therefore the warhead sections of these incoming missiles located and destroyed or severely disrupted by the defending warheads carried by the target which are initiated by the sensors.

2 A proximity fuze and warhead system consisting of several passive infra-red fuze elements giving all round cover for the target with look angles commensurate with kill capabilities of the target on board warhead.

3 A proximity fuze which will not operate without the incoming missile characteristics being recognised.

4 A proximity fuze, which by virtue of the spectral bands chosen, is insensitive or has logic protection against false triggering.

5 A proximity fuze which can have a forward beam capable of detecting the aerodynamic heating of a supersonic missile nose sections and a rear beam capable of detecting the aerodynamic heating of the sub sonic missile nose sections and hence locating the warhead sections of these incoming missiles and initiating target on board, suitably sized warheads with suitable beam patterns to destroy or severely disrupt the incoming missile warhead.

6 A proximity fuze and warhead system, which is autonomous and need not be integrated with any of the existing target on board systems.

7 A proximity fuze and warhead system which can have passive infra-red fuze elements located at various positions on and close in to, the target which when coupled with the variously positioned warheads of suitable size and pattern will destroy or severely disrupt the incoming missile warhead with a degradable capability.

8 A proximity fuze and warhead system which allows for the detonated warheads and damaged sensors to be replaced if activated, by other systems carried by the target, or allows for redundant sensors and warheads to be activated to replace detonated warheads and inactive sensors.

9 A proximity fuze which is unique in allowing for full dynamic bench testing to be undertaken with actual target nose sections heated to the aerodynamic heating temperatures and the fuze beam optically transversed across the target at real'target speeds to obtain target trigger times.

10 A proximity fuze and warhead system, which allows for decoy systems to be deployed.