RU2024818C1 - Armament control system of fighter plane - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: aircraft equipment. SUBSTANCE: system comprises multifunctional airborne radar station, optoelectronic sighting system, on-board set of guidance apparatuses, airborne set of navigation equipment with flight information transmitters, computing system, set of indicators of sighting, navigation and piloting information, indicator of tactical conditions, on-board set of radio-telemetric communication equipment comprising transceiving device, programming unit for adjusting frequency of transceiving device, coder, decoder of radio signals, control console with two wafer switches, converters of signals to digital form, target-distributing panel with target setting and cancelling buttons, and digital-to-analog converter. EFFECT: higher efficiency of combat actions. 2 dwg

Description

 The invention relates to aircraft equipment, and more particularly to equipment designed to ensure the combat use of fighter weapons. It can be used by enterprises in the aviation and defense industries, leading the development of weapons control systems (SUV).

 A known weapon control system for a fighter, designed to ensure effective destruction of air targets due to the exact exit to the attack area and the subsequent orientation of the flight on condition that the means of destruction hit the target.

 The structure of a modern fighter SUV for this includes: an on-board set of guidance equipment telemetrically connected to similar purpose equipment located at ground command posts (guidance points) or on Avax-type aircraft; airborne radar station (on-board radar) and airborne optoelectronic, in particular, a television sighting system, designed to detect an air target (after first reaching the area of its location using the above equipment) and to ensure its automatic and semi-automatic tracking per measurement its coordinates and motion parameters using meters included in the sighting systems; an on-board set of navigation equipment with flight information sensors, designed for its use when aiming, as well as for navigation (for example, after completing an attack on a target, with the task of returning to the airfield and landing); a computing system containing several digital computers (digital computers) and analogue computers designed to process information received from these sensors and meters, to solve the aiming problem, to solve the navigation problem and other computational actions related to the preparation, use of weapons and control the results of this application, including in training flights; an on-board set of indicators designed to demonstrate to the pilot the necessary information on the results of the aforementioned sighting systems, guidance and navigation equipment, as well as to present the results of the computer system implemented by appropriate piloting, in particular, the results of solving the aiming problem.

 Modern fighter radar is designed so that it can be used not only to detect an air target, but also for actions on ground targets. During actions on air targets, it provides simultaneous tracking of several such objects (the so-called target tracking mode on the aisle).

 For these and several other reasons, this product is characterized as multi-mode and multifunctional. In the same way, the development of other types of the aforementioned sighting systems proceeds. Their combination with other named devices forms a technical system that functionally solves one problem - the effective combat use of fighter armament, which determines the current name of such a system. For all the latest releases of domestic and foreign fighter jets, the aforementioned SUV composition is typical.

 This composition in the proposed technical solution is defined as a prototype.

 The disadvantage of the described arms control system is the incomplete use of its capabilities to inform the flight crew about the air situation during fighter group actions (flight of a fighter unit for one combat mission in the selected combat order).

 At present, the airspace survey only by its on-board means or visual, which was enough in the last war to guide the hostilities, is not enough for the group commander, since it is necessary to ensure the coordinated use of medium and long-range weapons, the range of which is much higher than visual visibility. The limited field of view of information tools leads to the need to use the information issued by the technical means of not only the commander’s aircraft, but all the group’s aircraft.

 The aim of the present invention is to increase the effectiveness of hostilities during their implementation by a group of fighters due to the mutual exchange of information and the automatic transfer of orders to attack.

The goal is achieved by the fact that in the well-known weapon control system of a fighter, including a multifunctional airborne radar station and optoelectronic, in particular a television sighting system, an airborne guidance kit for air targets and a set of navigation equipment with flight information sensors, a computer system connected to information sensors, as well as an on-board set of indicators for sighting, navigation and flight information related to the listed control devices A set of radio-technical (telecode) communication equipment of the SUV of each fighter with similar systems of other fighters was additionally introduced directly and through the computer system. The composition of the introduced equipment includes:
a transmitting and receiving device with software-implemented frequency tuning, determined by the need for multicast information exchange;
a software device connected by its input to the specified computing system through its multiplex channel and output to the frequency changing unit of the receiving and transmitting device;
an information encoder associated with the multiplex channel with the computing system at the input and output with the transmitting unit of the receiving-transmitting device;
a decoder connected to the input unit of the receiving-transmitting device and the output to one of the branches of the multiplex channel of the computing system;
the radio telemetry control panel, included by its inputs (corresponding to the positions of its controls) in the multiplex channel of the computer system and containing two switch-disconnectors with the names “Operating modes” and “Who am I”;
likewise included remote control switchboard with GR, Enter, Reset buttons and a dial-up field for entering tasks into the telemetry communications equipment in the form of numbers of targets assigned to the attack and numbers of those fighters in a known combat order to which the commander sets a combat mission;
tactical situation indicator (ITO), included by its inputs through a signal converter in the same multiplex channel of a computing system.

 The need for the use of a repeatedly tunable receiving and transmitting device is determined by the fact that with its help a radio-telemetric communication of the SUV of one fighter is carried out in time with similar systems of other fighters, whose pilots can hold the positions of a follower, lead or commander of a group (unit commander or squadron commander with the appointment in the latter case, unit commanders as slaves).

 A software device configured for the appropriate mode of operation using the switches located on the control panel implements the restructuring of the receiving and transmitting device according to the developed sequence diagram. In this way, it provides the opportunity for a time-separated exchange of information between fighters of the group: sequentially from the command and control aircraft of the fighter aircraft to the command and control aircraft leading up to collecting all the information on board the commander of the entire group, as well as transferring tasks formed by the commanders in the opposite direction. In total, therefore, 12 fighter jets are associated with the currently adopted development of this technical solution. All information on the air situation collected by the airborne equipment of these aircraft (not necessarily the same for all aircraft for the reason that they can be spaced tens of kilometers in space) is known to the group commander and can be used by him to develop a rational plan for aerial combat. Orders, as well as information, are transmitted automatically via the same radio telemechanical communication to the executors in the order of subordination.

 In this regard, the encoder is necessary for converting the commands set from the console and the information generated inside the control system into signals suitable for broadcasting (the latter is implemented using the transmitting unit of the receiving-transmitting device). A decoder at the receiving end has a similar purpose with the difference that its conversion is inverse in shape.

The above-mentioned switches and buttons on the control panel are connected by their electrical outputs to the multiplex channel through an analog to digital signal converter. This converter is an integral part of the design of the console itself. The positions of the first of these switches in this case are designated:
DG, which corresponds to the adoption by the group commander of a decision on group actions during the flight with the full group of twelve aircraft described above or one link of four aircraft (the so-called autonomous group). When this position is installed on the aircraft of the group commander, the program of his SUV sets a cyclogram for the exchange of information in a certain order throughout the group of fighters, and similar software devices of other fighters operate at set intervals for them according to the request signals from leading aircraft. To do this, all subordinate pilots set the specified switch in their airplane to the OFF position;
PAIR 1, which corresponds to the adoption by the commander of the first pair in the appropriate link of the decision to conduct combat operations by the pair (similar decisions can be made independently by the commanders of the first pairs in other units);
PAIR 2, which corresponds to the adoption of this decision by the commander of the second pair;
OFF, which corresponds to the above readiness of the SUV software device on the plane of the subordinate pilot to work according to commands of a higher authority;
NAVED, which corresponds to the currently known autonomous target guidance for each fighter by commands from the ground-based automatic control system (NASU).

The cycle of tuning the SUV transceiver and exchanging information between airplanes via radio telemetry channels when changing the position of PARA 1 or PARA 2 changes (first of all, it is reduced in content) in comparison with the choice of the main engine. And when choosing the position of the main engine, it can have different contents, corresponding to different composition of the group, depending on the choice of the position of the switch with the conditional name KTO I. The following positions are determined for the specified switch by the specifically developed radio telemechanical communication scheme between the fighter aircraft’s SUV:
KOG (commander of the combined group), installed (together with the position of the main director of the first switch) on the pilot's plane, leading the group actions.

 VDShCH (leader), installed during operations by a large group (squadron) on the aircraft of commanding officers of the units and during operations by an autonomous group (unit) on the aircraft of the leading pilot of the second pair.

 VDM (wingman), installed on all winged fighters.

 The marked positions justify the unusualness of the accepted name for this switch.

 The setting of the position of the trigger switches described above, which is practically implemented by appropriate manipulations of the pilots, described above corresponds to the accepted staff distribution of the positions of the flight personnel. The design of these switches, identical for all planes, independent of the mentioned distribution of posts, gives the advantage that, if necessary, for example, if fighter losses occur in an air battle, any pilot can take on the role of leader and the role of group commander by appropriate manipulations of his switches. Accordingly, certain cyclograms of SUV interaction, stored regardless of losses on each remaining aircraft in their previous contents, will allow in such a case to automatically and efficiently form (collect) the remaining fighters for group actions in a smaller amount.

 In these actions, for each separately considered fighter, the pilot is provided with an indication not only of the information that is determined by the sighting systems that are part of their own SUV, but also an indication of the targets found on other fighters, together with information about the position and combat order of these fighters. Using the ENTER or RESET buttons, pressed after preliminary pressing the GR button, the group commander or leader in a group of a lower rank through radio telemetry communication channels sets his subordinates to destroy targets in the order he developed. At the same time, he dials the numbers of sequentially assigned targets with the indication of the numbers of his fighter aircraft on the typesetting field of the target distribution panel. The information necessary for making such a decision is displayed on the same tactical communication channels through the same communication channels.

 A significant difference of the proposed technical solution is thus reduced to the fact that by introducing automatic inter-aircraft radio telemetry communications operating according to a specific program, it is possible to expand the information content of the airborne fighter of a fighter performing combat operations in the group by adding similar information from the airborne of other fighter aircraft to its own information. with the separation of the information that is repeated, and the streamlining of all information, as it is necessary to ensure certainty I and the execution of orders by the pilot to attack.

 The operations of forming commands for the frequency tuning device of the receiving and transmitting device, the operation of automatically selecting information from the corresponding SUV units for the transmission and distribution of received information from the SUV of other fighters, the operations of ranking this information, comparing and arranging before playing back to the ITO are all determined by the content programs of work of the computing system and materially embodied in the form of 32-bit words sequentially passing through the multiplex channel, with which operate digital computers. It is not necessary to install SUV on the fighter other than those named to ensure such actions of the inter-aircraft radio telemetry communication system.

 In FIG. 1 presents a structural diagram of the SUV fighter; figure 2 is an example of an indication of the information that is observed by the pilot in the ITO.

 The fighter’s weapon control system includes (see figure 1): multifunctional airborne radar station 1; optoelectronic (in particular television) sighting system 2; airborne set 3 guidance equipment; airborne set 4 of navigation equipment along with flight information sensors; a computing system 5 associated with said equipment; an on-board set of 6 indicators for sighting, navigation and flight information connected to a computer system; additionally introduced and similarly included in the circuit indicator 7 tactical situation (ITO); receiving and transmitting device 8 of a radio telemetry communication system with SUV of other fighters; connected to it a software device 9, included by its own inputs with a computing system; an encoder 10 connecting the computing system to the transmitting unit of the transmitting and receiving device; a decoder 11 connecting the receiving unit of the receiving and transmitting device with the computing system; control panel 12, switched on by the outputs of the trigger switches forming it; WORK MODE and WHO; through the converter 13 of its output analog signals to the computer system and blocks 9 and 8; likewise included remote control 14 with a converter 15, buttons GR, ENTER, RESET and a dial-up field containing numbered rows of buttons for selecting attacked targets and fighters assigned to it; digital-to-analog Converter 16, the input connected to the computer system, and the output from the ITO.

 The set of blocks surrounded by a dashed line forms a distinctive part of the technical solution (specifically, the proposed subject of the invention).

 In FIG. 2, for definiteness, the option of generating information on the ITO is presented in a situation where a unit of four fighters attacks the enemy, including four actually detected targets.

 A sign of the image of the target on the screen ITO 7, if it is detected using radar 1, is a triangle. When a target is detected using an optoelectronic visual system 2, a triangle is not closed at the base. If the target is set using NASU, but has not yet been detected by any airborne sighting system, then the absence of a triangle serves as its sign (see figure 2). For their fighters, a mark in the form of a circle is similarly introduced. A horizontal stroke, variable in length, adjacent to the indicated sign of its identification in the combined image of the target, in a conventionally accepted scale indicates the speed of the target, vertical indicates the height of its location in space, and the relative course of the target is indicated by turning the entire image around the point of intersection of the strokes. Similar strokes denote the speed and altitude of their fighters. The accepted image scale of linear quantities is recorded by a number in the lower left corner of the screen with the application of comparable linear sizes to it. For each target shown, a number is written in its order in the SUV number (to the left of the vertical bar). To the right of this line can be indicated the number of the fighter who is assigned to attack this target. Similarly numbered and their fighters. Under the dash in a circle depicting the position of that fighter for which the described picture is formed on its ITO 7, the number of that fighter controlled by the group leader is indicated. Using the recorded scale of linear values for the relative offset of the marks on the screen of ITO 7, you can read the coordinates of all the displayed objects (their fighters and targets). In the lower right part of the screen, vertically repeated numbers indicate the attacked targets in order of increasing danger for the attacking group, if this order is viewed from below. The described form of presentation of tactical information is currently implemented in the SUV of one of the domestic fighter models.

 The described fighter weapon control system operates and is used in aerial combat as follows.

 By setting the OPERATION MODE switch on the control panel 12 to the main engine position and the WHO switch to the KOG position on his plane, the group commander switches on the software device 10 in the tuning mode of the transmitting and receiving device 9 for the frequency inside the group information exchange with the unit commanders. The group commander informs these commanders of their decision to switch from control mode from NASU to control of his commands previously through the usual intercom system. Having received such a solution, the commanders of their links switch the switches with the name OPERATION MODES set in the same position DG, and the switches who I - in the position VDShch. In this way, they inform their subordinate pilots of the decision to take group actions and set the signals in their transmitting and receiving devices 8 to set the frequency suitable for radio telemetry exchange of information with the commander of the combined group and periodically changing its frequency of information exchange with their subordinates (weapon control systems wing aircraft).

 Moreover, within each such group, the frequency of operation of the transceiver 8 is different from the other two. All pilots, subordinate to the flight commanders, make their transition to group actions by moving the CTO I switch to the VDM position (while the second switch simultaneously sets the same position of the main flight control). Cyclograms of the operation of software devices of all interacting control systems on the basis of the "request-response" principle provides automatic exchange of information and presentation of the final results in the form as shown as a possible example in figure 2. At the same time, the group commander directly to the link commanders and link commanders can set their tasks to attack the assigned targets by pressing the corresponding buttons on the target distribution panel 14, after preliminary pressing the GR and ENTER buttons. The commander can correct the errors of his manipulations by pressing the RESET button and repeating the recruited task in a new quality. Different positions of the installation of the KTO switch I implement the corresponding differences in the information processing programs and the different manifestations of the result of manipulating the buttons of the remote control 14. On the airplane of the pilot pilot, this remote control is actually turned off, since such a pilot can only receive tasks. The transfer of all information into space is carried out by radio codes, the formation of which is provided by the encoders 10, and the reverse conversion to digital form, which is typical for the operation of computer systems, by the decoders 11.

 During group actions in an autonomous group, the position of the KOG is set by the flight commander, the position of the VDSH is the leading pilot of the second pair, the two remaining pilots become guided, and the cyclogram of information exchange is automatically reduced due to its non-receipt by absent aircraft at regulated times.

 If the commander of the first pair at any level with the permission of a superior commander or by his own decision intends to switch to autonomous actions, then he realigns the SUV of his plane and that of his wingman to an extremely simplified scheme for exchanging information within one pair of fighter jets by moving the OPERATION MODE switch to the PARA position 1. The commander of the second pair, for whom the position of the same switch with the designation PARA 2 is determined, can act in a similar way.

 When you select the NAVED position by the OPERATION MODE switch, the pilot of any fighter switches himself off from group actions and connects to centralized control (pointing his plane) through the NASU channel. Such an opportunity, with all the importance of the group actions approved in this application, should be provided for at least in case of loss of combat effectiveness of any fighter. Connecting to NASU will allow such a fighter to most safely return to its airfield.

 At present, the operation of individual prototypes of the described device in our country has begun on SU-27 aircraft.

 The first experiments on the operation of the device show that the use of SU-27 fighters with the claimed weapon control system on board allows us to obtain a new quality - to provide autonomous group actions.

 Modeling showed that due to the emergence of a new ability to conduct group actions, the combat effectiveness of a fighter increases in various combat situations by 30-40%.

Claims (1)

 FIGHTER WEAPON CONTROL SYSTEM, including a multifunctional on-board radar station and optoelectronic, for example, a television sighting system, an on-board set of guidance equipment and an on-board set of navigation equipment with a flight information sensor, a set of sighting, navigation and flight information indicators, as well as a computer system related with the listed devices, characterized in that an on-board set of radio telemetry communication equipment is included in it, including receiving transceiver device connected by input through an encoder and output through a radio signal decoder to a computer system and two inputs connected to signal converters in digital form, a software device for tuning the frequency of a transceiver device, connected by its output to a transceiver device and inputs to two signal converters in digital form and to a computing system, a control panel with two rotary switches for setting the radio telemetry communication operating modes and the rank of the fighter in group interaction, a target distribution panel with buttons for entering and canceling tasks transmitted via radio telemetry, and a dial-up field for these tasks, an indicator of the tactical situation for reproducing the results of the exchange of information and tasks, while the control and target distribution panels are equipped with converters of their output signals to digital form, and the tactical situation indicator with a digital-to-analog converter and all three devices are connected to a computer system.

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