초록 ▼

A reusable, mach-velocity mobile platform delivers a weapons payload via vertical launch, powerless glide, weapons release, and landing operation phases. The platform includes a generally tubular shaped body having an aft and forward end, and a payload section. An arch wing is supported by the body

A reusable, mach-velocity mobile platform delivers a weapons payload via vertical launch, powerless glide, weapons release, and landing operation phases. The platform includes a generally tubular shaped body having an aft and forward end, and a payload section. An arch wing is supported by the body aft end. The arch wing has an upper and a lower wing joined at distal ends by two curved end plates. A nose assembly is connected at the forward end having an upward directed fixed angle-of-attack to generate forward end lift. Thermal tiles attached under the body and the lower wing under-side radiate/dissipate heat generated during a high angle-of-attack platform reentry. Radar absorptive or radar translucent material is used. The platform preferably discharges payload from the aft end for safe separation. A landing gear is extended for the landing phase of operation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A reusable mobile platform comprising: a generally tubular shaped body having an aft end, a forward end, and a payload section; an arch wing supported at said aft end of said body; a nose assembly connected at said forward end, said nose assembly having an upward fixed angle-of-attack to

1. A reusable mobile platform comprising: a generally tubular shaped body having an aft end, a forward end, and a payload section; an arch wing supported at said aft end of said body; a nose assembly connected at said forward end, said nose assembly having an upward fixed angle-of-attack to provide lift force at said forward end; and a rear release payload discharge face locatable at said aft end; wherein said payload section is configurable to support a weapons package for release through said discharge face from said aft end of said package during a non-powered flight phase of said mobile platform. 2. A reusable mobile platform, comprising: a generally tubular shaped body having an aft end, a forward end, and a payload section; an arch wing supported at said aft end of said body, said arch wing including: an upper wing having a continuous, generally planar upper surface and a split, generally planar lower surface, said split lower surface adapted to centrally support said upper wing from said body;a lower wing having a modified planar/dihedral shape including a lower surface and a split upper surface, said split upper surface adapted to centrally support said lower wing from said body; anda curved end-plate joining said upper wing to said lower wing at opposed distal ends of both said upper wing and said lower wing; and a nose assembly connected at said forward end, said nose assembly having an upward fixed angle-of-attack to provide lift force at said forward end; wherein said payload section is configurable to support a weapons package for release from said aft end of said package during a non-powered flight phase of said mobile platform. 3. The mobile platform of claim 2, further comprising: said upper wing and said curved end-plate formed of a radar translucent material; said lower wing formed from one of a metal and a composite material; and a radar absorbing material applied to external facing surfaces of said lower wing. 4. The mobile platform of claim 3, wherein said upper wing further comprises: an upper wing forward point disposed approximately coincident with a body longitudinal axis extending along said tubular shaped body; a swept wing angle measured from said upper wing forward point to a forward facing point of each of said upper wing distal ends. 5. The mobile platform of claim 4, wherein said lower wing further comprises: a lower wing forward point disposed approximately coincident with said body longitudinal axis and said swept wing angle; and said swept wing angle measured from said lower wing forward point to a forward facing point of each of said lower wing distal ends; wherein said lower wing forward point is positioned forward of said upper wing forward point such that said lower wing shields said upper wing from elevated temperatures occurring when said mobile platform operates at a reentry phase high angle-of-attack. 6. The mobile platform of claim 5, wherein said lower wing, said upper wing and said curved end plate further comprise: a generally rounded leading edge; and a generally squared-off trailing edge. 7. The mobile platform of claim 5, further comprising: said lower wing having a starboard wing half and a port wing half; a pair of elevons symmetrically spaced about said body longitudinal centerline, one of said elevons disposed on each said split upper surface of said starboard wing half and said port wing half; and a pair of ailerons each positioned adjacent to one of said elevons. 8. The mobile platform of claim 1, wherein said upward fixed angle-of-attack of said nose assembly varies over a range of approximately 4 degrees to approximately 15 degrees.9. A reusable, mach-velocity mobile platform comprising: a generally tubular shaped body having an aft end, a forward end, and a payload section disposed about a longitudinal axis of said body; an arch wing supported at said aft end of said body; a nose assembly connected at said forward end, said nose assembly having an upward fixed angle-of-attack to provide lift force at said forward end; and a plurality of landing devices extendable from said body; a payload including one of an equipment package and a munitions package stowable in said payload section; and a rear-release discharge face to discharge said payload from said aft end of said body during said weapons release phase; wherein said platform is adaptable for operation phases including at least one of a propelled vertical launch phase, a powerless glide phase, a weapons release phase, and a landing phase. 10. The mobile platform of claim 9, wherein said mobile platform further comprises a mobile platform center of gravity wherein said arch wing is positioned aft of said mobile platform center of gravity.11. The mobile platform of claim 10, further comprising: a forward steering device having independent starboard and port elements extendable from said body; and a center of actuation positioned forward of said mobile platform center of gravity such that operation of said starboard and port elements induces a steering force at said forward end of said body. 12. The mobile platform of claim 9, further comprising: said arch wing including an upper wing and a lower wing; a plurality of heat shields disposed on both an underside of said body and a lower surface of said lower wing; said mobile platform operable in said powerless glide phase at a reentry angle-of-attack having a range of approximately 30 degrees to approximately 60degrees measurable from said body longitudinal axis; wherein said heat shields on said lower wing during said powerless glide phase at said reentry angle-of-attack operably shield said upper wing. 13. The mobile platform of claim 9, further comprising a radar absorbing material disposed about selected portions of said mobile platform to reduce a radar cross section of said mobile platform.14. The mobile platform of claim 9, further comprising: a forward steering device configurable as an arched wing canard; and said arched wing canard having both a port adjustment mechanism and a starboard adjustment mechanism to roll said mobile platform about said mobile platform longitudinal axis; wherein said port adjustment mechanism and said starboard adjustment mechanism each additionally provide for independent port and starboard steering forces for said mobile platform. 15. The mobile platform of claim 11, wherein said forward steering device includes an expandable air flow opening such that as said forward steering device extends away from said body, an air flow is maintained between said forward steering device and said body.16. The mobile platform of claim 9, further comprising: an inflatable tail cone extendable from said aft end of said body; and said inflatable tail cone having a rounded leading face and a generally cone-shaped tapering body; wherein said inflatable tail cone is extendable from said aft end of said body after said powerless glide phase to reduce an aerodynamic drag of said mobile platform and extend a range of said landing phase. 17. A method to operate a multiple mach velocity mobile platform comprising the steps of: coating a plurality of body surfaces of a mobile platform with a radar absorbing material; loading a weapons package into said mobile platform; launching said mobile platform to a predetermined altitude at a multiple mach velocity; controlling a powerless flight phase of said mobile platform using control surfaces mounted at both a forward end and an aft end of said mobile platform; and discharging said weapons package through an aft end of said mobile platform during a weapons release phase following said powerless flight phase. 18. The method of claim 17, comprising reloading said mobile platform following said powerless flight phase.19. The method of claim 17, comprising extending a self contained landing gear set during a landin g phase following said powerless flight phase and said weapons release phase.20. The method of claim 17, comprising: coating a lower wing with said radar absorbing material; forming an upper wing of a radar translucent material; joining said lower wing to said upper wing with a radar translucent curved plate pair to form an arched wing; connecting said arched wing to said aft end; and controlling said arched wing with both a set of elevons and a set of ailerons. 21. The method of claim 17, wherein said discharging step further comprises dispensing said weapons package in multiple sub-phases to each of a plurality of target areas.22. The method of claim 17, comprising extending an inflatable tail cone following said discharging step.23. The method of claim 17, further comprising: forming a steering device from a radar translucent material; rotatably mounting said steering device from said forward end of said mobile platform as an opposed pair of devices; and rotating said steering devices both individually and in unison to generate a steering force at said forward end of said mobile platform. 24. The method of claims 17, further comprising: compressively loading a looped steering device at said forward end of said mobile platform; releasing said steering device to an un-loaded position during said powerless flight phase; and rotating at least a portion of said steering device to generate a steering force at said forward end of said mobile platform. 25. A reusable mach-velocity mobile platform adaptable for a weapons release powerless glide phase of operation, comprising: a generally tubular shaped body having an aft end, a forward end, and a payload section disposed about a longitudinal axis of said body; an arch wing supported at said aft end of said body; a payload including one of an equipment package and a munitions package stowable in said payload section; and a rear-release discharge face to discharge said payload from said aft end of said body during said weapons release phase.