초록 ▼

A deceptive signature broadcast system for an aircraft or other emissions generating asset for generating an emissions pattern for masking the normal emissions signature of the aircraft or asset, and protecting it from emissions tracking intercept vehicles such as Infrared tracking missiles; the sys

A deceptive signature broadcast system for an aircraft or other emissions generating asset for generating an emissions pattern for masking the normal emissions signature of the aircraft or asset, and protecting it from emissions tracking intercept vehicles such as Infrared tracking missiles; the system includes at least two beacons mounted in a spaced apart arrangement orthogonal to the desired zone of protection, and bracketing the asset, such as on opposite wingtips of the aircraft for fore and aft protection; the beacon set is modulated from one end to the other with a sweeping pattern of emission intensity, deceptively indicating to the intercepting vehicle a lateral component of motion of the aircraft away from its true relative position within the intercept vehicle's field of view, thereby inducing the intercept vehicle to adopt an erroneous and exaggerated lead angle and course correction that results in a missed intercept trajectory.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft comprising:at least first and last beacons substantially displaced on said aircraft,each said beacon comprising a radiation source of a wavelength in substantially the same range as the normally radiated emissions of said aircra

1. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft comprising:at least first and last beacons substantially displaced on said aircraft,each said beacon comprising a radiation source of a wavelength in substantially the same range as the normally radiated emissions of said aircraft in flight,each said beacon having a maximum radiation intensity of greater than said normally radiated emissions of said aircraft, and a minimum radiation intensity of at least equal to said normally radiated emissions of said aircraft,said first beacon having a modulation sweep cycle of decreasing intensity from said maximum intensity to said minimum intensity followed by a snap back to said maximum intensity,said last beacon having a modulation sweep cycle of increasing intensity from said minimum intensity to said maximum intensity followed by a snap back to said minimum intensity,said beacons being synchronized wherein the sum of their respective intensities during said modulation sweep cycles remains substantially constant. 2. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft according to claim 1, said maximum radiation intensity being at least two times the normally radiated emissions intensity of said aircraft, and said minimum radiation intensity being at least 1.3 times said normally radiated emissions intensity of said aircraft. 3. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft according to claim 1, said first beacon mounted on a first side wingtip, said last beacon mounted on an opposite side wingtip. 4. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft according to claim 1, each said beacon being mechanically modulated by a revolving shielded shell, said shell of said first beacon having at least one window for emissions, said window having a leading edge and trailing taper, said shell of said last beacon having at least one window for emissions, said window having a leading taper and trailing edge whereas said leading edge of said first beacon is rotationally synchronized with said leading taper of said last beacon. 5. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft according to claim 1, said wavelength being in the Infrared range. 6. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft according to claim 1, said wavelength comprising wavelengths within the ultraviolet through long wave infrared range. 7. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft according to claim 1, further comprising at least one intermediate beacon disposed between said first and last beacons,said intermediate beacon comprising a radiation source of a wavelength in substantially the same range as the normally radiated emissions of said aircraft in flight,said intermediate beacon having substantially the same said maximum radiation intensity and the same said minimum radiation intensity,said intermediate beacon having a modulation sweep cycle comprising increasing intensity from said minimum intensity to said maximum intensity followed by decreasing intensity from said maximum intensity to said minimum intensity,said intermediate beacon being synchronized with said first and last beacons whereas the sum of their respective intensities during said modulation sweep cycles remains substantially constant, and the center of intensity sweeps uniformly from said first beacon to said last beacon. 8. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft according to claim 7, said intermediate beacon mounted at the centerline of said aircraft. 9. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft according to claim 1, aid modulation sweep cycle comprising a time range of 0.25 to 1.5 seconds. 10. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an aircraft according to claim 9, said snap back comprising a time range of less than 0.1 seconds. 11. A method for generating a deceptive signature patt ern for an emissions producing asset comprising the steps of:disposing a line of adjacent beacons so as to span said emissions producing asset when viewed from at least one angle of approach, said line of adjacent beacons comprising at least first and last beacons substantially displaced so as to bracket said asset when viewed from said angle of approach,radiating from said beacons a signature signal of a wavelength in substantially the same range as the normally radiated emissions of said asset,modulating the intensity of said signature signal of each said beacon between a minimum intensity and a maximum intensity in repetitive cycles,operating all said beacons in a synchronous manner so as to combine said signature signals into a said signature pattern such that the intensity of said signature pattern remains greater than said normally radiated emissions and the center of intensity of said signature pattern during each cycle moves uniformly from said first beacon to said last beacon. 12. A method for generating a deceptive signature pattern for an emissions producing asset according to claim 11, said maximum intensity being greater than the normally radiated emissions intensity of said asset, said minimum radiation intensity being at least equal to said normally radiated emissions intensity of said asset. 13. A method for generating a deceptive signature pattern for an emissions producing asset according to claim 11, said step of modulating the intensity comprising modulating the intensity of said first beacon from said maximum intensity to said minimum intensity and concurrently modulating the intensity of the next said adjacent beacon from said minimum intensity to said maximum intensity. 14. A method for generating a deceptive signature pattern for an emissions producing asset according to claim 11, said line of adjacent beacons comprising intermediate beacons disposed between said first and last beacons. 15. A method for generating a deceptive signature pattern for an emissions producing asset according to claim 11, said asset being an aircraft, said first beacon being mounted on a first side wingtip, said last beacon being mounted on an opposite side wingtip. 16. A method for generating a deceptive signature pattern for an emissions producing asset according to claim 13, said step of modulating the intensity comprising mechanically modulating each said beacon with a revolving shielded shell, said shell of said first beacon having at least one window for emissions, said window having a leading edge and trailing taper, said shell of said next said adjacent beacon having at least one window for emissions, said window having a leading taper and trailing edge whereas said leading edge of said first beacon is rotationally synchronized with said leading taper of said next said adjacent beacon. 17. A method for generating a deceptive signature pattern for an emissions producing asset according to claim 11, said step of modulating the intensity comprising mechanically modulating each said beacon with a shutter assembly, whereby when open permits emissions at said maximum intensity and when closed permits emissions at said minimum intensity. 18. A method for generating a deceptive signature pattern for an emissions producing asset according to claim 11, said wavelength being in the Infrared range. 19. A method for generating a deceptive signature pattern for an emissions producing asset according to claim 11, said wavelength comprising wavelengths within the ultraviolet through long wave infrared range. 20. A method for generating a deceptive signature pattern for an emissions producing asset according to claim 15, said cycle comprising a modulation time range of 0.25 to 1.5 seconds, and a snap back time range comprising less than 0.1 seconds. 21. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an emissions producing asset comprising at least first and last beacons spaced apart so as to substantially bracket said asset a s viewed from at least one angle of approach,each said beacon comprising a radiation source of a wavelength in substantially the same range as the normally radiated emissions of said asset,each said beacon having a maximum intensity of emitted radiation of greater than the normally radiated emissions of said asset,said first beacon having a repeating modulation cycle of said emitted radiation, said cycle comprising a period of said maximum intensity followed by a period of lower intensity followed by a snapback to said maximum intensity,said last beacon having a repeating modulation cycle of said emitted radiation, said cycle comprising a period of said lower intensity followed by a period of said maximum intensity followed by a snapback to said lower intensity,any remaining said beacons being disposed between said first and last beacons and having a repeating modulation cycle of said emitted radiation comprising a period of said lower intensity followed by a period of said maximum intensity followed by a period of said lower intensity,all said beacons being synchronized wherein the sum of their respective intensities remains greater than said normally radiated emissions and the center of intensity of said emitted radiation from all said beacons moves uniformly from said first beacon to said last beacon during each said cycle. 22. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an emissions producing asset according to claim 21, the modulation cycle of said first beacon comprising a substantially linear decay of emissions intensity from said maximum intensity to said lower intensity, the modulation cycle of said last beacon comprising a substantially linear increase of emissions intensity from said lower intensity to said maximum intensity, the modulation cycle of said any remaining said beacons comprising a substantially linear increase of emissions intensity from said lower intensity to said maximum intensity and a substantially linear decay of emissions intensity from said maximum intensity to said lower intensity. 23. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an emissions producing asset according to claim 21, each said beacon enclosed in an outer protective shield transparent to said wavelength of said radiation source. 24. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an emissions producing asset according to claim 21, said wavelength of said radiation sources comprising at least two different wavelengths associated with said normally radiated emissions. 25. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an emissions producing asset according to claim 21, said system employed in combination with means for detecting an is incoming missile. 26. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an emissions producing asset according to claim 25, said asset being an aircraft, said means for detecting an incoming missile comprising an onboard missile detection system. 27. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an emissions producing asset according to claim 25, said asset being an aircraft, said means for detecting an incoming missile comprising a remote missile detection system and a means for communicating a missile warning from said missile detection system to said aircraft. 28. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an emissions producing asset according to claim 25, further comprising means for reconfiguring and operating said system in response to the direction and missile performance data indicated in said missile warning. 29. A system for altering the radiation signature pattern of an emissions producing asset according to claim 21, said asset comprising at least one from among a group of assets consisting of an airborne vehicle, space vehicle, landborne vehicle, waterborne vehicle, amphibious vehicle, and a stationary asset of which said normally radiated emissions are an inherent characteristic. 30. A system for altering the radi ation signature pattern of an emissions producing asset according to claim 21, further comprising means for transposing the assignment of said modulation cycles to said beacons whereby the center of intensity of said emitted radiation from all said beacons moves uniformly from said last beacon to said first beacon during each said cycle.