A method for ballistic target defense including identifying a launched ballistic target having a target launch point, a target launch direction, a target speed, and a target trajectory; launching a target interceptor in a launch direction that is generally the same as the target launch direction and
A method for ballistic target defense including identifying a launched ballistic target having a target launch point, a target launch direction, a target speed, and a target trajectory; launching a target interceptor in a launch direction that is generally the same as the target launch direction and with a speed that is less than the target speed; providing the interceptor with an approximate target intercept trajectory; and accelerating the interceptor at an approximate point of intercept to substantially match the target trajectory. During a relatively long target engagement time, the interceptor has approximately a zero net relative velocity with respect to the target. The interceptor will have a speed change capability sufficient to maneuver the interceptor around and/or in a target object cloud, providing the interceptor with the ability to inspect an object of the object cloud, capture an object of the object cloud, nondestructively engage in object of the object cloud, and/or destructively engage in object of the object cloud. Embodiments are also directed to a ballistic target defense system and a ballistic target interceptor.
대표청구항▼
I claim: 1. An interceptor, comprising: a multi-stage launchable vehicle including at least one propulsion stage and capable of at least three distinct propulsive maneuvers including a) a lower trajectory stage for putting a stage of the interceptor into a trajectory of the same general direction a
I claim: 1. An interceptor, comprising: a multi-stage launchable vehicle including at least one propulsion stage and capable of at least three distinct propulsive maneuvers including a) a lower trajectory stage for putting a stage of the interceptor into a trajectory of the same general direction as that of a launched, ballistic target so as to achieve an approximate intercept therewith; b) an upper trajectory stage for precisely changing the interceptor velocity as necessary to substantially match a trajectory of the target; and c) a positioning stage for selectively positioning the interceptor proximate a target object cloud. 2. The interceptor of claim 1, wherein the target is a missile. 3. The interceptor of claim 2, wherein the missile is an ICBM. 4. The interceptor of claim 1, wherein the interceptor has a speed change capability, ΔV, that is equal to or greater than about 10% more than a ΔV capability of the target. 5. The interceptor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said vehicle includes a battle station stage that includes an attitude control and a propulsion system providing a sufficient velocity change capability to move the battle station stage around and within the target object cloud. 6. The interceptor as set forth in claim 5 wherein the maneuvering step includes a further step of: inspecting the target object cloud and further capturing, non destructively engaging or destructively engaging one or more objects of the target object cloud. 7. The interceptor as set forth in claim 1 and including an interceptor launch platform, wherein the interceptor launch platform is located in a location range from proximate a target launch point to approximately a midpoint target trajectory location. 8. A ballistic target defense system, comprising: an interceptor launch platform designed to launch a multistage interceptor; and a multistage interceptor with a first stage capable of being launched from the launch platform, whereupon launch, the interceptor has a launch direction that is the same general direction as a launch direction of a launched ballistic target and a second stage for precisely changing the interceptor velocity as necessary to substantially match a trajectory of the ballistic target. 9. The ballistic target defense system of claim 8, wherein the interceptor includes at least one propulsion stage and a battle station stage, further wherein the interceptor is capable of at least three distinct propulsive maneuvers including: a positioning stage for selectively positioning the interceptor proximate a target object cloud. 10. The ballistic target defense system of claim 9, wherein the battle station stage includes an attitude control and a translational propulsion system providing a sufficient velocity change capability to maneuver the battle station stage around and within a target object cloud. 11. The ballistic target defense system of claim 9, wherein the battle station stage includes a control system allowing for a non-engagement maneuver, a non-destructive engagement, and a destructive engagement of an object in a target object cloud. 12. The ballistic target defense system of claim 8, wherein the interceptor launch platform is located in a location range from proximate a target launch point location to approximately a mid point target trajectory location. 13. The ballistic target defense system of claim 8, wherein the interceptor launch platform is located in a location that is equal to or less than between about one-quarter to one-third of the target ballistic range from a target launch point location. 14. The ballistic target defense system of claim 8, wherein the location of the interceptor launch platform is operationally movable so as to increase a target launch warning time and decrease an engagement time as a function of increased distance of the interceptor launch platform from a target launch point location, and vice-versa. 15. The ballistic target defense system of claim 8, wherein the interceptor launch platform is a sea-based platform. 16. The ballistic target defense system of claim 8, wherein the interceptor launch platform is a land-based platform. 17. The ballistic target defense system of claim 8, wherein the target is a missile. 18. The ballistic target defense system of claim 17, wherein missile is an ICBM. 19. A method for ballistic target defense, comprising: identifying a launched ballistic target having a target launch point, a target launch direction, a target speed, and a target trajectory; launching a multistage target interceptor in a launch direction that is generally the same as the target launch direction, and with a speed that is less than the target speed; providing a stage of the interceptor with an approximate target intercept trajectory; and accelerating a stage of the interceptor at an approximate point of intercept to substantially match the target trajectory. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: maneuvering a stage of the interceptor around and/or in a target object cloud for one of an object inspection, an object capture, a non-destructive object engagement, and a destructive object engagement. 21. The method of claim 19, wherein maneuvering the interceptor comprises obtaining at least one of a desired distance and a desired orientation with respect to the target object cloud. 22. The method of claim 19, wherein the approximate target intercept trajectory has a ballistic range that is less than the target ballistic range. 23. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing the interceptor with a target engagement time during which a stage of the interceptor has approximately a zero net relative engagement velocity. 24. The method of claim 23, further wherein the stage of the interceptor is controlled to have an optimal engagement distance and an optimal engagement attitude. 25. The method of claim 23, wherein the engagement time is approximately equal to or less than approximately one-half of the flight time of the target. 26. The method of claim 19, comprising launching the multistage target interceptor from a forward-based location. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the forward-based launch location is equal to or less than between about one-quarter to one-third of the target ballistic range from the target launch point. 28. The method of claim 27, comprising selecting the forward-based launch location as a function of increasing/decreasing a target launch warning time and an interceptor engagement time. 29. The method of claim 19, wherein the approximate point of intercept is at a midcourse trajectory of the launched ballistic target. 30. The method of claim 19, wherein the target is a missile. 31. The method of claim 30, wherein missile is an ICBM. 32. A method for ballistic target defense, comprising: providing a multistage interceptor having a capability to execute at least three propulsive maneuvers, including: a) injecting a stage of the interceptor into a trajectory that is in the same general direction as that of a launched ballistic target; b) precisely changing the interceptor velocity as necessary to substantially match a trajectory of the launched ballistic target; and c) selectively positioning the interceptor proximate a target object cloud, wherein the multistage interceptor is launched in a direction that is the same general direction as the launch direction of the target. 33. The method of claim 32, wherein selectively positioning the interceptor comprises providing a stage of the interceptor with attitude control and translation propulsion sufficient to maneuver the stage around and within the target object cloud. 34. The method of claim 32, wherein selectively positioning the interceptor proximate a target comprises selectively maneuvering a stage of the interceptor in front of, behind, above, below, or alongside of the target object cloud. 35. The method of claim 32, wherein precisely changing the interceptor velocity comprises making any necessary plane change between the initial interceptor trajectory and the target trajectory. 36. The method of claim 32, further comprising at least one of inspection, capture, non-destructive engagement, and destructive engagement of an object in the target object cloud. 37. The method of claim 32, comprising providing the interceptor with an injection stage speed that is less than the speed of the target. 38. The method of claim 32, wherein the target is a missile. 39. The method of claim 32, wherein missile is an ICBM. 40. A method for ballistic target defense, comprising: identifying a launched ballistic target having a target launch direction; launching a multistage interceptor in a launch direction that is the same general direction as the target launch direction; allowing a stage of the interceptor to coast without propulsion for a period of time; accelerating a stage of the interceptor to substantially match the target trajectory, wherein the interceptor and the target have a substantially common ballistic trajectory. 41. The method of claim 40, comprising launching the multistage target interceptor from a location that is located in a range from proximate a target launch point location to approximately a mid point location of the target trajectory. 42. The method of claim 41, comprising launching the multistage target interceptor from a forward based location. 43. The method of claim 40, comprising allowing the inceptor to coast for a time sufficient to provide a mid-course correction. 44. The method of claim 40, further comprising performing a reconnaissance of an object of a target object cloud. 45. The method of claim 44, further comprising executing at least one of a non-engagement maneuver, a non-destructive engagement, and a destructive engagement of the object. 46. The method of claim 40, wherein accelerating a stage of the interceptor to match the target trajectory occurs near apogee of the target trajectory. 47. The method of claim 40, wherein the target is a missile. 48. The method of claim 47, wherein missile is an ICBM.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (4)
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