Long range KV-to-KV communications to inform target selection of follower KVS
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F41G-007/30
F41G-007/22
출원번호
US-0730884
(2015-06-04)
등록번호
US-9476677
(2016-10-25)
발명자
/ 주소
Wright, Richard J.
Sierchio, James G.
Calkins, Jr., Myron E.
Pflibsen, Kent P.
Frahm, Perry H.
Owens, William R.
Crawford, Thomas M.
출원인 / 주소
Raytheon Company
대리인 / 주소
Gifford, Eric A.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
5
초록▼
A KV-based missile defense system and method of strategic engagement provides performance improvement for both singleton and raid scenarios by launching multiple interceptors that place a follower KV in a trailing position with respect to a lead KV. Knowledge of the target cloud gained by the lead K
A KV-based missile defense system and method of strategic engagement provides performance improvement for both singleton and raid scenarios by launching multiple interceptors that place a follower KV in a trailing position with respect to a lead KV. Knowledge of the target cloud gained by the lead KV is transmitted to the follower KV and incorporated to inform the target selection of the follower KV. The follower KV trails the lead KV with sufficient spacing in time and distance to select a target and maneuver to engage the target pre-acquisition. This also allows the follower KV to receive and incorporate knowledge of target impact by the lead KV. This knowledge may be transmitted back to another follower KV and so forth in a “string” of KVs to inform target selection and down to the ground to inform strategic engagement. Updated non-KV observational data can be uplinked and transmitted forward along the string to the lead KV.
대표청구항▼
1. A method of intercepting ballistic targets, comprising: launching a lead interceptor having a lead kill vehicle (KV) on a first ballistic trajectory to intercept a target cloud,separating the lead KV from the lead interceptor,launching a follower interceptor having a first follower KV on a second
1. A method of intercepting ballistic targets, comprising: launching a lead interceptor having a lead kill vehicle (KV) on a first ballistic trajectory to intercept a target cloud,separating the lead KV from the lead interceptor,launching a follower interceptor having a first follower KV on a second ballistic trajectory to intercept the target cloud,separating the first follower KV from the follower interceptor in a trailing relationship to the lead KV,from the lead KV, collecting and processing observational sensor data to discriminate targets within the target cloud and to select a target from the target cloud autonomously, maneuvering the lead KV to remove insertion error of the lead KV and intercept the selected target and transmitting the observational sensor data and processed mission data via a first communications link, andfrom the first follower KV, receiving the observational sensor data and processed mission data from the lead KV via a second communications link, collecting observational sensor data, processing both the received observational sensor data from the lead KV and its own observational sensor data to discriminate targets and select a target from the target cloud autonomously, and maneuvering the follower KV to remove insertion error of the follower KV and intercept the selected target. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: launching another follower interceptor having a second follower KV on a third ballistic trajectory to intercept the target cloud,separating the second follower KV from the third interceptor in a trailing relationship to the first follower KV, andfrom the second follower KV, receiving the observational sensor data and processed mission data from the first follower KV via a third communications link, collecting observational sensor data to discriminate targets within the target cloud, autonomously processing both the received observational sensor data from the first follower KV and its own observational sensor data to select the target from the target cloud, and maneuvering the second follower KV to remove insertion error of the second follower KV and intercept the selected target. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising timing the launch of the follower interceptor relative to the launch of the lead interceptor to space the lead KV and first follower KV such that the first follower KV receives an initial transmission of the observational sensor data and processed mission data from the lead KV before the first follower KV is within range to acquire the target cloud and discriminate targets from its own observational sensor data, said first follower KV selects the target and maneuvers based on said initial transmission of the observational sensor data and processed mission data. 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising timing the launch of the follower interceptor relative to the launch of the lead interceptor to space the lead KV and first follower KV such that the first follower KV receives a final transmission of the observational sensor data and processed mission data from the lead KV at target intercept before the first follower KV is within range to acquire the target cloud and discriminate targets from its own observational sensor data, said first follower KV selects the target and maneuvers based on the final transmission of the observational sensor data and processed mission data. 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising timing the launch of the follower interceptor relative to the launch of the lead interceptor to space the lead KV and first follower KV such that the first follower KV receives a final transmission of the observational sensor data from the lead KV at target interceptor after the first follower KV is within range and has acquired the target cloud to discriminate targets, said first follower KV selects the target and maneuvers based on both the final transmission of the observational sensor data and its own observational sensor data. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein at target intercept by the lead KV, said lead KV collects the observational sensor data and transmits the final observational sensor data and processed mission data just prior to impact. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the lead KV comprises an impact sensor, wherein said lead KV collects impact data and transmits impact sensor data after impact wherein the first follower KV processes the impact sensor data to inform its own target selection. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first follower KV processes the received impact sensor data to classify the impacted target to inform its own target selection. 9. The method of claim 6, where said first follower KV collects observational sensor data of the lead KV impacting the target to inform its target selection. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of N interceptors are launched in a spaced sequence to intercept the target cloud, wherein said observational sensor data and processed mission data is passed backwards from one KV to the next, further comprising: as each KV passes over a surface-based station, transmitting the observational sensor data and processed mission data down to the surface-based station. 11. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of N interceptors are launched in a spaced sequence to intercept the target cloud, further comprising: as each KV passes over a surface-based station, transmitting updated processed non-KV observational sensor data up to the KV; andfrom the uplinked KV, transmitting the updated processed non-KV observational sensor data forward from one KV to the next. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the lead interceptor is a unitary interceptor with a single lead KV. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the follower interceptor is a unitary interceptor with a single first follower KV, said first and second interceptors and KVs being interchangeable. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the follower interceptor is a unitary interceptor with single first KV, wherein said first follower KV has less sensor or maneuver capability than said lead KV. 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the follower interceptor is a multiple KV interceptor with a plurality of first follower KVs. 16. A missile defense system, comprising: a lead interceptor including boost capability to launch the interceptor on a first ballistic trajectory to intercept a target cloud, said interceptor including a lead kill vehicle (KV) having a sensor subsystem for collecting observational sensor data to discriminate targets within the target cloud, a mission processor configured to autonomously process the observational sensor data to select a target from the target cloud, a propulsion system with a kinematic reach to remove insertion error of the lead KV and intercept the selected target and a communications link for transmitting the observational sensor data and processed mission data;a trail interceptor including boost capability to launch the interceptor on a second ballistic trajectory to intercept the target cloud, said trail interceptor including a first follower KV having a communications link configured to receive the observational sensor data and processed mission data from the lead KV, a sensor subsystem for collecting observational sensor data to discriminate targets within the target cloud, a mission processor configured to autonomously process both the received observational sensor data from the lead KV and its own observational sensor data to select a target from the target cloud and a propulsion system with a kinematic reach to remove insertion error of the first follower KV and intercept the selected target; anda launch controller configured to time the launch of the trail interceptor relative to the launch of the lead interceptor to put the follower KV in a trailing relationship to the lead KV. 17. The missile defense system of claim 16, wherein the launch controller is further configured to time the launch of the trail interceptor to space the lead and first follower KVs such that the first follower KV receives an initial transmission of the observational sensor data and processed mission data from the lead KV before the first follower KV is within range to acquire the target cloud and discriminate targets from its own observational sensor data, said first follower KV configured to select the target and maneuver based on the initial transmission. 18. The missile defense system of claim 16, wherein the lead KV comprises an impact sensor, wherein said lead KV collects impact data and transmits impact sensor data after impact, wherein the first follower KV processes the impact sensor data to inform its own target selection. 19. The missile defense system of claim 18, wherein the impact sensor comprises: a reference material configured such that varying and known amounts of the material are consumed during impact with different known objects in the target cloud of known density at closing velocities within a specified range;a probe along the length of the reference material, said probe configured to generate an output indicative of the amount of material consumed during impact; anda circuit configured to readout a probe output as the impact sensor data,wherein the first follower KV processes the impact sensor data to classify the impacted target as one of the different known objects to inform its target selection. 20. The missile defense system of claim 18, further comprising a surface-based station, wherein the launch controller is configured to launch a plurality of N interceptors in a spaced sequence to intercept the target cloud, wherein said observational sensor data and processed mission data is passed backwards from one KV to the next and down to the surface-based station as each KV passes over the surface-based station. 21. The missile defense system of claim 18, further comprising a surface-based station, wherein the launch controller is configured to launch a plurality of N interceptors in a spaced sequence to intercept the target cloud, said surface-based station transmitting updated processed non-KV observational sensor data up to each KV as it passes over and forward from one KV to the next.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (5)
Boka, Jeffrey B.; Mookerjee, Purusottam; Patel, Naresh R., Inertial boost thrust vector control interceptor guidance.
Williams,Darin S; Pflibsen,Kent P.; Crawford,Thomas M., Multiple kill vehicle (MKV) interceptor and method for intercepting exo and endo-atmospheric targets.
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