Projectile, and system and method for steering a projectile

A system for steering a projectile moving through a fluid medium towards a target, the system comprising:

• at least one projectile configured for moving through a fluid medium, and having a longitudinal axis, and further configured to be fired from a weapons barrel, the projectile comprising:
• a steering assembly;
• a shell body rotatably mounted to the steering assembly about the longitudinal axis;
• an attitude control system;
• a despin module;
• an electromagnetic receiver/emitter system;
• and
• a controller;
• wherein:
• the attitude control system comprises a ram air inlet in selective open fluid communication with an exhaust assembly via a fluid passageway provided in said steering assembly, the exhaust assembly comprising a plurality of exhaust outlets to selectively generate each of a plurality of thrust jets from a ram air inflow provided by said ram air inlet, each said thrust jet being selectively controllable via said controller to thereby generate steering control moments to the shell in operate thereof;
• the despin module is configured for selectively de-spinning said steering assembly with respect to said shell body about said longitudinal axis;
• and
• the electromagnetic receiver/emitter system is configured for at least one of receiving and emitting electromagnetic energy, and for cooperating with said controller for operating said exhaust assembly to thereby selectively provide said steering control moments;
• a sensor system, configured for providing imaging data of the fired projectile and of the target;
• a transmitter;
• and
• a control module operatively coupled to said sensor system and to said transmitter, wherein the control module is configured for receiving image data from the sensor system and for processing these image data to selectively provide control signals to said transmitter;
• wherein said transmitter is configured for transmitting course correction command signals to the projectile, responsive to receiving said control signals and corresponding thereto;
• wherein said projectile is configured to effect a course correction responsive to receiving said course correction command signals.

A system for steering a projectile moving through a fluid medium towards a target, the system comprising:

• at least one projectile configured for moving through a fluid medium, and having a longitudinal axis, and further configured to be fired from a weapons barrel, the projectile comprising:
• a steering assembly;
• a shell body rotatably mounted to the steering assembly about the longitudinal axis;
• an attitude control system;
• a despin module;
• an electromagnetic receiver/emitter system;
• and
• a controller;
• wherein:
• the attitude control system comprises a ram air inlet in selective open fluid communication with an exhaust assembly via a fluid passageway provided in said steering assembly, the exhaust assembly comprising a plurality of exhaust outlets to selectively generate each of a plurality of thrust jets from a ram air inflow provided by said ram air inlet, each said thrust jet being selectively controllable via said controller to thereby generate steering control moments to the shell in operate thereof;
• the despin module is configured for selectively de-spinning said steering assembly with respect to said shell body about said longitudinal axis;
• and
• the electromagnetic receiver/emitter system is configured for at least one of receiving and emitting electromagnetic energy, and for cooperating with said controller for operating said exhaust assembly to thereby selectively provide said steering control moments;
• and
• an electromagnetic illuminator configured for illuminating the target with electromagnetic energy such that said fired projectile can receive reflected electromagnetic energy from the target;
• wherein said projectile is configured to effect a course correction responsive to receiving said reflected electromagnetic energy from the target.