Method and defense system for combating threats
AssigneeRheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH
InventorsMarkus Jung, Alexander Graf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
It is proposed to make a threat better visible for a defensive measure. In this context, the threat (2) should be imaged more intensely for the defensive measure. For the purposes of more effective imaging, provision is made for the threat to emit a stronger IR signature and thus be able to stand out sufficiently against the background for the defensive measure. The stronger IR signature is caused by heating a surface of the threat, which is realized by a laser weapons system. The defensive measure can better detect this heating and has an IR seeker head to this end.
Claims15
A method for defense from a threat comprising:
- detecting the threat;
- emitting a laser beam of a laser system onto the threat;
- striking the laser beam on a surface of the threat;
- heating, via the laser beam, the surface of the threat at least in a punctiform manner to provide a heated surface;
- and
- detecting, by an IR seeker of a defense measure, the heated surface of the threat, the defense measure being separate from the laser system.
A defense system for protecting an object from a threat, the system comprising:
- at least one detection device;
- at least one laser weapon system for heating a surface of the threat;
- and
- at least one weapon for discharging a defense measure, the at least one weapon for discharging the defense measure being separate from the at least one laser weapon system and the defense measure having an IR seeker to detect the surface heated by the at least one laser weapon system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.