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US 10,948,909 B2Granted
Methods and apparatuses for engagement management of aerial threats
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
InventorsJames Kolanek, Behshad Baseghi, David Sharpin, Anthony Visco, Falin Shieh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments include engagement management systems and methods for managing engagement with aerial threats. Such systems include radar modules and detect aerial threats within a threat range of a base location. The systems also track intercept vehicles and control flight paths and detonation capabilities of the intercept vehicles. The systems are capable of communication between multiple engagement management systems and coordinated control of multiple intercept vehicles.
Claims45
An active protection system comprising:
- an intercept vehicle carried by an aircraft;
- and
- an engagement management system comprising a guidance processor configured to:
- generate launch commands for causing the intercept vehicle to be launched from the aircraft;
- generate timing and firing requirements for alignment thrusters of the intercept vehicle to perform a pitch maneuver to at least substantially align a longitudinal axis of the intercept vehicle with a intercept vector prior to initiating a rocket motor of the intercept vehicle;
- and
- transmit the timing and firing requirements for the alignment thrusters to the intercept vehicle.
4 more elements
An active targeting system, comprising:
- an intercept vehicle configured to be released from a platform, the intercept vehicle comprising:
- alignment thrusters configured to rotate the intercept vehicle about an axis orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the intercept vehicle to at least substantially align the longitudinal axis of the intercept vehicle with an intercept vector via a pitch maneuver;
- and
- divert thrusters configured to divert the intercept vehicle in a direction transverse to a flight path of the intercept vehicle
- an engagement management system disposed on the platform, the engagement management system comprising a guidance processor configured to generate guidance commands including divert thrust vectors for determining when to fire the divert thrusters of the intercept vehicle to divert the intercept vehicle in a direction transverse to the flight path of the intercept vehicle after the intercept vehicle is released from the platform.
2 more elements
A method of intercepting an aerial threat, comprising:
- releasing an intercept vehicle from a platform during a first action of a launch sequence;
- causing the intercept vehicle to perform a second different action of the launch sequence after releasing the intercept vehicle from the platform, the second different action comprising performing a pitch maneuver with a plurality of pitch thrusters of the intercept vehicle to align the intercept vehicle along an intercept vector pointed substantially toward a projected intercept point with an identified aerial threat;
- and
- performing a divert maneuver with one or more divert thrusters of the intercept vehicle to divert the intercept vehicle from the intercept vector one or more times after commencement of accelerating the intercept vehicle.
1 more element
A method of engaging an aerial threat, comprising:
- determining intercept vectors for respective use by one or more intercept vehicles responsive to information from detection of a targeted object and detection of the one or more intercept vehicles, the intercept vectors directed toward an interception point with a corresponding intercept vehicle and the targeted object;
- generating and sending pitch commands to the one or more intercept vehicles to cause the one or more intercept vehicles to perform a pitch maneuver to orient the intercept vehicle toward its intercept vector after launch thereof;
- determining flight adjustments for the one or more intercept vehicles during their respective flights;
- and
- sending guidance commands related to the flight adjustments to the one or more intercept vehicles to cause divert thrusters of the one or more intercept vehicles to fire during their respective flights.
2 more elements
An intercept vehicle, comprising:
- a rocket motor configured to accelerate the intercept vehicle in direction collinear with a longitudinal axis of the intercept vehicle, and to impose a spin on the intercept vehicle;
- divert thrusters, each divert thruster configured to, upon activation, laterally divert the intercept vehicle from a current flight path in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the intercept vehicle;
- and
- a controller configured to receive guidance commands from a remote engagement management system and activate one or more of the divert thrusters at different times and at specific spin positions during the current flight path toward an intercept point.
1 more element
An intercept vehicle, comprising:
- pitch thrusters mounted in a nose region of the intercept vehicle, the pitch thrusters configured and oriented to cause both a lateral and a rotational acceleration about a center of gravity of the intercept vehicle;
- a boost motor configured to accelerate the intercept vehicle along a longitudinal axis of the intercept vehicle and to impose a spin on the intercept vehicle;
- and
- a controller configured to activate one or more of the pitch thrusters responsive to receiving pitch commands from a remote engagement management system, and to orient a longitudinal axis of the intercept vehicle to point toward a targeted object after launch of the intercept vehicle and prior to activation of the boost motor.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.