Methods and apparatuses for active protection from aerial threats

An active protection system comprising an intercept vehicle carried by an aircraft, the active protection system comprising:

• a controller comprising:
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the active protection system to:
• deploy a first intercept vehicle from a platform and cause the first intercept vehicle to exit a vicinity of the platform;
• cause the first intercept vehicle to perform a pitch maneuver with a plurality of pitch thrusters of the first intercept vehicle to align the first intercept vehicle along an intercept vector pointed substantially toward a projected intercept point with an identified aerial threat after the first intercept vehicle exits the vicinity of the platform;
• cause the first intercept vehicle to perform a thrust maneuver with a rocket motor of the first intercept vehicle to accelerate the first intercept vehicle along the intercept vector;
• deploy a second intercept vehicle from the platform and align the second intercept vehicle along the intercept vector;
• and
• cause the second intercept vehicle to perform a thrust maneuver with a rocket motor of the second intercept vehicle to accelerate the second intercept vehicle along the intercept vector.

An active protection system comprising an intercept vehicle carried by an aircraft, 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;
• a rocket motor configured to accelerate the intercept vehicle along the intercept vector after the intercept vehicle is aligned with the intercept vector;
• one or more sensors configured to acquire data regarding conditions during flight of the intercept vehicle;
• a controller operably coupled to the alignment thrusters, the rocket motor, and the one or more sensors, the controller comprising:
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• receive data from the one or more sensors;
• and
• responsive to the received data, adjust a flight path of the intercept vehicle.

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;
• one or more sensors configured to acquire data regarding conditions during flight of the intercept vehicle;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the alignment thrusters and the one or more sensors, the controller comprising:
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
• receive data from the one or more sensors;
• and
• responsive to the received data, adjust a flight path of the intercept vehicle.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a controller comprising:
• at least one processor;
• and
• at least one computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the vehicle to:
• perform a first action of a launch sequence to leave a platform;
• perform a second action of the launch sequence after the first action of the launch sequence, the second action comprising performing a pitch maneuver with a plurality of pitch thrusters of the vehicle to align the vehicle along a vector pointed substantially toward a target;
• and
• perform a thrust maneuver with a rocket motor of the vehicle to accelerate the vehicle.