Missile system with multiple submunitions
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsWayne V. Spate, Arthur J. Schneider, Michael B. McFarland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-staged missile includes a booster and a submunition delivery vehicle that has one or more submunitions. The booster rapidly accelerates the submunition vehicle, and then separates from the submunition vehicle. The submunition delivery vehicle is then maneuvered to approach a target. Individual submunitions finally separate, and are individually guided to the target. By providing multiple, independently-targeted submunitions, the missile greatly increases the chances of hitting the target.
Claims20
A missile for hitting a moving target, the missile comprising:
- a booster;
- and
- a submunition delivery vehicle separably coupled to the booster;
- wherein the submunition delivery vehicle includes:
- at least one submunition;
- and
- a beacon coupled to the at least one submunition;
- wherein the beacon is configured to emit a signal indicating position of the submunition delivery vehicle.
A missile for hitting a moving target, the missile comprising:
- a booster;
- and
- a submunition delivery vehicle separably coupled to the booster;
- wherein the submunition delivery vehicle includes:
- multiple independently-maneuverable submunitions;
- and
- a beacon coupled to the submunitions;
- wherein the beacon is configured to emit a signal indicating position of the submunition delivery vehicle;
- wherein the submunitions each include:
- an articulatable nose;
- a nose actuator operatively coupled to the nose to position the nose;
- controller electronics operatively coupled to the nose actuator to control steering of the submunition;
- a beacon configured to emit a signal indicating position of the submunition;
- a tail cavity capable of receiving a nose of another of the submunitions;
- and
- deployable fins;
- and
- wherein the submunitions are arrayed in line along an axis of the submunition delivery vehicle.
A method of hitting a target with a missile, comprising:
- accelerating the missile using a booster of the missile;
- separating the booster from a submunition delivery vehicle of the missile, wherein the submunition delivery vehicle includes multiple independently-guidable submunitions;
- separating the submunitions from the submunition delivery vehicle;
- and
- independently guiding the submunitions to the target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.