Interception system that employs miniature kill vehicles
AssigneeIsrael Aerospace Industries Ltd.
InventorsGalya GOLDNER, Joseph HASSON
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Abstract
There is provided an interception system that employs miniature kill vehicles. According to certain embodiments of the invention, a small kill-vehicle (KV) accommodated within an interceptor missile together with additional at least one KV, each KV is equipped with an image acquisition sensor operable in the visible or near IR range, and adapted to be launched from the interceptor missile during exo-atmospheric flight and utilizing said sensor for tracking and homing at least one Re-entry Vehicle (RV) of a Ballistic Missile (BM).
Claims22
A small kill-vehicle (KV) accommodated within an interceptor missile together with additional at least one KV, each KV is equipped with an image acquisition sensor operable in the visible or near IR range, and adapted to be launched from the interceptor missile during exo-atmospheric flight and utilizing said sensor for tracking and homing at least one Re-entry Vehicle (RV) of a Ballistic Missile (BM).
An interceptor missile for exo-atmospheric interception of at least one Re-entry Vehicle (RV) of a Ballistic missile (BM), comprising:
- a plurality of small kill-vehicle (KVs) accommodated within the interceptor missile, each KV being equipped with a built-in image acquisition sensor operable in the visible or near IR range, the interceptor missile includes
- sensor operable in the infra-red range;
- illuminator operating in the visible or near IR range,
- control coupled to said image acquisition means and illuminator;
- said sensor is capable of sensing the RV and in response said control is configured to command said illuminator to illuminate the RV;
- said control is further configured to comply with a mission plan and issue a command for launching at least one of said KVs that is configured to track and home the RV utilizing its built in sensor operating in the visible or near IR range.
A method for exo-atmospheric interception of Re-entry Vehicles (RVs) of a Ballistic Missile (BM), comprising:
- a) providing a plurality of small kill-vehicle (KVs) accommodated within an interceptor missile, each KV being equipped with a built-in image acquisition sensor operable in the visible or near IR range;
- b) sensing an RV of a Ballistic missile (BM) and in response illuminating the RV with a beam in the visible or near IR range;
- c) obtaining a mission plan and issuing a command for launching at least one of said KVs that is configured to track and home the RV utilizing its built in sensor operating in the visible or near IR range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.