Guided munition
AssigneeMbda UK Limited
InventorsLee Douglas Miller, George William Game
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A guided munition (10) includes a warhead (20) within the nose section (60) and processing electronics (30) arranged within the munition (10) behind the warhead (20). A plurality of sensors (50) are arranged within the nose section (60) for sensing a target. The sensors (50) are remote from but in communication with the processing electronics (30).
Claims19
A guided munition including a nose section, the munition including
- (i) a warhead at least partially within the nose section,
- (ii) a plurality of sensors arranged within the nose section for generating sensor information for use in sensing a target, and
- (iii) seeker processing electronics for processing generated sensor information to provide data for use in guiding the munition to a sensed target, wherein the processing electronics are arranged behind the warhead and the sensors are remote from but in communication with the processing electronics.
A guided munition as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each sensor includes pre-processing equipment such as signal-conditioning electronics.
A guided munition as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each sensor is in communication with the processing electronics by means of a respective connection.
A guided munition as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sensors are arranged in front of the warhead.
A guided munition as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the processing electronics is configured to combine signals received from the sensors in order to provide a composite representation of the field of view of all of the sensors.
A guided munition as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the munition includes at least one source of electromagnetic radiation for illuminating a target.
A guided munition as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the sensors are configured to filter received radiation.
A guided munition as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sensors are in communication with the processing electronics via an RF link.
Guidance apparatus for a guided munition that includes a nose section and a warhead within the nose section, the guidance apparatus comprising processing electronics configured to be positioned behind the warhead and a plurality of remote sensors configured to be arranged within the nose section for sensing a target such that the sensors are remote from but in communication with the processing electronics.
A guided munition or guidance apparatus substantially as described hereinbefore, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.