US 5,855,339 A · System and method for simultaneously guiding multiple missiles

Abstract

A system and method that covertly provides in-flight target update data to a large number of missiles. The system and method covertly guides the missiles using a transponder located on a satellite that relays encoded target update data to receivers located on each of the missiles. The target update data is derived from intelligence data acquired by a remote sensing device. The target update data is typically transmitted to the missile launch site where it is encoded and transmitted to the transponder on the satellite. The encoding is preferably accomplished using direct sequence spread spectrum/code division multiple access (CDMA) encoding produced using unique seeds that are supplied to pseudo random code generators that uniquely encode the data to be transmitted to each missile. The receivers on each of the missiles have pseudo random code generators that are loaded with the unique seeds. The present system and method enable rapid response to fast-changing battlefield environments, particularly where mobile or relocatable targets are involved.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A system for covertly providing a large number of missiles with in-flight updated guidance data improve the ability of the missiles to attack multiple mobile targets, said system comprising:

a plurality of missiles that each comprise a receiver having a pseudo random code generator that contains a unique seed;
a monitoring device having a sensor for generating current target location data indicative of current locations of the multiple mobile targets, and having a transmitter for transmitting the current target location data;
a receiver located at a missile control location for receiving the current target location data;
transmitter means having a pseudo random code generator that contains a plurality of unique seeds that correspond to each of the plurality of missiles, for processing the current target location data to generate uniquely encoded in-flight target updates, and for transmitting the encoded in-flight target updates;
and
a satellite comprising a transponder for receiving the transmitted encoded in-flight target updates and for relaying the target updates to the plurality of missiles;
and wherein the respective receivers in the plurality of missiles each process the relayed encoded in-flight target updates and decode those target updates that were encoded using the corresponding unique seed, and wherein the decoded target updates more accurately guide the missiles to their respective target locations.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for simultaneously guiding multiple missiles

Life of this patent

System and method for simultaneously guiding multiple missiles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14