Radio frequency interferometer and laser rangefinder/destination base targeting system

A threat detection and weapons targeting system for a vehicle comprising:

• a passive sensor that detects emissions from a target;
• a processing means that determines vertical and horizontal angles from the vehicle to the target based on emissions detected by the passive sensor and identifies the target in relation to the terrain and generates a directional signal for pointing the vehicle and vehicle systems towards the target;
• and
• an active sensor which is slewed toward the target in response to the directional signal, said active sensor emits a signal which rebounds off the target and returns to the active sensor where a precise distance calculation is made and provided to the processing means, which in turn is transmitted to the pilot of the vehicle as well as the weapons system.

A threat detection and weapons targeting system for a vehicle comprising:

• a first linear array which receives radio frequency energy and is positioned on said vehicle at a known angle relative to a first axis of a reference coordinate system;
• a second linear array which receives radio frequency energy and is positioned on said vehicle in the same geometric plane as the first array and at an angle relative to the first axis of the reference coordinate system;
• means connected to said first and second linear arrays to determine first and second planes in which the radio frequency energy is received, the first and second planes comprising respective coordinates from the first axis and from a second axis and an angle of arrival of the radio frequency energy;
• means to convert the first and second planes to a directional vector relative to the vehicle, taking into account the orientation of the first and second linear arrays relative to the reference coordinate system and the orientation of the vehicle relative to the reference coordinate system;
• a processing means which receives the vertical and horizontal angles from the passive sensor and identifies the target in relation to the terrain and generates a directional signal for pointing the vehicle and vehicle systems towards the target;
• and
• an active sensor which is slewed toward the target in response to the directional signal, said active sensor emits a signal which rebounds off the target and returns to the active where a precise distance calculation is made and provided to the processing means, which in turn is transmitted to the pilot of the vehicle as well as the weapons system.

A target location system for a vehicle comprising:

• at least one linear array which receives radio frequency energy and is positioned on said vehicle at a known angle relative to a known inertial coordinate system;
• means connected to said at least one linear arrays to determine first and second planes in which the radio frequency energy is received, the first and second planes comprising respective coordinates from the first axis and from a second axis;
• and
• means to convert the first and second planes to a directional vector relative to the vehicle, taking into account the orientation of the at least one linear array relative to the known inertial coordinate system and the orientation of the vehicle relative to the known inertial coordinate system.