Aircraft missile-hit survivability using infrared lamp and sacrificial support structure
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorGregory J. Czarnecki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An aircraft missile vulnerability reduction system based on missile hit acceptance whereby a targeted aircraft's most critical components are protected by a preprogrammed, missile-attracting infrared decoy strategically positioned on a sacrificial portion of the aircraft's structure. The decoy is optimally located based on vulnerability analyses and includes multiple modes of operation that configure to instantaneous survivability needs. The system is capable of providing aircraft survivability against shoulder launched man-portable air defense systems missiles during low-level mission flight scenarios.
Claims19
A mode selectable, preprogrammable, aircraft missile hit vulnerability reducing system comprising:
- an infrared light source;
- a plurality of computer controlled directional light emission controlling shutters surrounding said infrared light source;
- connecting means securing said infrared light source and said plurality of light emission controlling shutters to an aircraft sacrificial support structure;
- and
- an aircraft pilot input responsive computer processing unit controlling mode and operation of said infrared light source and said directional light emission controlling shutters producing an aircraft thermal signature corresponding to mission requirements.
A mode selectable, preprogrammable, aircraft missile hit vulnerability reducing method comprising the steps of:
- identifying a sacrificial support structure on a protected aircraft;
- performing a vulnerability assessment using an missile damage template and probable missile approach directions to identify least catastrophic aircraft hit points on said sacrificial support structure;
- placing an infrared lamp at a least critical and most optimized location on said sacrificial support structure;
- and
- selecting lamp operating frequencies and intensities minimizing a thermal signature of said aircraft and attracting infrared seeking missiles.
A mode selectable, preprogrammable, aircraft missile hit vulnerability reducing system comprising:
- a plurality of computer controlled parabolic reflectors;
- a plurality of computer controlled infrared light sources each received in one of said parabolic reflectors;
- a transparent housing enclosing said plurality of computer controlled parabolic reflectors;
- connecting means securing said transparent housing to an aircraft sacrificial support structure;
- and
- an aircraft pilot input responsive computer processing unit controlling emission of said infrared light sources and position and angle of said computer controlled parabolic reflectors;
- said emission of infrared light and infrared light wavelength and position and angle of said parabolic reflectors dependent on a desired thermal signature relative to mission requirements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.