System and method for launching a missile from a flying aircraft

Method for launching a missile from a launch region within the atmosphere of a planet, the missile being located within a flying vehicle before launching the missile, the method comprising the procedures of:

• ejecting said missile and a missile support from inside of said flying vehicle, said missile being coupled with said missile support;
• moving a control-surface mechanism from a folded position to an operational position, said control-surface mechanism being coupled with said missile support;
• rolling said missile support about a longitudinal axis of said missile support;
• maneuvering said missile support and said missile, by said control-surface mechanism, to a predetermined upward orientation suitable for launching said missile;
• detecting when said missile and said missile support reach said predetermined upward orientation;
• decoupling said missile from said missile support after said missile and said missile support reach said predetermined upward orientation;
• and
• activating the propulsion system of said missile to launch said missile.

System for launching a missile from a launch region within the atmosphere of a planet, the missile being carried to the launch region by a flying vehicle while the missile is coupled externally with the flying vehicle, the system comprising:

• a missile support coupled with said missile and with said flying vehicle, said missile support and said missile being located outside of said flying vehicle, said missile support being decoupled from said flying vehicle when said flying vehicle is at said launch region;
• and
• a control-surface mechanism coupled with said missile support, said control-surface mechanism maneuvering said missile and said missile support to a predetermined upward orientation suitable for launching said missile,
• a release controller including an orientation detector, the orientation detector being coupled with said missile support to detect when said missile and said missile support reach said predetermined upward orientation;
• and
• at least one release mechanism coupled with said release controller,
• wherein said at least one releasable mechanism couples said missile with said missile support before said missile and said missile support reach said predetermined upward orientation, and
• wherein said at least one releasable mechanism decouples said missile from said missile support, according to a signal received from said release controller, after said missile and said missile support reach said predetermined upward orientation, and
• wherein said missile is launched after decoupling from said missile support.

Method for launching a missile from a launch region within the atmosphere of a planet, the missile being carried to the launch region by a flying vehicle while the missile is coupled externally with the flying vehicle, the method comprising the procedures of:

• decoupling a missile support from said flying vehicle, said missile support coupling said missile with said flying vehicle, while said flying vehicle is flying toward said launch region;
• maneuvering said missile support and said missile, by a control-surface mechanism coupled with said missile support, to a predetermined upward orientation suitable for launching said missile;
• detecting when said missile and said missile support reach said predetermined upward orientation;
• decoupling said missile from said missile support after said missile and said missile support reach said predetermined upward orientation;
• and
• activating the propulsion system of said missile to launch said missile.