Multiple kill vehicle (MKV) interceptor and method for intercepting exo and endo-atmospheric targets

A multiple kill vehicle (MKV) interceptor for launch on a multi-stage rocket booster to intercept targets, comprising:

• A carrier vehicle (CV);
• and
• A plurality of kill vehicles (KVs) initially stored on said carrier vehicle for release to intercept the targets,
• Said CV including an acquisition and discrimination sensor subsystem for passively detecting a first signature in a first band, a control sensor subsystem for actively detecting a second return signature in a second band, and a CV processor for processing the first signature to discriminate candidate targets from a target cloud and designate one of the candidate targets for each said KV and processing the second return signature to track the designated targets and issue guidance commands, and an external commlink for transmitting the respective guidance commands to the released KVs pre-handover;
• and
• Each said KV including an imaging sensor subsystem for detecting a third signature in a third band, a divert and attitude control system (DACS) and a KV processor for processing the third signature to track its target post-handover and control the DACS to maneuver the KV to intercept relying on the kinetic energy of the KV to destroy the target.

A multiple kill vehicle (MKV) interceptor for launch on a multi-stage rocket booster to intercept targets, comprising:

• A carrier vehicle (CV);
• and
• A plurality of kill vehicles (KVs) initially stored on said carrier vehicle and then released to intercept the targets,
• Each said KV including an imaging sensor subsystem for detecting a signature, a processor and a divert and attitude control system (DACS);
• Said CV including a mechanism for releasing the KVs, each KV processor controlling the DACS to initiate a spin that continuously sweeps a narrow field-of-view (FOV) visible sensor through a star field area the FOV width and use the imaged star field to determine initial orientation, said processor controlling the DACS to divert the KV to acquire a target track whereby the processor processes the detected signature of the target and guides the KV to intercept relying on the kinetic energy of the KV to destroy the target.

A multiple kill vehicle (MKV) interceptor for launch on a multi-stage rocket booster to intercept targets, comprising:

• A carrier vehicle (CV);
• A plurality of kill vehicles (KVs) initially stored on said carrier vehicle for release to intercept the targets;
• and
• A man made airborne source of external illumination for illuminating the targets;
• Said CV including a first sensor subsystem for detecting a first signature off of the targets, a CV processor for processing the first signature to track said targets and issue guidance commands, and an external commlink to transmitting the respective guidance commands to the released KVs pre-handover;
• and
• Each said KV including a short-band imaging sensor for detecting a return signature from a target illuminated by said source post-handover, a divert and attitude control system (DACS), a KV processor for processing the second signature to select a desirable aimpoint on the target and controlling the DACS to maneuver the KV to impact the track on the aimpoint relying on the kinetic energy of the KV to destroy the target.

A method of intercepting targets, comprising:

• Using a multi-stage rocket booster to launch a multiple kill vehicle (MKV) interceptor on a path to intercept a target cloud, said interceptor including a plurality of KVs stored on a control vehicle (CV);
• Releasing the KVs from the CV and diverting them toward the targets;
• Passively detecting signatures on the CV of the incoming targets to acquire the targets and refine the track of the KV towards the candidate targets;
• Handing over target designation and tracking responsibility from the CV to the multiple deployed KVs;
• Using a man-made airborne source to illuminate the targets;
• Sensing the return signatures off of the illuminated targets at the respective KVs;
• and
• At each KV, computing an aimpoint on the designated target from the return signature and refining the track on the aimpoint to target intercept relying on the kinetic energy of the KV to destroy the target.