# US 8,464,949 B2 · Method and system for countering an incoming threat > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,464,949 B2 - Document ID: US8464949B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/034,545 - Filed: 2011-02-24 - Published: 2012-08-30 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-24 - Assignees: Raytheon Company - Applicants: Mark A. Namey; James F. Kviatkofsky; James R. Toplicar - Inventors: Mark A. Namey; James F. Kviatkofsky; James R. Toplicar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464949B2 ## CPC - F41G 7/007: {Preparatory measures taken before the launching of the guided missiles} - F41G 3/04: for dispersing fire from a battery {; for controlling spread of shots; for coordinating fire from spaced weapons} - F41G 3/14: Indirect aiming means - F41H 5/007: Reactive armour; Dynamic armour - F41H 11/02: Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile {or anti-torpedo} defence installations or systems (cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; {informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00}) - F41G: WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING (optical aspects thereof G02B) - F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A method including detecting a threat incoming to a vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of countermeasures including a primary armament and an active protection system, communicating the detected threat to a controller, activating, with the controller, a first sensor in response to the detecting, the first sensor tracking the incoming threat and generating tracking data, routing, with the controller, the tracking data to a plurality of fire control processors, each of the plurality of fire control processors being associated with a respective one of the plurality of countermeasures, and the plurality of fire control processors simultaneously computing respective firing solutions using the tracking data, and determining, with the controller, a preferred countermeasure out of the plurality of countermeasures with which to counter the incoming threat. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: detecting a threat incoming to a vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of countermeasures including a primary armament and an active protection system; communicating the detected threat to a controller; activating, with the controller, a first sensor in response to the detecting, the first sensor tracking the incoming threat and generating tracking data; routing, with the controller, the tracking data to a plurality of fire control processors, each of the plurality of fire control processors being associated with a respective one of the plurality of countermeasures and being configured to compute respective firing solutions using the tracking data; and determining, with the controller, a preferred countermeasure out of the plurality of countermeasures with which to counter the incoming threat. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of countermeasures includes a secondary armament. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the primary armament is a turret-based armament configured to fire explosive rounds containing shrapnel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the preferred countermeasure is based at least in part on the tracking data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: authorizing firing of the preferred countermeasure using the firing solution associated with the preferred countermeasure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the active protection system includes an interceptor launcher configured to launch explosive interceptors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: activating a second sensor in response to the detecting, the second sensor tracking the incoming threat and generating further tracking data; wherein the routing the tracking data includes routing the further tracking data. ### Claim 8 A threat countering system, the system comprising: a first sensor configured to detect an incoming threat and generate tracking data associated with the incoming threat; a plurality of countermeasures including a primary armament and an active protection system; a plurality of fire control processors, each of the plurality of fire control processors being associated with a respective one of the plurality of countermeasures and being configured to compute respective firing solutions using the tracking data; and a controller coupled to the first sensor and the plurality of fire control processors, the controller configured to receive the detected incoming threat and determine a preferred countermeasure out of the plurality of countermeasures with which to counter the incoming threat. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The threat countering system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of countermeasures includes a secondary armament. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The threat countering system of claim 8, wherein the primary armament is a turret-based armament configured to fire explosive rounds containing shrapnel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The threat countering system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further operable to determine the preferred countermeasure based at least in part on the tracking data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The threat countering system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further operable to authorize firing the preferred countermeasure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The threat countering system of claim 8, wherein the active protection system includes an interceptor launcher configured to launch explosive interceptors. ### Claim 14 A threat countering system, the system comprising: a first sensor configured to detect an incoming threat and generate tracking data associated with the incoming threat; an active protection system; and a controller coupled to the first sensor and active protection system and operable to receive the tracking data from the first sensor and determine a preferred countermeasure from a plurality of countermeasures with which to counter the incoming threat; wherein the plurality of countermeasures includes the active protection system and a primary armament, wherein the controller is further operable to route the tracking data to a plurality of fire control processors, each of the plurality of fire control processors being associated with a respective one of the plurality of countermeasures; and wherein the plurality of fire control processors are operable to simultaneously compute a respective firing solution for each of the plurality of countermeasures using the tracking data. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The threat countering system of claim 8, further comprising: a second sensor coupled to the controller and configured to generate further tracking data associated with the incoming threat; wherein the controller is further operable to receive the further tracking data. ### Claim 16 A threat countering system, the system comprising: a controller including a processor and a memory; a passive sensor operable to detect muzzle flash indicative of a launch of an incoming threat; a sensor system configured to generate tracking data associated with the incoming threat; an active protection system; and software stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the controller to perform operations comprising: receiving an indication from the passive sensor of an incoming threat; activating the sensor system such that the sensor system generates tracking data associated with the incoming threat; receiving tracking data from the sensor system; determining a preferred countermeasure out of a plurality of countermeasures with which to counter the incoming threat, the plurality of countermeasures including the active protection system and a primary armament of a vehicle; authorizing firing of the preferred countermeasure; and routing the tracking data from the sensor system to a plurality of fire control processors, each of the plurality of fire control processors being associated with a respective one of the plurality of countermeasures, and the plurality of fire control processors simultaneously computing a respective firing solution for each of the plurality of countermeasures using the tracking data. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The threat countering system of claim 16, wherein the determining a preferred countermeasure is based at least in part on the tracking data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The threat countering system of claim 16, wherein the primary armament is a turret-based armament configured to fire explosive rounds containing shrapnel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The threat countering system of claim 16, wherein the active protection system includes an interceptor launcher configured to launch explosive interceptors.