Multi-function radio frequency (MFRF) module and gun-launched munition with active and semi-active terminal guidance and fuzing sensors

A multi-function radio frequency (MFRF) guided munition, comprising:

• a sub-caliber munition having a diameter of less than 5 inches;
• a plurality of airfoils deployed about the munition and configured to stabilize flight;
• an explosive warhead on the munition;
• four forward-facing antennas conformal with the surface of the sub-caliber munition or the airfoils;
• a rear-facing antenna;
• a MFRF module comprising,
• a frequency synthesizer configured to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal;
• a transmitter configured to upconvert an input waveform from the IF to an RF frequency and to transmit the RF waveform from one or more of the forward-facing antennas;
• and
• a multi-channel analog receiver, each channel coupled to a respective antenna to receive an RF signal and to downconvert the RF signal to an IF signal, amplify the signal and filter noise;
• an analog-to-digital converter configured to digitize the IF signals from the multiple receiver channels;
• an RF signal processor configured to implement a command-guided mode to process the digital IF signal from the rear-facing antenna and output command guidance information until target acquisition, configurable to implement any one of an active guidance mode in which the transmitter is activated and a semi-active guidance mode to process the digital IF signals from the four forward-facing antennas and upon acquisition of the target to derive direction finding information towards the target until terminal, and configurable to implement either of a proximity and height of burst fuze modes by activating the transmitter at terminal and processing the digital IF signal from at least one of the forward-facing antennas to derive range-to-target or Doppler information, said RF signal processor configured for selection and storage of the guidance fuze modes at munition activation just prior to launch;
• a guidance processor configured to process the direction finding information and output a guidance command;
• and
• a control system responsive to the guidance command to maneuver the munition towards the target;
• and
• a fuze processor configured to receive one of the Doppler information or range-to-target as a primary fuze mode to initiate detonation of the warhead.

A multi-function RF (MFRF) module for providing guidance and fuzing sensors to a gun-launched munition, said MFRF module comprising:

• a frequency synthesizer configured to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal;
• a transmitter configured to upconvert an input waveform from the IF to an RF frequency and to transmit the RF waveform from one or more of the forward-facing antennas;
• and
• a multi-channel analog receiver, each channel configured to receive an RF signal from an antenna and to downconvert the RF signal to an IF signal, amplify the signal and filter noise;
• an analog-to-digital converter configured to digitize the IF signals from the multiple receiver channels;
• and
• an RF signal processor configured to implement a command-guided mode to process the digital IF signal from a rear-facing antenna and output command guidance information until target acquisition, configurable to implement any one of an active guidance mode in which the transmitter is activated and a semi-active guidance mode to process the digital IF signals from at least four forward-facing antennas and upon acquisition of the target to derive direction finding information towards the target until terminal, and configurable to implement either of a proximity and height of burst fuze modes by activating the transmitter at terminal and processing the digital IF signal from at least one of the forward-facing antennas to derive range-to-target or Doppler information.