EP0892240A2

EP0892240A2 - Forward engagement missile defense system

Info

Publication number: EP0892240A2
Application number: EP98110508A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter M. Livingston
Original assignee: TRW Inc
Current assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
Priority date: 1997-07-14
Filing date: 1998-06-09
Publication date: 1999-01-20
Also published as: KR19990013454A; CA2235205A1; JPH1183392A

Abstract

A defense system which includes a plurality of laser weapons. The fields of regard of contiguous laser weapons are overlapped to create a battery or forward engagement missile defense system (FENSES). The FENSES effectively increases the killing power of the laser weaponry thus reducing the kill time of such laser weaponry. As such, the vulnerability of such laser weaponry to attack is greatly reduced. Each laser weapon includes a command and control system that is integrated into a master control unit which issues commands to the fire units of the laser weapon systems in order to cause the fire units to act individually, or in groups or as a whole. By increasing the kill power of the laser weaponry through advantageous laser placement, the effects of thermal blooming are greatly reduced.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to laser weaponry and more particularly to laser weapons configured with overlapping fields of regard in order to improve the capabilities of laser weaponry.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Laser weaponry is generally known in the art. An example of such weaponry is disclosed in U.S. patent no. 5, 198,607. Laser tracking systems are also known, for example as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application, serial number 08/729,108, filed on October 11, 1996, and U.S. patent application 08/763,635, filed on December 4, 1996, both assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference.

Laser weaponry has proven to be relatively effective in engaging and destroying hostile ballistic and guided missiles before such hostile missiles can destroy their targets. In such systems, the hostile missile is initially detected by radar and tracked optically by either imaging or non-imaging tracking systems. Imaging type tracking systems normally utilize an electronic camera for detecting and tracking the position of a targeted moving object. While such imaging systems are effective in tracking moving targets, such imaging systems are known to have limitations when used in combination with high power laser weaponry. For example, in such systems the high power laser beam in known to interfere with the known the imaging system potentially causing loss of the tracking of the targeted object. As such, non-imaging type laser tracking systems are known to be used either as an independent device or as an adjunct to an imaging tracking system. An example of such a system is disclosed in copending U.S. patent application 08/631,645, filed on April 2, 1996, entitled "Laser Cross Body Tracker (LACROSST)", assigned to the same assignee as the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference. Such a system includes a laser for generating a single beam of laser energy and beam steering apparatus for steering the beam of laser energy to track a targeted moving object.

Unfortunately, laser based tracking systems and weaponry are subject to what is known as thermal blooming. Thermal blooming results in a change in the refractive index of the beam path as a result of heating the beam path temperature by the laser. The change of the refractive index creates a lens effect that causes the radiation to pattern to expand. In other words, thermal blooming causes the diameter of the laser beam to increase as it moves away from the laser source, thereby decreasing its effectiveness. A detailed explanation of the thermal blooming phenomena is disclosed in U.S. patent no. 5,198,607.

Not only does the thermal blooming phenomenon reduce the effectiveness of laser weaponry and its ability to destroy a target but also makes the laser weapon vulnerable against attack since any targets aimed at the laser weaponry may not be destroyed until the target is close enough to the laser weaponry to cause damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to solve various problems in the prior art.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide reduce the vulnerability of laser weaponry to attack.

Briefly, the present invention relates to a defense system which includes a plurality of laser weapons. The fields of regard of contiguous laser weapons are overlapped to create a battery or forward engagement missile defense system (FENSES). The FENSES effectively increases the killing power of the laser weapon and thus reduces the kill time of individual laser weaponry. As such, the vulnerability of such laser weapons to attack is greatly reduced. Each laser weapon includes a command and control system that is integrated into a master control unit which can command the fire units of such laser weaponry to act individually or in groups or as a whole to increase the kill power of such laser weaponry. By increasing the kill power of the laser weaponry, the effects of thermal blooming are greatly reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects of the present will be readily understood with reference to the following specification and attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the forward engagement missile defense system (FENSES) in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for the FENSES in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A forward engagement missile defense system (FENSES) in accordance with the present invention is generally illustrated in FIG. 1 and identified with reference numeral 20. The FENSES 20 is adapted to be utilized virtually with any number of

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26. The

laser weapon system

22, 24 and 26 are configured with overlapping fields of regard. In other words, the

laser weapons systems

22, 24 and 26 are physically positioned such that more than one laser weapon at a time may be directed at targets fired at individual laser weapons systems. As such, the vulnerability of individual

laser weapons systems

22, 24 and 26 to attack is greatly decreased. In particular as mentioned above, laser weapons are subject to what is known as thermal blooming. For hostile missiles directed at individual laser weapon systems, the thermal blooming effect has been known to reduce the killing power of the

laser weapons

22, 24 and 26 and allow the missiles to be destroyed close enough to the

laser weapon system

22, 24 and 26 to cause damage. As such, by providing

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 with overlapping fields of regard the kill power of such laser weapons is increased thereby reducing, the vulnerability of each of the

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 to attack. There are two reasons why the kill power of the laser weapon is increased; (1) all targets have high slew rates when viewed from one or another of the lasers. High slew rates mean low thermal blooming. (2) two lasers may attack the same target at the same point on the target. If the laser spots are locked together on the target, the kill time is halved, whatever thermal blooming occurs.

In addition to reducing the vulnerability of the various

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 to individual attack, the FENSES 20 in accordance with the present invention, also provides other advantages. For example, the laser weapon system, 22, 24 and 26 may either be operated autonomously or in selected groups depending on the battle conditions. For example, the

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 may be arranged and controlled to overwhelm an enemy battle line with large salvos at relatively high rates. In addition, the

laser weapon system

22, 24 and 26 under the control of the master control unit 28 can be used to shift the laser defense along the battle lines as required.

The FENSES 20 is adapted to be utilized with convention

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 as well as conventional radar 30. A radar unit 30 is shown in communication with the master control unit 28. However, individual radar units associated with one or more of the

laser weapons

22, 24 and 26 are also contemplated. Each of the laser weapon systems, 22, 24 and 26 are adapted to be in communication with the master control unit 28 by virtually any type of communication link, illustrated with the

reference numerals

32, 34 and 36. The communication links 32, 34 and 36 can be wired links or radio links.

An important aspect of the invention is that each of the

laser weapon system

22, 24 and 26 are integrated with the master control unit 28 to provide the capabilities of directing multiple

laser weapons systems

22, 24 and 26 at individual hostile missiles or targets. Enemy targets are adapted to be detected by conventional radar 30 with the radar data being communicated to the master control unit 28 by way of a conventional communication link 38. Once a hostile missile is detected by the radar unit 30, the master control unit 38 determines the track of the missile in a conventional manner. The master control unit 28 then communicates with the

laser weapon system

22, 24 and 26 over the

conventional communication links

32, 24 and 36 to assign one or more

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 to kill the detected missile. As mentioned above, the master control unit 28 can be used to direct individual or

multiple laser system

22, 24 and 26 to kill a particular target depending on whether the individual

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 are being fired upon or whether it is desired to shift a laser defense along the battle line. Once the

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 are directed to kill a target, the

laser weapon system

22, 24 and 26 operate autonomously. Unlike the weapon defense system disclosed in U.S. patent no. 5,206,452, the FENSES 20 allows multiple

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 to be directed to a single target whereas the weapons defense system disclosed in the '452 patent only allows one

laser weapon system

22, 24 and 26 to engage a given target. By providing the ability of multiple

laser weapon system

22, 24 and 26 to engage a single target, the vulnerability of such

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 to attack is greatly reduced.

A flow diagram for the master control unit 28 is illustrated in FIG. 2. Initially the targets are sensed by the radar unit 30 in a conventional manner in step 40. The track of the target is determined in step 42 in a conventional manner, for example as disclosed in U.S. patent no. 5,206,452, hereby incorporated by reference. Depending on whether the track of the target is directed to one of the

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26, the master control unit 28 will direct one or more

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 to kill the target. As mentioned above, if the system determines in step 42 that one of the

laser weapon units

22, 24, 26 is being fired upon, the master control unit 28 can direct multiple laser weapon systems, 22, 24 and 26 with overlapping fields of regard to kill the target, for example in step 44. As such, the vulnerability of the

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 to attack is greatly reduced.

As mentioned above, the FENSES 20, depending on the track of the target, can also direct single laser weapons at individual targets as illustrated in step 46 in similar manner as disclosed in U.S. patent no. 5,206,452 except that individual

laser weapon system

22, 24 and 26 are not inhibited from firing at targets being engaged by other

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26.

The

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26, each include a laser weapon 48, a command and control system 50 and a pointer tracker 52. The

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 may be formed from conventional laser weapons 48 and command and control systems 50, for example as disclosed in U.S. patent no. 4,647,759 hereby incorporated by reference. The pointer tracker systems 52 utilized in each of the

laser weapon systems

22, 24 and 26 may be known laser type non-imaging laser type systems for example, as disclosed in U.S. patent application 08/763,635, filed on December 4, 1996 and U.S. patent application 08/729,108, filed on October 11, 1996, both assigned to the same assignee of the present invention and hereby incorporated by reference. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Thus, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described above.

Claims

A missile defense system comprising:

a plurality of laser weapon systems; and

means for directing said plurality of laser weapon systems onto a single target.
The missile defense system as recited in claim 1, further including means for directing one of said plurality of laser weapons systems onto a single target.
The missile defense system as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of laser weapon systems, each include a laser weapons are configured to have an overlapping field of regard.
The missile defense system as recited in claim 1, wherein said directing means includes a master control unit.
The missile defense system as recited in claim 4, wherein said master control unit includes means for receiving information regarding a target communication link.
The missile defense system as recited in claim 4, wherein said master control unit includes means for communicating with said plurality of laser weapon systems.
The missile defense system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said laser weapon systems includes a command control system.
The missile defense system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said laser weapon systems includes a pointer tracker.
A defense system for controlling a plurality of laser weapon systems, the defense system comprising:

means for receiving radar data regarding targets,

means for communicating with said plurality of laser weapon systems; and

means for directing said plurality of laser weapon systems to fire (adjust spec) on a single target.
The defense system as recited in claim 9, wherein said receiving means includes a radar unit and means for communications said radar data to said directing means.
The defense system as recited in claim 9, further including means for directing one of said plurality of laser weapons systems onto a single target.
The defense system as recited in claim 9, wherein said plurality of laser weapon systems, each include a laser weapons are configured to have an overlapping field of regard.
The defense system as recited in claim 9, wherein said directing means includes a master control unit.
The defense system as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said laser weapon systems includes a command control system.
The defense system as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said laser weapon systems includes a pointer tracker.