Netted communication and weapons system for littoral warfare

• US 20070183783A1
• Filed: 02/07/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Lam, Juan
• Application Number:
  US11/348,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183783A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/123
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/005 the high-energy beam being a laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/806 Arrangements for feeding power

Abstract

A system for projecting energy comprising a platform; an arrangement disposed on the platform for generating a laser beam; an unmanned aerial vehicle; and a relay disposed on the vehicle for redirecting the laser beam. In the illustrative embodiment, the platform is a submarine and the laser beam is provided by an onboard high energy laser. The system further includes a satellite based communication system for exchanging data with the aerial vehicle and the submarine. In the best mode, the device for relaying is a relay mirror. A mirror pointing control system, sensors and terminal homing and communication systems are included on the aerial vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for projecting directed energy comprising:

a platform;

means disposed on said platform for generating a laser beam;

an unmanned aerial vehicle; and

means disposed on said vehicle for relaying said laser beam.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said means for relaying is a relay mirror.

3. The invention of claim 2 further including means disposed on said vehicle for pointing said mirror.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said means for pointing includes a mirror control system.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said means for pointing further includes a communication system disposed on said vehicle.

6. The invention of claim 5 further including a guidance system disposed on said vehicle.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said guidance system is a terminal homing system.

8. The invention of claim 7 further including sensors disposed on said aerial vehicle and operationally coupled to said guidance system.

9. The invention of claim 5 further including a satellite based communication system for exchanging data with said vehicle and said first platform.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said platform is earthbound.

11. The invention of claim 1 wherein said platform is mobile.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said platform is a surface ship.

13. The invention of claim 11 wherein said platform is a submarine.

14. The invention of claim 11 wherein said platform is airborne.

15. A system for projecting energy comprising:

a submarine;

a high energy laser disposed on said submarine;

an unmanned aerial vehicle; and

a relay mirror disposed on said unmanned aerial vehicle for relaying a beam from said laser to a target.

16. A method for projecting energy including the steps of:

projecting a high energy laser beam from a platform and

relaying said beam to a target with a mirror mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle.

17. An unmanned aerial vehicle comprising:

an aerodynamic airframe;

at least one control surface disposed on said airframe;

a communication system disposed on said airframe;

a relay mirror mounted within said airframe; and

a relay mirror position control system electrically coupled to said communication system and mechanically coupled to said relay mirror.

18. A submarine comprising:

a high energy laser;

means for pointing-said laser; and

means for providing power to said laser.