Method for Controlling a Torpedo, Torpedo Therefor and Antenna Section of Such a Torpedo

• US 20120037059A1
• Filed: 04/23/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atlas Elektronik GmbH (Thyssenkrupp AG)
• Original Assignee: Sebaldsbrucker Heerstrasse 235
• Inventors: Brenner, Axel
• Application Number:
  US13/259,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20120037059A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/21.2
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/008 Combinations of different guidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2246 Active homing systems, i.e. comprising both a transmitter and a receiver
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/228 using acoustic waves, e.g. for torpedoes
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/306 for transmitting guidance signals; F41G7/308 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/32 for wire-guided missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/346 using global navigation satellite systems, e.g. GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/36 using inertial references
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 19/01 Steering control
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 19/10 remotely controlled, e.g. by sonic or radio control control systems using wire F41G7/32

Abstract

A method for controlling a torpedo to at least one target. In order to increase the range of the torpedo, the torpedo, during the travel thereof to the target, submerges once or several times into the near-surface region of a water system that is adjacent to the water surface, wherein, however, the torpedo also remains immersed in said near-surface region. The torpedo then extends a radio antenna into a surface region above the water surface and subsequently receives position data containing target position data of the target by way of said radio antenna and uses said position data to head for the target. The invention further relates to a torpedo comprising an antenna section having an extendable radio antenna. Further, the invention relates to such an antenna section.

Claims

1. A method for steering a torpedo (1) to at least one target (Z), wherein the torpedo (1) surfaces one or more times in the area of a waterway (4) close to the surface and adjacent to the water surface during its journey to the target (Z), wherein the torpedo (1) also remains submerged, however, in this area close to the surface and extends a radio antenna (10) into an above-water area above the water surface, wherein

the torpedo (1) then receives position data via the radio antenna (10), which position data has target position data relating to the target and is transmitted to the torpedo (1) from a land-based, airborne or seaborne control center (12), and uses this position data in order to steer to the target (Z).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the torpedo (1) is fitted with a torpedo sonar (19) with a limited detection range and is launched outside a so-called target detection area (42) which is determined by the detection range around a target (Z), within which target detection area (42) the detection range is sufficient to detect the target (Z), and wherein the torpedo (1) is steered to the target (Z) by means of the torpedo sonar (19) on reaching a target region (37) which is located within the target detection area (42).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the position data is used to determine own position data for the torpedo (1) which is obtained by means of a satellite-based, airborne, land-based and/or seaborne navigation system, and this own position data is used to correct the own course of the torpedo (1).

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein

the torpedo (1) has a radio receiver, which receives via the radio antenna (10), as well as a radio transmitter, which transmits via the radio antenna (10), wherein the position data is transmitted via a bidirectional radio data link (9), which is passed via one or more satellite-based, land-based, airborne and/or seaborne relay stations (11).

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein

the torpedo (1) transmits current and/or previously stored sonar data from the torpedo sonar (19) via the radio data link (9) to the control center (12).

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the torpedo (1) is launched from a land-based deployment system (3).

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the target position data is obtained from land-based, airborne and/or seaborne radar surveillance and/or visual surveillance and/or hydroacoustic surveillance.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

waypoints for its route to the target (Z) are signaled to the torpedo (1) and/or are transmitted by radio, which waypoints are steered to during its journey.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the control center (12) makes a target selection during the journey of the torpedo when surveillance identifies a plurality of targets instead of one previously assumed single target (Z), and the control center (12) signals a selected target to the torpedo (1), which target the torpedo (1) has to attack.

10. A torpedo having an extendable radio antenna (10) and a radio receiver for reception of position data, further comprising

a control section (25) for guiding the torpedo to a target, by means of which control signals for controlling control surfaces (30) of the torpedo (1) can be produced for course and depth determination of the torpedo (1), and

an antenna section (31), which has the extendable radio antenna (10) and the radio receiver, wherein the radio receiver is designed to receive position data which has target position data relating to the target, which position data is transmitted to the torpedo (1) from a land-based, airborne or seaborne control center (12) and can be supplied to the control section (25).

11. The torpedo as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the antenna section (31) has a receiving part for a satellite-based, airborne, land-based and/or seaborne navigation system, which is designed in order to determine own position data from the received position data, wherein the torpedo (1) is designed to determine course correction data for correction of an own course to a target from the own position data.

12. The torpedo as claimed in claim 10, wherein

the antenna section (31) is lighter than the water to be displaced by it, in particular seawater.

13. A launching apparatus having a torpedo as claimed in claim 10, wherein the torpedo (1) is accommodated in the launching apparatus for launching the torpedo (1), wherein the launching apparatus has a container (2), which can be moved on land, for transporting the torpedo (1), and the container (2) has a deployment system (3) for land-based deployment of the torpedo (1) into a coastal waterway.

14. An antenna section of a torpedo (1), which is formed from sections, as claimed in claim 10 having an extendable radio antenna (10) and a radio receiver for receiving position data which has target position data relating to a target, which position data is transmitted to the torpedo (1) from a land-based, airborne or seaborne control center (12), wherein the antenna section has an interface which is designed such that the position data can be supplied to a control section, by means of which control signals for controlling control surfaces (30) of the torpedo (1) can be produced for course and depth determination of the torpedo (1).