Inflight aircraft training system

• US 4,424,038 A
• Filed: 01/31/1980
• Issued: 01/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanders Associates, INC. (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sanders Associates, INC. (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Stewart, Charles, Tingleff, Paul, Prue, Homer
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilbur, Maynard R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burk, Robert C.
• Application Number:
  US06/117,407
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 434/2, 434/3
• US Class Current: 434/2
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/40 Simulation of airborne radar
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/54 Simulation of radar G09B9/40 takes precedence

Abstract

Inflight training apparatus is provided for military aircraft radar warning receivers that is plug compatible with the standard receiver processor to provide realistic training scenarios responsive to pilot maneuvering while recording the pilot'"'"'s actions for post flight analysis. The training apparatus includes inertial navigation equipment to indicate position and attitude of the training aircraft, a memory in which is stored position and types of enemy radars and threats that would be encountered on an actual combat mission, and a processor which receives inputs from the inertial navigation equipment, memory and radar warning receiver control panel to control the standard receiver video display to generate the training scenario thereon. The training display moves, rotates, and is blanked simulating the effects of aircraft altitude and attitude as the aircraft turns, banks and performs other maneuvers which may be navigational or evasive maneuvers.

Claims

1. A method for providing inflight training scenarios for a radar warning receiver aboard a military aircraft comprising the steps of:

storing data including an indication of the type and position of simulated search and threat weapon radar sources relative to an arbitrary point at which said training scenario is started,

determining the position of said military aircraft with respect to said arbitrary point,

determining the attitude and position of said aircraft, and computing coordinates which represent the location of said aircraft with respect to simulated radar source coordinates,

comparing the position of said aircraft with respect to said arbitrary point to the position of simulated radar sources as reflected by said stored data to determine the distance between said aircraft and said simulated radar sources,

providing a visual display of those simulated radar sources that are within a predetermined range from said aircraft,

providing an audible signal to the operator of said radar warning receiver upon said aircraft coming within a predetermined distance of certain ones of said simulated radar sources,

providing an input via the controls of said radar warning receiver indicating simulated radar sources associated with certain types of anti aircraft weapons systems that are not to be displayed; and

preventing the display of said last mentioned simulated radar sources when said last mentioned input is present.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of utilizing the aircraft attitude, position and simulated radar source coordinates and information included in said stored data which indicates the radar warning receiver antenna shadowing of said aircraft as previously determined by aircraft parameters to blank appropriate ones of said simulated radar sources from said video display.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining when certain ones of said simulated radar sources aboard aircraft flying a course to intercept the military aircraft undergoing training with the inflight training scenario have already intercepted and passed said last mentioned military aircraft; and

preventing the display of ones of said intercept aircraft that have passed said military aircraft.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing an input via the controls of said radar warning receiver indicating simulated radar sources associated with certain types of anti aircraft weapons systems that are not to be displayed; and

preventing the display of said last mentioned simulated radar sources when said last mentioned input is present.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

determining when certain ones of said simulated radar sources aboard aircraft flying a course to intercept the military aircraft undergoing training with the inflight training scenario have already intercepted and passed said last mentioned military aircraft; and

preventing the display of ones of said intercept aircraft that have passed said military aircraft.