Anti-tank missile system

• US 5,181,673 A
• Filed: 11/22/1991
• Issued: 01/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
• Original Assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
• Inventors: Peters, Jorg, Hubricht, Gerhard, Schunk, Bernd, Stollewerk, Reinfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Application Number:
  US07/795,852
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.11, 244/3.12, 244/3.14, 89/1.11, 89/41.05
• US Class Current: 244/3.12
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/008 Combinations of different guidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2206 using a remote control station
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2253 Passive homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and do not requiring an active illumination of the target
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2293 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/32 for wire-guided missiles

Abstract

An anti-tank missile system includes a weapons carrier system with a missile including control means for controlling the missile flight path and a searchhead camera for developing target data during flight of the missile. An elevatable platform is mounted on the weapons carrier system and a sighting device camera is disposed on the elevatable platform for sighting a target. Target data is compiled before a launch of the missile with the aid of the sighting device camera. A fire guidance computer in the weapons carrier system calculates a flight course for the missile. A light waveguide is connected between the missile and the weapons carrier system for transmitting target data developed by the searchhead camera for use by the fire guidance computer and for transmitting guidance signals generated by the fire guidance computer for controlling the control means for guiding the missile during its flight; and wherein the sighting device camera is a high resolution camera and the searchhead camera has at least one of a lower resolution and different spectral range than the sighting device camera.

Claims

1. In an anti-tank missile system including a weapons carrier system, a missile carried on the weapons carrier system, the missile including control means for controlling the missile flight path and a searchhead camera for developing target data during flight of the missile, an elevatable platform mounted on the weapons carrier system, a sighting device camera disposed on the elevatable platform for sighting a target, with target data being compiled before a launch of the missile with the aid of the sighting device camera, and a fire guidance computer in the weapons carrier system for calculating a flight course for the missile, the improvement comprising:

a light waveguide connected between said missile and said weapons carrier system for transmitting target data developed by said searchhead camera for use by said fire guidance computer and for transmitting guidance signals generated by said fire guidance computer for controlling said control means for guiding said missile during its flight; and

wherein said sighting device camera is a high resolution camera and the searchhead camera has at least one of a lower resolution and different spectral range than said sighting device camera.

2. An anti-tank missile system as defined in claim 1, wherein said searchhead camera has a viewing angle β

and said sighting device camera has a viewing angle α

which is greater than the viewing angle β

.

3. A method for operating the anti-tank missile system defined in claim 1, comprising:

guiding the missile during starting and traveling phases of the missile on the basis of the target data supplied by the sighting device camera to the fire guidance computer and guiding the missile during a combat phase of the missile on the basis of the target data supplied by the searchhead camera to the fire guidance computer.