Combined SAR monopulse and inverse monopulse weapon guidance
First Claim
1. A SAR monopulse and inverse monopulse weapon guidance system for guiding a weapon to a target, said system comprising:
- a launch platform;
a synthetic aperture radar disposed on a launch platform for generating a synthetic aperture radar monopulse map of an area surrounding the target, for designating the location of the target, and for transmitting an inverse monopulse illumination that is comprised of a sequence of alternating sum and simultaneous azimuth and elevation difference patterns centered on the target;
a weapon comprising a weapon guidance system and noncoherent radar seeker that is responsive to guidance commands transmitted by the launch platform, for receiving reflections of the alternating sum and combined azimuth and elevation difference pattern from the target, and for using these reflections to acquire and track the azimuth and elevation difference pattern null on the target so as to fly an optimum trajectory to the target.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method that provides for all-weather precision guidance of conventional air-to-surface weapons. The system and method employs a coherent monopulse radar disposed on a launch platform and a noncoherent passive (receive only) radar disposed on the weapon. The synthetic aperture radar generates a synthetic aperture radar monopulse map of an area around the target. The radar is used designate the location of the target, and transmit a sequence of alternating sum and simultaneous azimuth and elevation difference patterns centered on the target. The weapon includes a guidance system and seeker that is responsive to guidance commands transmitted by the synthetic aperture radar. The guidance system and seeker receives reflections of the alternating sum and combined azimuth and elevation difference pattern from the target, and the sum pulse is used by the weapon to acquire and track the azimuth and elevation difference pattern null on the target to fly an optimum trajectory to the target. One method for guiding a weapon to a target comprises the following steps. A synthetic aperture radar is used to generate a SAR monopulse map of a target area and designate a target therein. The weapon is then launched toward the target. The radar is used to transmit an interleaved sum and simultaneous azimuth and elevation difference pattern guidance pulse train at the target. The reflected interleaved sum and simultaneous azimuth and elevation difference pattern is received from the target at a seeker and guidance system on the weapon. The sum pattern is used by the weapon to lock onto the converging null, and is used by the launch platform to provide closed loop tracking of the target during guidance illumination. After weapon null lock-on, steering commands are generated to cause the weapon to fly an optimum trajectory to the target.
-
Citations
11 Claims
-
1. A SAR monopulse and inverse monopulse weapon guidance system for guiding a weapon to a target, said system comprising:
-
a launch platform; a synthetic aperture radar disposed on a launch platform for generating a synthetic aperture radar monopulse map of an area surrounding the target, for designating the location of the target, and for transmitting an inverse monopulse illumination that is comprised of a sequence of alternating sum and simultaneous azimuth and elevation difference patterns centered on the target; a weapon comprising a weapon guidance system and noncoherent radar seeker that is responsive to guidance commands transmitted by the launch platform, for receiving reflections of the alternating sum and combined azimuth and elevation difference pattern from the target, and for using these reflections to acquire and track the azimuth and elevation difference pattern null on the target so as to fly an optimum trajectory to the target. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method for guiding a weapon to a target, said method comprising the steps of:
-
using a synthetic aperture radar to generate a SAR monopulse map of a target area and designating a target therein; launching the weapon toward the target; using the synthetic aperture radar to transmit an interleaved sum and simultaneous azimuth and elevation difference pattern guidance pulse train at the target;
receiving a reflected interleaved sum and simultaneous azimuth and elevation difference pattern from the target at a seeker and guidance system on the weapon;
locking onto a converging null using the sum pattern; andafter null lock-on, generating steering commands to cause the weapon to fly an optimum trajectory to the target. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
Specification