Man-packable missile weapon system

• US 6,244,535 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Felix, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): JOHNSON, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/337,220
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 244/3.15, 244/3.16, 244/3.17, 244/3.21, 244/3.24, 102/216, 89/18.16, 89/18.11
• US Class Current: 244/3.16
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/045 adapted to be carried and used by a person, e.g. bazookas F41F3/042 takes precedence
• 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: F42B 15/00 Self-propelled projectiles or missiles, e.g. rockets; Guided missiles F42B10/00, F42B12/00, F42B14/00 take precedence; for practice or training F42B8/12; rocket torpedoes F42B17/00; marine torpedoes F42B19/00; cosmonautic vehicles B64G; jet-propulsion plants F02K

Abstract

Provided is a compact, low-cost, lightweight, man-packable weapon system for engaging static and slowly maneuvering targets. In one embodiment, it may incorporate in its own backpack a compact launcher and multiple compact missiles, each weighing less than five pounds, for carry on a soldier'"'"'s back. The missile itself uses a strapped-down acquisition and tracking sensor electrically connected to a simplified guidance system interfaced with an aero-control section capable of altering the flight path of the missile to a target. A solid-propellant rocket motor provides sufficient power to propel the missile at a predetermined limited speed and over a pre-determined limited distance that enables the proper operation of the simplified guidance system. A method for deploying a man-packable weapon system is disclosed also.

Claims

1. A compact man-packable weapon system, comprising:

a compact launcher;

at least one compact missile weighing less than eight pounds, incorporating;

a simplified guidance system having;

an aero-control section that may alter a flight path of said missile to a target,

a simplified computer hardware package operably connected to said aero-control section, to process a simplified algorithm for adjusting said aero-control section in relation to at least one measured value,

a strapped-down acquisition and tracking sensor operably connected to said simplified computer hardware package,

wherein the sensor provides said at least one measured value to said simplified computer hardware package;

a solid-propellant rocket motor,

wherein said motor projects said missile at a pre-determined limited speed and over a pre-determined limited distance, thus enabling proper operation of said simplified guidance system; and

a contact-actuated ordnance section that may be positioned between said guidance system and said rocket motor in said missile.

2. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one missiles may be of a length up to 22 inches.

3. The weapon system of claim 2, wherein each of said at least one missiles may be of a length between 12 inches and 20 inches.

4. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one missiles may weigh up to 6.0 pounds.

5. The weapon system of claim 4, wherein each of said at least one missiles may weigh between 3.5 pounds and 4.5 pounds.

6. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein said strapped-down acquisition and tracking sensor may be an imaging electro-optical component.

7. The weapon system of claim 6, wherein said imaging electro-optical component may incorporate an optical element of molded plastic.

8. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein said aero-control section incorporates 2 to 4 canards.

9. The weapon system of claim 8, wherein said aero-control section incorporates 3 canards.

10. The weapon system of claim 1, wherein said aero-control section further comprises a tail section.

11. The weapon system of claim 1 further comprising a configuration that allows a person to carry said weapons system hands-free.

12. A method of employing a compact man-packable weapon system incorporating a simplified guidance system, a compact launcher, and at least one compact missile, each said compact missile weighing less than eight pounds, comprising:

providing a configuration that allows said weapon system to be carried comfortably and hands-free by a person;

removing said compact launcher and one said compact missile from said configuration;

loading into said compact launcher one of said compact missiles incorporating;

a simplified onboard guidance system having an aero-control section for altering a flight path of said compact missile,

a simplified computer hardware package for processing at least one simplified algorithm for adjusting said aero-control section in relation to at least one measured value,

a strapped-down acquisition and tracking sensor operably connected to said simplified computer hardware package,

wherein said strapped-down acquisition and tracking sensor provides said at least one measured value to said simplified computer hardware package,

a contact-actuated ordnance section, and

a solid-propellant rocket motor of sufficient power to project said compact missile at a predetermined limited speed and over a predetermined limited distance, thus enabling proper operation of said simplified guidance system;

identifying a target;

acquiring said identified target whereupon said strapped-down acquisition and tracking sensor fixes on said acquired identified target; and

,

launching said compact missile wherein said rocket motor propels said compact missile towards said acquired identified target.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said identification and acquisition of a target is accomplished by an operator viewing an image that may include a target that the simplified guidance system may use to track and identify parameters of said imaged target to said strapped-down acquisition and tracking sensor so that said strapped-down acquisition and tracking sensor may fix on said acquired identified target.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said strapped-down acquisition and tracking sensor inputs said imaged target measurements to be employed in said simplified algorithm.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising reloading said compact launcher with one of said compact missiles.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising launching at least one successive said compact missiles less than 1 minute apart from at least one prior launch from said compact launcher.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein said simplified guidance system is limited to altering a flight path of said compact missile by a maximum of 15 degrees.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said compact missile is limited to sustained velocities up to 850 mph.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said compact missile is limited to a sustained velocity between 500 mph and 850 mph.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein said acquired identified target moves at less than 60 mph with direction changes that incur less than 2 G'"'"'s of force.