Aircraft protection system and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for protecting aircraft, comprising:
- one or more supports positioned adjacent a flight pattern of an aircraft;
one or more missile warning sensors coupled to at least one of the supports, each of the one or more missile warning sensors operable to detect a missile when launched;
one or more turrets coupled to at least one of the supports, each of the one or more turrets operable to emit a laser beam toward the missile;
a controller operable to control the emission of the laser beam in response to detection of the launched missile; and
wherein the laser beam is operable to divert the missile by relying on optical scatter and reflections.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for protecting aircraft includes a plurality of missile warning sensors and a turret mounted near the top of at least one support structure. Each missile warning sensor is operable to detect a missile and the turret is operable to emit a laser beam that is directed toward the missile to divert the missile from its intended flight pattern.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A system for protecting aircraft, comprising:
-
one or more supports positioned adjacent a flight pattern of an aircraft; one or more missile warning sensors coupled to at least one of the supports, each of the one or more missile warning sensors operable to detect a missile when launched; one or more turrets coupled to at least one of the supports, each of the one or more turrets operable to emit a laser beam toward the missile; a controller operable to control the emission of the laser beam in response to detection of the launched missile; and wherein the laser beam is operable to divert the missile by relying on optical scatter and reflections. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for protecting aircraft, comprising:
-
providing one or more supports adjacent a flight pattern of an aircraft; coupling one or more missile warning sensors to at least one of the supports, each of the one or more missile sensors operable to detect a missile when launched; coupling one or more turrets to at least one of the supports, each of the one or more turrets operable to emit a laser beam toward the missile to divert the missile from its path by relying on optical scatter and reflections. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for protecting aircraft, comprising:
-
providing a plurality of supports adjacent a flight pattern of an aircraft, at least one of the supports having an elevation of at least one thousand feet; coupling one or more missile warning sensors to at least one of the supports, each of the one or more missile warning sensors operable to detect a missile when launched by detecting an increase in either ultraviolet or infrared energy; coupling a plurality of turrets to respective ones of the supports, each turret operable to emit a laser beam toward the missile; directing, in response to the detected missile launch, the plurality of turrets toward the missile; and emitting, by at least one of the turrets, a laser beam toward the missile to divert the missile from its path. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification