Immersible unmanned air vehicle and system for launch, recovery, and re-launch at sea

• US 7,097,136 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2004
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Ruszkowski, Robert A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, TIEN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US10/823,434
• Publication Number:
  US 20050230535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 244/49, 244/58, 244/2, 244/105, 244/100.A, 244/53.B, 244/139
• US Class Current: 244/105
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 13/00 Other offensive or defensive arrangements on vessels; Vessels characterised thereby
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/28 Arrangement of offensive or defensive equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 8/30 of artillery or missile launching means
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2001/0045 Fuselages characterised by special shapes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 35/00 Flying-boats; Seaplanes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 37/00 Convertible aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/20 Vertical take-off and landing [VTOL] aircraft flying platforms B64U10/13; helicopters B64U10/17
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 30/12 Variable or detachable wings, e.g. wings with adjustable sweep
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/12 using turbine engines, e.g. turbojets or turbofans
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/15 using combustion exhausts other than turbojets or turbofans, e.g. using rockets, ramjets, scramjets or pulse-reactors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/50 Launching from storage containers, e.g. from submarine missile tubes
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/70 Launching or landing using catapults, tracks or rails launching from storage containers B64U70/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/83 using parachutes, balloons or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/84 Waterborne vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 3/07 Underwater launching-apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 15/20 Missiles having a trajectory beginning below water surface having additional propulsion means for movement through water F42B17/00

Abstract

A sea-launched and recovered unmanned aircraft is disclosed. The aircraft is jet-powered and has features and systems to maintain watertight integrity such that it may be released from a submerged submarine or dropped into a body of water by a ship or an aircraft. The aircraft is buoyant and remains at or near the water surface before its rockets are ignited. The rockets propel the air vehicle out of the sea and accelerate it to flying speed at which time a jet engine is started and the rockets are jettisoned. The air vehicle performs its mission independently or in conjunction with other ones of the air vehicles. The air vehicle then returns to an assigned splashdown point at sea via, for example, an engine-off “whip-stall” maneuver. A submarine or ship may retrieve the air vehicle and readies it for another mission.

Claims

1. A method of operating a sea-based aircraft, comprising:

(a) equipping an aircraft with a payload and without landing gear or flotation pontoons;

(b) configuring the aircraft itself in a watertight configuration;

(c) storing the aircraft on a ship;

(d) releasing the aircraft into a body of water such that the aircraft is at least partially submerged in the body of water;

(e) propelling the aircraft out of the body of water;

(f) sustaining flight of the aircraft with a jet engine;

(g) utilizing the payload of the aircraft;

(h) landing the aircraft in the body of water; and

(i) retrieving the aircraft onto the ship.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising refitting the aircraft with another payload and repeating steps (b) through (i).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising shutting the aircraft to a designated recovery point in the body of water and shutting down the jet engine prior to step (h).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) is repeated before step (h).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (h) comprises splashing down directly into the body of water.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (e) comprises using rocket boosters.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (g) comprises attacking a target with munitions and providing reconnaissance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (d) comprises unfolding wings of the aircraft from a retracted storage position to an extended flying position, and step (i) comprises folding the wings from the extended flying position to the retracted storage position.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (c) and (i) comprise using a submerged submarine.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the aircraft is released from and retrieved into a converted missile tube in the submarine.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising internally pressurizing the aircraft to offset and balance external hydrostatic water pressure loads, operating inlet and nozzle close-off doors with inflatable watertight seals to make the jet engine watertight, treating manufacturing joints, seams, and airframe penetrations with sealant and appliqué

tapes for further enabling the watertight configuration.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein steps (h) and (i) comprise shutting down the jet engine and enabling the watertight configuration for the jet engine before being recovered by a submerged submarine.

13. A method of operating a sea-based aircraft, comprising:

(a) equipping an aircraft with a payload;

(b) configuring the aircraft itself in a watertight configuration;

(c) storing the aircraft on a ship;

(d) releasing the aircraft into a body of water such that the aircraft is at least partially submerged in the body of water;

(e) unfolding wings of the aircraft from a retracted storage position to an extended flying position while the aircraft is at least partially submerged in the body of water;

(f) propelling the aircraft out of the body of water with rocket boosters;

(g) sustaining flight of the aircraft with a jet engine;

(h) utilizing the payload of the aircraft;

(i) returning the aircraft to a designated recovery point in the body of water and reconfiguring the aircraft in a watertight configuration during flight prior to a splashdown;

(j) splashing down directly into the body of water; and

(k) retrieving the aircraft onto the ship.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising refitting the aircraft with another payload and repeating steps (b) through (k).

15. The method of claim 13, wherein step (h) comprises attacking a target with munitions and providing reconnaissance.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein steps (c) and (k) comprise using a submerged submarine, the aircraft is released from and retrieved into a converted missile tube in the submarine, and the wings from in the retracted storage position during steps (c) and (k).

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising equipping the aircraft without landing gear or flotation pontoons.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein step (b) comprises internally pressurizing the aircraft to offset and balance external hydrostatic water pressure loads, operating inlet and nozzle close-off doors with inflatable watertight seals to make the jet engine watertight, treating manufacturing joints, seams, and airframe penetrations with sealant and appliqué

tapes for further enabling the watertight configuration.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein step (i) comprises shutting down the jet engine and enabling the watertight configuration for the jet engine prior to splashdown and before being recovered by a submerged submarine.

20. A method of operating a sea-based aircraft, comprising:

(a) equipping an aircraft with a payload;

(b) configuring the aircraft itself in a watertight configuration;

(c) storing the aircraft on a ship;

(d) releasing the aircraft into a body of water such that the aircraft is at least partially submerged in the body of water;

(e) propelling the aircraft out of the body of water;

(f) sustaining flight of the aircraft with a jet engine;

(g) utilizing the payload of the aircraft;

(h) landing the aircraft in the body of water;

(i) retrieving the aircraft onto the ship; and

(j) internally pressurizing the aircraft to offset and balance external hydrostatic water pressure loads, operating inlet and nozzle close-off doors with inflatable watertight seals to make the jet engine watertight, treating manufacturing joints, seams, and airframe penetrations with sealant and appliqué

tapes for further enabling the watertight configuration.