Munition with integrity gated go/no-go decision

• US 7,207,517 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Issued: 04/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Britigan, John D., McKendree, Thomas L., Habereder, Hans L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu; Teri Pham
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOLZEN, STEPHEN A
• Application Number:
  US11/056,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20060038056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 244 31- 32, 244/3.11, 244/3.13, 244/3.14, 244/3.15, 244/3.16, 244/3.18, 244/3.17, 244/3.19, 89/11.1, 89/11, 342/166, 342/173, 34235701-35717, 701/200, 701/207, 701213-216, 701/218, 701/224, 700/21
• US Class Current: 244/3.15
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/007 Preparatory measures taken before the launching of the guided missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/346 using global navigation satellite systems, e.g. GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/36 using inertial references
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 13/00 Proximity fuzes; Fuzes for remote detonation F42C9/148 takes precedence; constructional details F42C19/00; mounting of antennas F42B30/006
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/40 wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/44 Arrangements for disarming, or for rendering harmless, fuzes after arming, e.g. after launch

Abstract

A munition is presented which includes an integrity verification system that measures the integrity of the munition. When an integrity threshold is not met, engagement of the munition with a predetermined target is aborted. Also presented is a methodology for gating the engagement of the munition with the target. The methodology includes performing an integrity check of the munition after it is deployed. The method further includes aborting the engagement of the target when the integrity check of the munition fails.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

before a deployment of a munition to engage a target,

performing an integrity check of the munition, the munition comprising a guidance system, performing the integrity check comprising determining if the munition will not engage the target beyond an alert limit; and

aborting the deployment of the munition when the integrity check fails.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising if the integrity check is successful, deploying the munition.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

performing an additional integrity check of the munition after the deployment of the munition; and

if the additional integrity check fails, aborting the engagement of the target with the munition.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the integrity check of the munition comprises performing the integrity check of a precision guided missile (PGM).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the integrity check of the munition comprises performing the integrity check of a munition having at least one guidance system selected from the group consisting of a laser guidance system, an inertial guidance system, a seeker guidance system and a Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance system.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein performing the integrity check of the munition comprises performing the integrity check of a munition having a GPS guidance system adapted to receive signals from a guidance integrity system.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the guidance integrity system comprises a Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS).

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the SBAS comprises a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS).

9. The method of claim 1 wherein performing the integrity check comprises performing the integrity check a plurality of times before the munition is deployed.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein performing the additional integrity check comprises performing the additional integrity check a plurality of times before the munition engages the target.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein aborting the engagement of the target comprises determining if an integrity error is recoverable;

if the integrity error is recoverable, not aborting the engagement of the munition with the target; and

if the integrity error is not recoverable, aborting the engagement of the munition with the target.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein performing the additional integrity check comprises performing the additional integrity check at a rate selected from the group consisting of continuously, at predetermined intervals, and on an interrupt basis.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a final integrity check of the munition before the munition reaches a point of no return.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein aborting the deployment of the munition comprises selecting another munition to deploy.