System and method for a directable countermeasure with divergent laser

• US 9,709,670 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elbit Systems of America LLC (Elbit Systems Limited)
• Original Assignee: Elbit Systems of America LLC (Elbit Systems Limited)
• Inventors: Lundquist, Jan Stephan, Soletsky, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Tillman, Jr., Reginald
• Application Number:
  US15/259,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20170205496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 89 111
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/224 Deceiving or protecting means jamming or anti-jamming of radio-wave systems in general G01S7/36, G01S7/38; defense installations in general F41H11/02; chaff dispensers F42B12/70
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0056 for blinding or dazzling, i.e. by overstimulating the opponent's eyes or the enemy's sensor equipment
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/495 Counter-measures or counter-counter-measures using electronic or electro-optical means

Abstract

A system includes a threat warning system and a countermeasure system. The threat warning system generates threat data that includes at least a threat coordinate value. The countermeasure system includes a wide-angle laser beam director and the infrared counter measure system that is configured to receive the threat data including the threat coordinate value from the threat warning system and causes the beam director to direct a divergent laser beam based on the threat coordinate value and cause the beam director to vary an angle of the cone based on an aircraft signature perceived by a threat.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a threat warning system to generate threat data, wherein the threat data comprises at least

a threat coordinate value; and

a countermeasure system comprising a wide-angle laser beam director, wherein the

countermeasure system is configured to;

receive the threat data including the threat coordinate value from the threat warning system;

cause the beam director to direct a divergent laser beam based on the threat coordinate value, the divergent laser beam comprising a cone of light; and

cause the beam director to vary an angle of the cone based on an aircraft signature perceived by a threat.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the angle of the cone of light has a first value if the aircraft signature perceived by the threat is low and a second value if the aircraft signature perceived by the threat is high, wherein the first value is wider than the second value.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the angle of the cone is based on an angle of approach based on an analysis of the aircraft signature perceived by the threat.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the first value is not less than seven degrees and the second value is not more than three degrees.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the countermeasure system does not alter the direction of the beam director after initial direction.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the angle of the cone of light is in the range of one degree to five degrees.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the angle of the cone of light in the range of one degree to ten degrees.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the countermeasure system provides a feedback loop between the beam director and the threat warning system and updates the direction of the beam director based on an updated threat coordinate value received from the threat warning system.

9. A method comprising:

receiving threat data from a threat warning system, wherein the threat data comprises at least a threat coordinate value;

causing a wide-angle laser beam director to direct a divergent laser beam based on the threat coordinate value, the divergent laser beam comprising a cone of light; and

causing the beam director to vary an angle of the cone based on an aircraft signature perceived by a threat.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the angle of the cone of light has a first value if the aircraft signature perceived by the threat is low and a second value if the aircraft signature perceived by the threat is high, wherein the first value is wider than the second value, and wherein the angle of the cone is based on an angle of approach based on an analysis of the aircraft signature perceived by the threat.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first value is not less than seven degrees and the second value is not more than three degrees.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the angle of the cone of light is in the range of one degree to five degrees.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the angle of the cone of light in the range of one degree to ten degrees.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising updating the direction of the beam director as a result of receiving an updated threat coordinate value from the threat warning system.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive threat data from a threat warning system, wherein the threat data comprises at least a threat coordinate value; and

cause a wide-angle laser beam director to direct a divergent laser beam based on the threat coordinate value, the divergent laser beam comprising a cone of light; and

cause the beam director to vary an angle of the cone based on an aircraft signature perceived by a threat.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the angle of the cone of light has a first value if the aircraft signature perceived by the threat is low and a second value if the aircraft signature perceived by the threat is high, wherein the first value is wider than the second value.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the angle of the cone is based on an angle of approach based on an analysis of the aircraft signature perceived by the threat.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the angle of the cone of light is in the range of one degree to five degrees.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the angle of the cone of light is in the range of one degree to ten degrees.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the processor further updates the direction of the beam director as a result of receiving an updated threat coordinate value from the threat warning system.