Method and apparatus for defending against airborne ammunition

• US 8,020,491 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Company KG (Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: Krauss-Maffei Wegmann GmbH & Company KG (Wegmann GmbH & Co. KG)
• Inventors: Simon, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brainard; Timothy A
• Application Number:
  US12/526,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20100117888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,319 Days
• Field of Search: 102200-204, 102/211, 342/95
• US Class Current: 102/211
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/02 Anti-aircraft or anti-guided missile or anti-torpedo defence installations or systems cartridges or missiles for producing smoke or for dispensing radar chaff or infrared material F42B5/15, F42B12/48, F42B12/70; informative reference: details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00; jamming or electronic countermeasures G01S7/38, G01S7/495, H04K3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 13/042 based on distance determination by coded radar techniques
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 13/047 Remotely actuated projectile fuzes operated by radio transmission links

Abstract

A method and apparatus for defending against airborne assault ammunition. The assault ammunition is located with at least one position-locating device. The flight path of the assault ammunition is iteratively calculated using the determined ballistic coefficient of the assault ammunition. A firing control solution is determined for firing a fragmentation-type defense ammunition, which is fired with a large-caliber weapon, especially one having a caliber of at least 76 mm. A fuse of the defense ammunition is set after the firing and/or the defense ammunition is remotely detonated, and after the firing the defense ammunition is ignited or remotely ignited at an ignition time point T_Z. Alternatively, the ignition of the defense ammunition is initiated by a proximity igniter disposed in the defense ammunition.

Claims

1. A method of defending against airborne assault ammunition, including the steps of:

locating the assault ammunition using at least one position-locating device;

determining the ballistic coefficient of the assault ammunition via an ascertainment of the air resistance force of the assault ammunition;

iteratively calculating the flight path of the assault ammunition utilizing the ballistic coefficient;

determining a firing control solution for firing of fragmentation-type defense ammunition;

firing said defense ammunition with a weapon having a caliber of at least 76 mm, wherein after said firing step, said defense ammunition is adapted to have a fuse thereof set and/or to be remotely detonated;

after said firing step, igniting or remotely igniting said defense ammunition at an ignition time point T_Z; and

determining the air resistance force of the assault ammunition relative to mass from the difference between two kinetic enemies of the assault ammunition at two locations, and the distance between these two locations.

2. A method according to claim 1, which includes the further step of determining a velocity of said defense ammunition at a certain time point by means of at least one measurement device, whereby said measurement device is capable of being directed and, at the time point of said firing step of said defense ammunition, is directed in a direction of the firing direction.

3. A method according to claim 1, which, for obtaining said ignition time point, includes the step of determining the time point at which the greatest probability of a successful combating of the assault ammunition exists, wherein said probability is obtained from the product of the strike probability, which indicates whether a fragment of said defense ammunition strikes the assault ammunition, and the destruction probability, which indicates whether such fragment is in a position to destroy a shell of the assault ammunition.

4. A method according to claim 3, which includes the step, during the step of determining said ignition time point, of taking into account at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of:

a) measurement inaccuracies of said measuring device, during a determination of time point, velocity, azimuth, elevation and/or distance;

b) measurement inaccuracies of said at least one position-locating device, during a determination of time point, velocity, azimuth, elevation and/or distance;

c) type of assault ammunition;

d) type of defense ammunition,

e) firing development time of said defense ammunition; and

f) ballistic dispersion.

5. A method according to claim 3, which includes the step of determining said ignition time point T_Z by means of an analytical method.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said ballistic coefficient of said assault ammunition is also determined for a determination of the type of assault ammunition.

7. A method according to claim 1, which for the determination of a kinetic energy includes the steps of obtaining two measurement points via said at least one position-locating device, and from said measurement points determining the velocity of the assault ammunition.

8. A method according to claim 1, which includes the further step of determining a likely ammunition requirement for defense ammunition.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said defense ammunition is fired pursuant to the determined ammunition requirement as long as there is no recognition of a successful combating of the assault ammunition.

10. A method according to claim 1, which, during the determination of the ammunition requirement, includes the step of taking into consideration at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of:

a) measurement inaccuracies of said measuring device, during a determination of time point, velocity, azimuth, elevation and/or distance;

b) measurement inaccuracies of said at least one position-locating device during a determination of time point, velocity, azimuth, elevation and/or distance;

c) type of assault ammunition;

d) type of defense ammunition;

e) firing development time of said defense ammunition; and

f) ballistic dispersion.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein prior to said firing step a fuse of said defense ammunition is preset to a time point that in terms of time is prior to a time point that is predicted by the firing control solution determined prior to said firing step, and at which time said defense ammunition strikes the ground if it is not ignited, and wherein said time point is, in terms of time, subsequent to a time point that is ascertained by said ignition time point of said defense ammunition predicted by the firing control solution determined prior to said firing.

12. A method according to claim 1, which includes the step of delivering a warning for the region of a point of striking the ground determined by the determined flight path of the assault ammunition.

13. A method according to claim 1, which includes the steps of solving movement equations of the external ballistic for said step of calculating the flight path of the assault ammunition.

14. A method of defending against airborne assault ammunition, including the steps of:

locating the assault ammunition using at least one position-locating device;

determining the ballistic coefficient of the assault ammunition via an ascertainment of the air resistance force of the assault ammunition;

iteratively calculating the flight path of the assault ammunition utilizing said ballistic coefficient;

determining a firing control solution for firing of a fragmentation-type defense ammunition;

firing said defense ammunition with a weapon having a caliber of at least 76 mm;

initiating ignition of said defense ammunition by means of a proximity igniter disposed in said defense ammunition; and

determining the air resistance force of the assault ammunition relative to mass from the difference between two kinetic enemies of the assault ammunition at two locations, and the distance between these two locations.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said ballistic coefficient of said assault ammunition is also determined for a determination of the type of assault ammunition.

16. A method according to claim 14, which for the determination of a kinetic energy includes the steps of obtaining two measurement points via said at least one position-locating device, and from said measurement points determining the velocity of the assault ammunition.

17. A method according to claim 14, which includes the further step of determining a likely ammunition requirement for defense ammunition.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said defense ammunition is fired pursuant to the determined ammunition requirement as long as there is no recognition of a successful combating of the assault ammunition.

19. A method according to claim 14, which, during the determination of the ammunition requirement, includes the step of taking into consideration at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of:

a) measurement inaccuracies of said measuring device, during a determination of time point, velocity, azimuth, elevation and/or distance;

b) measurement inaccuracies of said at least one position-locating device during a determination of time point, velocity, azimuth, elevation and/or distance;

c) type of assault ammunition;

d) type of defense ammunition;

e) firing development time of said defense ammunition; and

f) ballistic dispersion.

20. A method according to claim 14, wherein prior to said firing step a fuse of said defense ammunition is preset to a time point that in terms of time is prior to a time point that is predicted by the firing control solution determined prior to said firing step, and at which time said defense ammunition strikes the ground if it is not ignited, and wherein said time point is, in terms of time, subsequent to a time point that is ascertained by said ignition time point of said defense ammunition predicted by the firing control solution determined prior to said firing.

21. A method according to claim 14, which includes the step of delivering a warning for the region of a point of striking the ground determined by the determined flight path of the assault ammunition.

22. A method according to claim 14, which includes the steps of solving movement equations of the external ballistic for said step of calculating the flight path of the assault ammunition.