Submunition and method of destroying a target in a target area by the submunition

• US 8,119,957 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2009
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Company KG (Diehl VA Systeme Stiftung & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Company KG (Diehl VA Systeme Stiftung & Company KG)
• Inventors: Wich, Harald
• Primary Examiner(s): GREGORY, BERNARR E
• Application Number:
  US12/503,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20100011982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• Field of Search: 244 31- 319, 89/11.1, 342/61, 342/62, 342/89, 342/90, 342/175, 342/195, 342 52- 56, 382/100, 382/103, 102/200, 102/206, 102/211, 102/213, 102/214, 102382-384, 102/387, 102/473, 102/489
• US Class Current: 244/3.19
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/007 Preparatory measures taken before the launching of the guided missiles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/008 Combinations of different guidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2226 comparing the observed data with stored target data, e.g. target configuration data
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2246 Active homing systems, i.e. comprising both a transmitter and a receiver
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2253 Passive homing systems, i.e. comprising a receiver and do not requiring an active illumination of the target
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2286 using radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 7/2293 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/58 Cluster or cargo ammunition, i.e. projectiles containing one or more submissiles F42B12/32 takes precedence

Abstract

A submunition is formulated for destroying a target in a target area. Accommodated in a casing are a signal processing unit connected to a radar antenna and/or an infrared sensor and/or another target-detecting sensor. The submunition further has target recognition software and a charge provided with a covering. To increase the versatility of use and to simultaneously improve detection and decision certainty and reliability, the target recognition software has a software interface for the transfer of at least one parameter specific to the target area.

Claims

1. A submunition for destroying a target in a target area, the submunition comprising:

a radar antenna;

a signal processing unit connected to said radar antenna and having target recognition software, said target recognition software having a software interface for a transfer of at least one parameter specific to the target area;

a charge having a covering; and

a casing accommodating said radar antenna, said signal processing unit and said charge.

2. The submunition according to claim 1, further comprising a hardware interface connected to said signal processing unit.

3. The submunition according to claim 2, wherein said hardware interface is an interface for one of a wired data transfer and a wireless data transfer.

4. The submunition according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of day/night parameters, temperature, clock time, terrain morphology and target category.

5. The submunition according to claim 1, wherein said target recognition software includes a multiplicity of predetermined configurations, of which one is selected as a consequence of the parameter transferred, and said target recognition software is correspondingly configured.

6. The submunition according to claim 1, further comprising a parachute accommodated in said casing.

7. The submunition according to claim 1, further comprising an infrared sensor accommodated in said casing.

8. The submunition according to claim 1, further comprising a target-detecting sensor accommodated in said casing.

9. A method of destroying a target in a target area by means of a submunition, the submunition having accommodated in a casing, a radar antenna, a signal processing unit connected to the radar antenna, and a charge having a covering, which comprises the steps of:

providing target recognition software to the signal processing unit;

providing at least one parameter specific to the target area to a data processing unit;

transferring the at least one parameter from the data processing unit to the target recognition software by way of a software interface provided in the target recognition software; and

configuring the target recognition software using the at least one parameter.

10. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises transferring the parameter by way of the software interface to the target recognition software stored in the signal processing unit.

11. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises transferring the target recognition software, which is configured using the parameter, to the signal processing unit.

12. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises making a connection to the data processing unit by way of a hardware interface connected to the signal processing unit for transfer of one of the parameter and the target recognition software configured using the parameter.

13. The method according to claim 12, which further comprises configuring the hardware interface as an interface for one of wired data transmission and wireless data transmission.

14. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises selecting the parameter from the group consisting of a day/night parameter, temperature, clock time, terrain morphology and target category.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the target recognition software contains a multiplicity of predetermined configurations, of which one is selected as a consequence of the parameter transferred and the target recognition software is correspondingly configured.

16. The method according to claim 9, which further comprises formulating the submunition with at least one of an infrared sensor and another target-detecting sensor.