U.S. patent number 3,841,219 [Application Number 04/555,641] was granted by the patent office on 1974-10-15 for decoy rounds for counter measures system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Dynamics Corporation. Invention is credited to George H. Schillreff.
United States Patent |
3,841,219 |
Schillreff |
October 15, 1974 |
DECOY ROUNDS FOR COUNTER MEASURES SYSTEM
Abstract
This disclosure relates to decoy rounds for launching from
launcher systems which may be installed aboard a ship or the like,
or which may be of a portable type. The decoy rounds provide a
protective cover for craft such as war ships, against homing
devices operating upon infrared or microwave-reflected energy or
against craft utilizing sound navigation and ranging systems. The
decoy rounds contain one or more bundles of either RF chaff,
infrared energy creating pellets, or bubble creating pellets, or
any combination thereof, and are provided with a launch charge and
a dispersion charge for each of the bundles of decoy material
therein.
Inventors: |
Schillreff; George H.
(Glendora, CA) |
Assignee: |
General Dynamics Corporation
(Pomona, CA)
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Family
ID: |
27012738 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/555,641 |
Filed: |
April 25, 1966 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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389525 |
Aug 12, 1964 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
102/342; 342/12;
367/96; 102/505; 367/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H
11/02 (20130101); H04K 3/825 (20130101); G01S
7/38 (20130101); B63G 9/02 (20130101); H04K
3/65 (20130101); F42B 12/70 (20130101); H04K
3/68 (20130101); H04K 2203/14 (20130101); H04K
2203/24 (20130101); H04K 2203/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F41H
11/00 (20060101); F41H 11/02 (20060101); F42B
12/70 (20060101); F42B 12/02 (20060101); H04K
3/00 (20060101); G01S 7/38 (20060101); H04k
003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;102/34.4,37.6,49,63
;340/5 ;343/18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Underseas Technology; Vol. 4, No. 4, P. 11, Apr. 1963..
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Primary Examiner: Stahl; Robert F.
Parent Case Text
This application is a divisional application of U.S. Pat.
application Ser. No. 389,525, filed Aug. 12, 1964, and assigned to
the same assignee.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. A decoy round adapted to be fired from a launcher comprising: a
launch charge, a plurality of RF chaff bundles, a bundle containing
material capable of creating infrared energy, and a plurality of
explosive charges for individually dispersing said bundles.
2. The decoy round defined in claim 1, wherein said launch charge,
said plurality of RF chaff bundles, said bundle containing material
capable of creating infrared energy, and said plurality of
explosive charges are positioned longitudinally within a housing,
said plurality of explosive charges being separated from one
another by one of said bundles.
3. A decoy round for sonar confusion comprising: means for
launching said round, means for dispensing a portion of said round
above surface of the water, means for sinking the remainder of said
round beneath the water surface, and means for dispensing the
remainder of said round beneath the water surface, said round
including means capable of creating a sonar signal relector.
4. The decoy round defined in claim 3, wherein said means for
launching said round includes a propellant charge and a fuze means
for igniting said charge; wherein said round dispensing means
includes a pair of explosive charges and fuze means, said last
mentioned fuze means includes a pair of delay fuzes and a pair of
fuzes for igniting said pair of explosive charges, one of said
delay fuzes interconnecting said explosive charge igniting fuzes,
the other of said delay fuzes and said propellant charge igniting
fuze means being operatively connected such that each are activated
substantially simultaneously.
5. The decoy round defined in claim 3, wherein said material in
each of said portions of said round includes at least an amount of
lithium hydroxide, whereby contact of said lithium hydroxide with
water generates bubbles.
6. The decoy round defined in claim 3, wherein said material in at
least said portion of said round dispensed under water includes at
least lithium powder.
7. A decoy round adapted to be fired from a launcher comprising: a
launch charge, means for igniting said launch charge, dispersible
decoy material, explosive material for dispersing said decoy
material, fuse means for igniting said explosive material, and
means for substantially simultaneously actuating said launch charge
igniting means and said explosive material igniting fuse means.
8. The decoy round defined in claim 7, wherein said dispersible
decoy material includes at least one bundle containing RF
chaff.
9. The decoy round defined in claim 7, wherein said dispersible
decoy material includes at least one bundle containing material
capable of creating infrared energy.
10. The decoy round defined in claim 7, wherein said dispersible
decoy material includes at least one bundle containing means
capable of creating a sonar signal reflector.
Description
This invention relates to countermeasures systems, and more
particularly to a system for providing a protective cover for war
ships against homing and/or fire control devices operating upon
infrared or microwave-reflected energy.
It is well known that many missiles are capable of homing on
objects which emit infrared or microwave-reflected energy. If there
is more than one energy radiating object within the homing cone of
the missile, the point it will target on will depend on the
intensity, distance to, and distribution of the several energy
sources. This invention is directed to a system for dispensing
infrared and/or microwave-reflected energy by firing a projectile
or a plurality thereof from ships or the like which carries the
energy sources and dispenses the same at a predetermined point in
time or position along its trajectory or path of travel whereby
these additional energy sources confuse the sensor system of the
incoming missile and divert it from its intended target.
Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a
countermeasure system.
Another object of the invention is to provide a countermeasure
system for providing a protection cover for craft against homing
and/or fire control devices operating upon infrared or
microwave-reflected energy.
Another object of the invention is to provide a countermeasure
system including means for dispensing infrared and/or
microwave-reflected energy sources for confusing the homing
devices.
These and other objects of the invention will become readily
apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a craft utilizing the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the decoy launcher of the
invention;
FIG. 3 is a view partially in cross-section of a decoy round of the
invention;
FIG. 4 is a view partially in cross-section of decoy round for
sonar applications; and
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the invention.
This invention broadly relates to a system for providing a
protective cover for craft such as war ships against homing devices
operating upon infrared on microwave-reflected energy.
Specifically, the warship is provided with decoy launchers which
fire a round containing chaff and infrared pellets into the area
surrounding the vessel, the chaff being of three bands x, s, and c
and being adapted to form an artificial cloud which can be
intermittently illuminated by shipboard radar. The cover devices
are operated from a countermeasure control console.
Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a warship 10
incorporating a fast reaction fighting system (FRFS) which includes
sensors, computers, launchers, and missiles for effectively
conducting anti-air and anti-surface ship combat. A modern volume
scanning radar indicated generally at 11 is employed as the primary
input. Target information from the primary radar 11 is processed
for display by a digital computer (not shown). Target tracks and
predicted tracks as generated in the digital computer are used to
analyze the battle situation. In addition to providing the
information for data displays, the same track predictions from the
digital computer are used to provide information for aiming target
illuminators, for aiming a missile launcher 12, and for generating
prelaunch instructions for the missile which may be of the Tartar
guided missile class.
To maintain the fighting ability of the FRFS in a heavy
countermeasures environment, a
countermeasures/counter-countermeasures control center is included.
All enemy countermeasures (ECM) information is collected and
displayed at this control display console. The operator then has
the option of selecting the optimum counter-countermeasures (CCM)
mode for the equipment being jammed, or alternately, to establish
countermeasures of his own to confuse the enemy or to cause the
enemy to withdraw his countermeasure pressure.
An aggressive and resourceful enemy will present a countermeasure
(CM) situation to the FRFS which varies from engagement to
engagement over the full range of his technological capability. Any
CM scheme he uses which fails will be rapidly supplanted by one
which is different and therefore has a greater chance for
success.
The CM/CCM portion of the FRFS is designed to allow a flexible
reaction to changing enemy tactics and strategies. Information
concerning the enemy's jamming and the general tactical situation
is fed to a central point. Analysis of this information allows a
rapid determination of the best strategy. A combination of multiple
receivers, decoys, and RF jamming transmitters allows facilitation
of the selected strategy.
The CM portion of the system is designed to deceive, confuse,
and/or deny information to the enemy. The CCM portion of the system
is designed to gain information the enemy is trying to conceal.
The CM operator has the option of trying to deceive, confuse or
deny information to the enemy by the use of the following
techniques:
1. Deception
a. Chaff and infrared decoys can be launched.
b. The decoys can be enhanced by RF illuminators.
c. Multiple target response can be transmittergenerated.
2. Confusion
a. Conical scan inversion responses can be transmitted.
b. Range gate-stealing or track-breaking modulated RF can be
transmitted.
c. With consort ship cooperation, blinking of jammers of each type
can be produced.
3. Denial
a. Selective, programmed or responsive barrage jamming can be
provided.
b. Spot, multi-spot or enhanced multi-spot jamming can be
provided.
c. Smoke generators for visual denial are available.
d. Many chaff decoys can be launched toward the enemy to screen and
prevent radar penetration.
e. Directional antennas can be employed on the intership link
(aimed by track information from central computer).
The CCM operator has a number of ways to gain information the enemy
is trying to conceal. These methods can be grouped into those based
on frequency diversity, geometry, burn-through, or the use of
home-on-jamming.
1. Diversity
a. Radar receivers
b. Stabilized optical sight
2. Geometry
a. Directional antennas of known pattern on each radar
receiver.
b. Two servo-driven parabolic dish antennas (port and
starboard).
c. Angular information on jammers from consort ship allowing
triangulation.
3. Burn-through
a. Long pulse burn-through mode on primary 3D radar.
b. Can use maximum power (flight time duty factor) from single
illuminator.
4. Home-on-Jam
a. The Tartar missile's "Home-on-Jam" mode will allow destruction
of X-band jamming targets within range.
This invention is directed primarily to the countermeasure (CM)
system of the fast reaction fighting system (FRFS) and specifically
to the deception techniques utilizing infrared and RF chaff decoys
which can be enhanced by RF illuminators. Ship 10 is provided with
a plurality of multicell mortar type decoy dispensers or launchers
13 (shown in detail in FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 1, dispensers or
launchers 13 are mounted starboard and port in the forward end of
main superstructure 14 and on the outboard thereof (only the
starboard outboard launcher being shown). Launchers 13 may also be
positioned in the aft portion of ship 10. Each launcher is
operatively connected into the firing circuit connectors and the
intervalometer (not shown). Data as to number of rounds fired is
automatically displayed on the CM control console launcher status
panel (not shown). Fail safe and automatic protection for the
magazine handling crew is provided.
Launcher or dispenser 13, as shown in FIG. 2, comprises a mounting
base 15 and a disposable launcher portion 16, portion 16 being
provided with a plurality of mortar-like cells 17. Each of cells 17
is adapted to fire decoy rounds 18 shown and described with respect
to FIG. 3.
As shown in FIG. 3, decoy rounds 18 are combination chaff and
infrared rounds, the chaff being radiant energy-reflecting metallic
particles such as aluminum, for example, which are quickly and
widely scattered so that an effective radar target is promptly
obtained. Rounds 18 are self-contained mortar-type projectiles.
Each round 18 carries two (2) C-, S-, and X-band chaff bundles 19,
a bundle of infrared (sodium or potassium pellets) candles 20, a
launch charge 21, three (3) expelling charges 22 for bundles 19 and
20, and necessary wiring all contained within a casing 23. A
separator plate 24 is positioned between an expelling charge 22 and
the adjacent decoy bundle; while a plate 25 separates the launch
charge 21 from the wiring connections adjacent the aft separator
plate 24. The decoy rounds 18 are electrically fired by the CM
controller as individual rounds, in intervalometer timed automatic
sequences, or as massive simultaneous launches where all fore, aft,
port and starboard rounds are fired simultaneously. Each round is
automatically fused at launch to fire the chaff and infrared
bundles 19 and 20 at or near the apogee of the flight path or at a
preset altitude. The individual expelling or powder charges between
each bundle are fired to separate and deploy the payload. Each
decoy round 18 produces a radar and infrared target similar to the
launching ship 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, decoy rounds 18 having been fired from
launchers 13 of ship 10 disintegrate by the explosion of charges 22
and disperse the chaff 19 and infrared candles 20 at a
predetermined distance from the ship where the chaff spreads due to
the air currents, and creates microwave or infrared-sensing targets
thereby providing a deceptive countermeasure system against an
impending attack.
Referring now to FIG. 4, an embodiment of a decoy round 18' is
provided for applications above and beneath the water. The round
18' comprises a propellant charge 30 attached to a decoy cartridge
casing 31. Casing 31 contains ballast material 32, a sub-surface
load chamber 33, an above-surface load chamber 34, a delay fuse 35
interconnecting chambers 33 and 34, a fuze initiator 36, a delay
fuze 37 interconnecting initiator 36 and chamber 34, an electric
squib 38 operatively connected with initiator 36, a fuze 39
interconnecting propellant charge 30 with initiator 36, a fuze 40
interconnecting delay fuzes 35 and 37, and electric wiring 41
connected to squib 38. Wiring 41 is removably connected to
electrical leads 42 which extend into casing 31 and which are
connected with a battery 43 through a switch 44 and electronic
apparatus 45. Sub-surface load chamber 33 includes a dispensing
explosive charge 46 which is adapted to be fired by a fuze 47
connected with delay fuze 35, a pair of lithium hydroxide capsule
containers 48, and a lithium powder container 49. The above-surface
load chamber 34 includes a dispensing explosive charge 50 which is
adapted to be fired by fuze 40, and a pair of lithium hydroxide
capsule containers 51.
In operation, closing of switch 44 directs electrical energy from
battery 43 through leads 42 and wires 41 to the electric squib 38
which activates fuze initiator 36 which ignites fuze 39 and delay
fuze 37. Ignition of fuze 39 fires the propellant charge 30 which
propells the round 18' from launcher or dispenser 13 into a
predetermined trajectory. At a certain point in the trajectory of
the round, delay fuze 37 ignites fuze 40 which in turn ignites the
dispensing explosive charge 50 which disintegrates containers 51
and dispenses the lithium hydroxide capsules above the surface of
the water. Ignition of fuze 40 also ignites delay fuze 35. The
remainder of the round, namely, chamber 33 and ballast 32 enters
the water while delay fuze 35 is burning. At a predetermined time
after the chamber 33 enters the water delay fuze 35 ignites fuze 47
which in turn ignites the dispensing explosive charge 46 which
disintegrates containers 48 and 49 and dispenses the lithium
hydroxide capsules and the lithium powder under the surface of the
water, thus generating bubbles in the water for sonar
deception.
The control system of the invention as shown in FIG. 5 comprises a
control center or console 60 which controls the operation of decoy
dispenser or launcher 13 which, when activated, fires decoys 18
and/or 18' as described above. The radio frequency (RF) chaff 19
(see FIG. 1) dispensed by decoy round 18 can be intermittently
illuminated by a shipboard traveling-wave tube broad band coherent
receiver/transmitter (TWT) 61 having an antenna 62 mounted on
superstructure 14 of ship 10. The RF energy being transmitted by
the TWT 61 and antenna 62 corresponds discretely in frequency and
phase with that being received from enemy radars, as presently
described. The effect will be equivalent to multiple-blinking
coherent jammers which will provide a curtain of confusion in front
or surrounding the ship. The transmitted RF energy to the TWT 61 is
modulated by modulator 63. Signals from an invader or target 64 are
received by primary radar 11, processed through an RF receiver 65
to a plan position indicator (PPI) 66, whereby a visual indication
of the invader 64 is observed at the control center or console
60.
In operation, when a signal of an approaching invader or target 64
is received by the primary radar 11, it is processed through RF
receiver 65 to the plan position indicator 66 of control console
60. The controller or operator at the console 60 determines the
type of countermeasures necessary and if the deceptive technique is
to be utilized the controller activates the dispenser or launcher
13 to fire decoy rounds 18 and/or 18' as individual rounds in
automatic sequence, or all fore, aft, port and starboard rounds
fired simultaneously, or any combination thereof. Firing of decoys
18, for example, dispenses RF chaff bundles 19 and infrared bundles
20 (see FIG. 3) as shown in FIG. 1 which spread out due to wind
currents, etc. On command from control console 60, the RF chaff 19
can be intermittently illuminated by the TWT 61 through antenna 62
at an energy level which corresponds discretely in frequency and
phase with the signal received from invader or target 64. Thus as
the plurality of dispersed RF chaff bundles 19 are illuminated the
enemy sensor picks up blips from each illuminated bundle thereby
confusing the homing system and diverting the invader from its
initial course and proposed target. The infrared decoy bundles 20
similarly function to confuse an approaching invader utilizing a
homing system sensitive to infrared energy.
While the invention has been described with respect to a ship
incorporating the fast reaction fighting system, it may be utilized
on any type of ship or the launcher and rounds may be of the
"portable" type and thus utilized in a variety of applications.
Also, the FIG. 4 embodiment may be of the same general
configuration as the FIG. 3 embodiment. In addition, the rounds may
contain only infrared, sonar, or microwave-reflecting decoys or any
combination thereof.
It has thus been shown that this invention provides an effective
and yet relatively simple and inexpensive countermeasure system for
providing a protective cover for craft, such as war ships, against
homing devices operating upon infrared or microwave-reflected
energy. While the invention has been illustrated and described with
respect to a war ship, it can be effectively used for any land, sea
or air vehicle requiring protection from homing devices operating
on infrared or microwave-reflected energy.
While particular embodiments have been illustrated and described,
modifications thereof will be readily apparent to persons skilled
in the art, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all
such modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *