Ordnance – Bomb – flare and signal dropping – Bomb displaced from exterior of plane
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-22
2001-05-08
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Ordnance
Bomb, flare and signal dropping
Bomb displaced from exterior of plane
C244S137400, C102S374000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227096
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to warheads and missiles of the type commonly carried by aircraft for deployment therefrom. The invention relates more particularly to methods and devices facilitating commonality of missile configuration among a number of warheads of different configurations.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A number of standard types of missiles have been developed for carriage and deployment by aircraft. For example, the AGM-130 uses a 2000-pound Mk-84 warhead forming the body portion of the missile. A tail assembly having a control section is attached to the aft end of the warhead. The AGM-130 missile has a range of about 40 miles. Because of its weight, it is generally unsuitable for carriage by most U.S. fighter aircraft with the exception of the F-15 aircraft.
Other missiles that incorporate the Mk-84 warhead as the missile body include the LGB, GBU-15, and JDAM missiles. In each case, a tail assembly is attached to the aft end of the Mk-84 warhead in order to convert the Mk-84 warhead from a free-fall bomb to a more-accurate guided missile having improved range over the Mk-84 warhead.
More recent warhead technology has enabled warheads having power equivalent to the Mk-84 to be made much lighter. Examples of modern warheads in the 500-pound to 1000-pound weight class include the Mk-82, Mk-83, AUP, I-1000, HTW, I-800, and JAST warheads. In order to enable these warheads to be used for making missiles, a dedicated tail assembly configuration would be needed for each type of warhead, since they are considerably smaller than the Mk-84 warhead and therefore are not compatible with the tail assemblies used in conjunction with the Mk-84 warhead. For example, the assignee of the present application currently has under development three different JDAM tail kits for converting Mk-84, Mk-83 (a 1000-pound warhead), and Mk-82 (a 500-pound warhead) into guided weapons. Still further tail kit configurations would be needed for other warheads.
There is a need for a solution to the problems of lack of commonality among a host of modem warheads and lack of systems for converting the warheads into missiles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above needs are met and other advantages are achieved by the present invention, which provides a universal warhead adapter for use in conjunction with any of a number of warheads of various configurations, thus enabling the warheads to be used with existing tail assemblies to make missiles that can be carried by aircraft using existing aircraft carriage assemblies. To this end, the invention in a preferred embodiment provides a universal warhead adapter comprising a tubular sleeve defining an internal cavity sized to receive a selected one of a plurality of warheads of different predetermined configurations such that the warhead is enclosed by the sleeve. The sleeve has a forward end and an aft end and is aerodynamically and structurally configured to function as a body portion of a missile. The adapter further includes an aft bulkhead at the aft end of the sleeve, the aft bulkhead being configured to permit mounting of a predetermined missile tail assembly onto the aft end of the sleeve. Thus, a common missile configuration is presented by the universal warhead adapter when assembled with a selected warhead and the tail assembly.
The invention thus enables warheads of many sizes, shapes, and weights to be installed into a sleeve of common configuration. The interface between the missile and an aircraft is therefore the same regardless of which warhead is used. A single tail assembly configuration can be used with the various warheads, since there is no need for the tail assembly to be attached directly to the aft end of the warhead. Furthermore, range extension kits such as wings or other control surfaces, rocket motors, or turbojet engines can be attached to the sleeve in order to provide increased range for the missile. Such range extension kits generally cannot be used with existing missiles such as the JDAM in which the warhead itself forms the body of the missile.
The universal warhead adapter preferably includes fastening mechanisms disposed within the sleeve and operable to fix a selected warhead in a predetermined position within the sleeve. The adapter preferably also includes fittings affixed to the sleeve, the fittings being configured to accept attachment lugs to permit the adapter to be carried by a munitions carrier of an aircraft.
The sleeve advantageously comprises a one-piece integral structure, and preferably is an extruded structure. In order to facilitate fuzing of the warhead, the sleeve preferably includes an access door formed through a side wall of the sleeve for access into the internal cavity of the sleeve. The adapter thus enables the practice of fuzing through the control section or tail kit to be eliminated.
An umbilical connector preferably is attached to the sleeve and projects outwardly therefrom, the connector being adapted to be releasably attached to an external wiring harness on an aircraft and to be connected to an internal umbilical disposed within the sleeve. The internal umbilical can be connected to a tail assembly of a missile formed from the universal warhead adapter. The invention thus facilitates the connection of the aircraft electrical system to the missile without having to route an umbilical externally along the missile.
The universal warhead adapter also facilitates the addition of a seeker to the missile. For example, a seeker can be contained within a nose fairing attached to the forward end of the sleeve.
The invention thus provides apparatus and methods enabling warheads of many different sizes, shapes, and weights to be assembled to form a universal missile having a common exterior body portion that can be fitted with tail kits, nose fairings, control surfaces, rocket motors, turbine engines, and other features.
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“Modular Weapons” by Gerald Hendricks, Jan. 1973,Ordance.
Alston & Bird LLP
Eldred J. Woodrow
The Boeing Company
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