Aeronautics and astronautics – Missile stabilization or trajectory control – Remote control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-29
2001-11-20
Gregory, Bernarr E. (Department: 3662)
Aeronautics and astronautics
Missile stabilization or trajectory control
Remote control
C244S003110, C244S003150, C244S003190, C244S003210, C244S003240, C342S002000, C342S004000, C342S062000, C342S063000, C342S066000, C342S357490, C342S357490, C701S207000, C701S213000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318667
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to bombs dropped from aircraft and more particularly to guiding a gliding bomb which is maneuverable. Also this invention contemplates a bomb which is detectable neither visually on dark nights nor by radar nor by infrared instrumentation.
Another purpose of this invention is to guide bombs accurately from aircraft to target and make economies of government and protect aircrews. The use of CRUISE MISSILES for remote attack on hostile targets is very expensive, puts aircrews in jeopardy, and is less than 100% accurate. The system of this invention can provide an effective covert solution to international problems.
The term “bomb” is used to indicate any weapon mass and is not intended to be restricted to explosive material in a container. The term “flying bomb” is used to mean a bomb having lift characteristics when moving through the atmosphere. Usually the lift elements would be glider wings.
(2) Description of the Related Art
RUSZKOWSKI JR., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,397, discloses a bomb which has a low radar cross section. This patent discloses the techniques deflecting the radar rays and also absorbing the radar rays. Lacking any engine there would be no infrared radiation to be detected. A dark colored bomb such as the color black is almost invisible on a dark night. Also snap out fins are disclosed.
MAYERSAK in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,866,838, 5,657,947, and 5,507,452 teaches the possibility of a bomb which is maneuverable by use global positioning satellite (hereafter GPS) to determine the position of the bomb and to guide the bomb to a target.
OXFORD in U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,819 discloses a bomb which is guidable to some extent by having a radio wave illuminated target and the method to guide a bomb to the illuminated target.
The techniques for reducing the radar cross section of is flying objects are well known.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
(1) Progressive Contribution to the Art
The system of this invention is a weight engine driven flying bomb using stealth technology, Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) guidance, and remote guidance update to deliver a large warhead at a fraction of the cost of a cruise missile (approximately 5% of the cost,) and with greater accuracy.
The purpose of this invention is to provide the armed forces with a weapon of great accuracy that would be relatively immune from defensive measures and permit launch from a greater stand-off distance. Because of its extreme accuracy and low launch aircraft attrition, the weapon would deliver a heavy warhead at an extremely low cost.
The weapon would use stealth technology. Stealth technology is, for a full sized aircraft (i.e., F-117 by Lockheed) a very highly developed and expensive art. For this weapon, Radar Cross Section would be reduced to an incredibly low, virtual non-existent figure.
Several reasons are suggested for this.
A. It is weight powered, and will not require the complexity of radar reflection reduction in inlets and ducting common to internal combustion engine installations.
B. Profile, as presented to enemy radar systems, will be faceted to eliminate reflective corners and the total exterior of the airframe will be covered with radar absorbent material (RAM) and constructed of RAM laminates.
C. The strength of the airframe will be obtained from the weight engine (the bomb) and the balance molded out of RAM composites. The signature of the approaching weapon will be so low that it would never get out of the noise of enemy radars.
D. Guidance would be two-fold: Basic guidance would be by using a computer calculated programmed glide path that would be continually monitored and corrected by Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) input. Circular Error Probable (CEP) would be on the order of 10 feet. The calculated guide path and in flight GPS corrections would bring the bomb to the close proximity of the potential target. A remote control link would or could be used for final correctional update. On arrival, at a pre-set location, a TV camera would briefly come on and transmit signals of a picture to a control location where a recording would be made and a controller would do the final guidance, if necessary. The control location might be the launch aircraft. The recording would also provide a damage assessment by evaluating location of impact. The TV transmission should not be detected, and in any case would not provide adequate response time for counter measures.
Optimum Deployment
The ultimate couple would be a stealth aircraft carrying a bomb of this invention. The use of this combination would reduce or would negate the commitment of the ground troops into the theater. The command and control facilities of the enemy would be neutralized, defensive aircraft installations destroyed, radar units knocked out, and supply depots reduced.
Operation Detail
The flying bomb would be designed to conform to mission requirements. For example, weight of war head would determine wing size and geometry. Control could be by ailerons and elevators or spoilers, elevons and speed brakes, or a combination of elements. The major advantage of the flying bomb is that a location that is under attack will have no warning due to the faceted zero RCS corners, RAM coating and composite materials used through out and the absence of infrared radiation from internal combustion engines. The ideal launch situation would be from a stealth type aircraft bomb-bay. However, the flying bomb could be taken to the launch position exposed on a wing pylon.
This invention discloses a bomb with a wings or vanes or other lift surfaces which will permit a launched bomb to glide for considerable distance. For example the bomb can be supplied with lifting surfaces so that it has a guide path of twenty to one from 20,000 ft. altitude. Therefore, a launching plane at twenty thousand feet altitude could launch a bomb at a distance of over 65 nautical miles from the target. With such a distance to travel the bomb must be carefully guided through its glide path.
By use of current technology, people with ordinary skill in computer programming may readily compute a glide path. Data input to the previously written computer program before launch would include the altitude of the plane, the altitude of the target, the location of the plane and the location of the target. From this, the programmed computer can plot a glide path for the bomb to follow from a launch position many miles from the target. This calculated glide path program is transferred to a computer in the bomb which would direct the control surfaces of the maneuverable bomb to follow the glide path.
The current technology of GPS location can accurately find a determined position and detect whether the bomb is at the calculated geoposition of the calculated glide path. From this data input, any deviation from the calculated glide path may be corrected by changing the control surfaces the bomb. Likewise the altitude can be determined within satisfactory limits by an atmospheric altimeter. Also this data information can be manipulated by an on board bomb computer so if its determined altitude deviates from the calculated altitude, the bomb can be brought back to the calculated altitude.
For high precision the bomb may carry a television camera which is pointed in the direction of the travel of the bomb. When the bomb is near the target, this television will show the target. This data in the form of television signals is transmitted to a remote receiver in a control aircraft. Manually operated signals are transmitted to the bomb to override any other guidance control of the bomb. In this manner the bomb may be guided with the aid of the television camera to pin point the target. The television would be operable for a short time only because as soon as the television camera is activated the bomb could be located.
It will be understood from this description the system depends that the bomb is gravity powered. It travels downward along the glide path. Gravity will cause it to travel considerable distance. Also until the tel
Coffee Wendell
Gregory Bernarr E.
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