Deceptive signature broadcast system for aircraft

Details Deceptive signature broadcast system for aircraft Deceptive signature broadcast system for aircraft

2003-06-30

2004-11-30

Lobo, Ian J. (Department: 3662)

Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,

Radar ew

Ecm

C342S013000, C342S053000, C250S50400H

Reexamination Certificate

active

06825791

ABSTRACT:

This application relates and claims priority for all purposes to pending U.S. application Ser. No. 60/435,093 filed Dec. 20, 2002.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a system for broadcasting a deceptive radiation signature from an emissions producing asset such as an aircraft, for protection of the asset from radiation seeking vehicles. More particularly it relates to a synchronized, multi-source radiation broadcast system for emitting radiation signature patterns deceptive of the host asset's actual position and path, while masking the normally emitted radiation signature, thereby confounding launches and inducing erroneous lead angle and flight path corrections in radiation seeking intercept missiles or other threat vehicles that are launched against it.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The Nov. 29, 2002 attack on a chartered Israeli Aircraft using SA-7 Missiles, has brought to attention the potential danger of portable surface to air missiles to the world's airliners. While the SA-7s did not hit the Israeli Chartered Aircraft, the Israeli Airline, EI Al is believed to have protected their aircraft with electronic countermeasure systems for precisely that reason. Normally the SA-7 has a 20 to 70% chance of destroying the target aircraft. Effective countermeasures specific to the SA-7 and similar threats are available, but at a price of about two million U.S. dollars per aircraft. Some private, corporate, and selected government transport aircraft are equipped with such systems.
It is estimated that there are approximately over 6,000 unfired SA-7 Missiles in the world today and many are on the black market today at $5,000 a piece. There are also approximately 100 unfired U.S.-made Stingers remaining from the Soviet-Afghan war, which are more accurate than the SA-7s.
The SA-7 and Stingers incorporate an infrared (IR) guidance system that “sees” or senses the IR radiation signature or pattern of the target aircraft. The hot burning jet or turbine engines are typically the major contributors of the radiation. Once a signature pattern is placed within its field of view and the guidance system is initiated, it locks onto the signature and transmits guidance instructions to the missile flight control system. Well developed algorithms in the guidance systems provide a continuously updated lead angle for the missile trajectory based on sensed changes in direction and speed of the changes in the relative position of the target aircraft, or more precisely, its radiation signature.
The SA-7 and Stinger missiles are shoulder launched and are effective up to an altitude of 15,000 feet. They can be fired from the ground, from rooftops, boats, and vehicles anywhere in the landing or takeoff pattern of an aircraft.
IR countermeasure systems for aircraft have been developed to thwart these types of seeker missiles. Generally, an IR countermeasure system works by first detecting a missile launch, then initiating a spurious IR signature substantially more intense that that produced by the aircraft's engines, from a location displaced from the aircraft. The source of the spurious radiation is typically ejected or otherwise physically removed or displaced from the immediate vicinity of the host aircraft, as by firing flares or towing a decoy. Thus, the IR guided missile is attracted towards the source of the spurious signature, away from the target aircraft.
Flares used in such systems are typically as much as 20 or more times higher intensity than the emissions being masked. Some threat vehicles are programmed to detect and reject a signature experiencing a very large difference in intensity, and scan for a lower level signature in the vicinity.
One available countermeasure system is available from Northrop Aircraft's Rolling Meadow's Division. Northrop uses a missile launch detector, detecting the missile exhaust plume, and directional IR Sources or lasers. Such a counter measures system may range in price between approximately two million dollars and three million dollars. Rafael, an Israeli-owned company, is offering a similar priced system, which takes 3 months to install. Another system employs an onboard transmitter in conjunction with the threat detection and identification system to send a command signal directly to the incoming missile to redirect it. BAE Information and Electronic Warfare Division, formerly Sanders Associates, offers an “electric brick” and “hot brick” type systems, which modulate an electrical or fuel heated IR source to spoil the aim of the IR Missile.
Other countermeasure systems of note include that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,990,920, issued to Royden C. Sanders, Jr., filed in 1983 and issued in 1991. The '920 patent disclosed a missile detection system and a RF transponder onboard an aircraft and a towed decoy to separate the transponder. The system has been used with a decoy towed 300 feet behind the aircraft. The system has induced missile misses of 150-feet behind the towed decoy, protecting both the host aircraft and the towed decoy.
With the possible exception of EI AI, none of the world's commercial airlines are equipped with IR Countermeasures. 6,000 Airliners have been built since 1996 and it is estimated that, worldwide, there are more than 9,000 Airliners flying. Lower cost alternatives to existing countermeasure systems would make equipping these airliners more feasible and ultimately make commercial flying safer.
For a more comprehensive understanding of the art, readers may find useful Vol 7
. Countermeasure Systems
, of
The Infrared and Electro-Optical Systems Handbook
, co-published by Environmental Research Institute of Michigan and the SPIE Optical Engineering Press, copyright 1993, revised printing 1996.
What is needed, therefore, are techniques for providing effective, and relatively low cost countermeasures systems for commercial aircraft, and for other fixed or mobile assets that normally emit a radiation signature as a necessary byproduct of their primary function, for evading radiation seeking vehicles of all types, including missiles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention encompasses both apparatus and methodology, and is susceptible to numerous variations and embodiments. Embodiments of the invention encompass a multiple beacon system of two or more broadcast beacons mounted on the aircraft or other asset for providing a selective or general broadcast of deceptive radiation signature patterns for the protection of the aircraft from missiles equipped with a radiation seeking guidance system. The system emissions may be omni-directional, directional, or bidirectional, and have directionally discrete phasing or common field of view phasing as between beacons. The broadcast emissions may be time or altitude sequenced, based on departure or arrival time or altitude, so as to provide automatic coverage at times and places of highest threat potential.
There may or may not be supplemental or augmenting, ground based or airborne, onboard or remote, missile detection capability used to control or enhance the configuration and operation of the basic beacon system. The effects of a missile detection may be implemented in a simple configuration switching mode or may be applied in a continuous, real time control fashion, or some combination thereof so as to maximize the effects of the deceptive broadcast in the direction of the incoming missile. The most common contemporary threat as discussed above is seen to be operating in the IR (Infrared) range but the invention extends from the full infrared to ultraviolet range inclusively, to address alternative and evolving threats.
In its simplest form, the invention comprises a pair of beacons displaced on an aircraft, preferably one on each wingtip, with synchronized, alternating patterns of emission, at appropriate cycle times, of high and low level intensities of radiation at the wavelength of interest in the normally emitted signature; high level intensity being greater than the normal signature intensity of the aircraft. Using this sweep-modulated broadcas

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