Ordnance – Mounts – Training mechanisms
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-29
2002-10-22
Eldred, J. Woodrow (Department: 3644)
Ordnance
Mounts
Training mechanisms
C089S041070, C089S001110, C342S067000, C702S144000, C235S411000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06467388
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for engaging at least one aerial target by means of at least two firing units linked to form a firing group, therein monitoring of the airspace for searching for the at least one aerial target is performed by the individual firing units, thereafter an assessment of the threat is performed on the basis of the search, and an aerial target is assigned to each one of the at least two firing units for engaging it, The invention further relates to a firing group of at least two firing units, as well as to the utilization of the firing group for defending a target to be protected.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Within the scope of the present specification, firing units are understood to be units for engaging mobile targets, in particular but not exclusively, rapidly moving aerial targets, which can arrive at any arbitrary altitude. Such firing units customarily consist of a fire control unit and at least two weapons, which can be single-or multi-barrel guns and/or launching devices for guided missiles. The term firing group should be understood to consist of two or more firing units, which are employed within the same time period for monitoring the same or adjacent areas of the airspace and for engaging enemy aerial targets therein.
Fire control units customarily used as components of such firing units, have one or several antenna systems, which are suitable for different monitored areas and can be alternately employed for the search, acquisition and tracking of aerial targets to be engaged. One firing unit customarily has always only a single active antenna in use. Therefore only a defined angular space can be monitored, i.e. for example an area close to the ground at a low altitude, or an area at high altitude, and furthermore, the angular space monitored in this way is relatively small. This can have the result that aerial targets, for the engagement of which the weapons of the firing unit would have sufficient capacity, cannot be detected by the associated fire control unit. The engagement of such aerial targets then fails, not for a lack of usable weapons, but for the lack of sufficient monitoring of the airspace. Searching and acquisition of an aerial target by means of the fire control unit of a neighboring firing unit does not bring any improvement, since this fire control unit is not usable for controlling the weapons of the first firing unit because systems for transmitting the appropriate signals are lacking.
Although a better utilization of the capacity of the weapons of the firing unit could be achieved if, with the same number of weapons, the fire control unit either were to be designed in such a way that its antennas intended for monitoring different angular spaces could be used simultaneously, or that the firing unit would be equipped with several fire control unit. But both options are comparatively expensive, since the fire control units are mostly more cost-intensive device than the weapons.
An improvement of monitoring the airspace and engaging aerial targets is achieved with the linkage of several firing units to form a firing group. Such a linkage can be achieved in ways of different intensity, or respectively in different degrees. With the known firing groups consisting of linked firing units, the linkage is provided such, that one selected firing unit, or respectively the fire control unit of this firing unit, is leading, i.e. performs a so-called “master” function and takes on the preponderant portion of the calculations, while the remaining firing unit, or respectively their fire control units, are assigned a so-called “slave” function. The firing unit with the “master” function has a tendency to require more extensive electronics than the firing units with the “slave” functions. This means that either all fire control units must be sufficiently equipped for performing “master” functions when required, or that it is necessary to create differently equipped firing units, basically one “master” unit and several “slave” units per firing group. Such over-equipping is avoided in the first case, but tactical flexibility is lost to a large extent, since inter alia the position of the “master” unit and the “slave” units are fixed for at least a defined time period. Although tactical flexibility is achieved in the first case, the expense of apparatus is comparatively large since, with firing units which are all equipped the same, the firing units performing a “slave” function are obviously over-equipped, so to speak. A further important disadvantage of firing groups composed of several firing units, one of which exercises the “master” function, lies in its vulnerability. If the firing unit with the “master” function fails, either because of an internal defect or as a result of the effects of enemy weapons, the linkage breaks down. This breakdown of the linkage cannot be repaired in firing groups with differently equipped firing units, since there is no redundancy of the failed firing unit, or respectively its fire control unit. With firing units which are overall equipped in the same way, another firing unit, a redundancy so to speak, could take over the “master” function, but it would be necessary to take appropriate and expensive measures to cause this transfer of the “master” function.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of the invention to find a solution for the problem of linking the firing units of a firing group in such a way that improved airspace monitoring and utilization of the capacities of the weapons is achieved, wherein simultaneously the outlay for the systems, which are additionally needed by the individual firing unit, and the vulnerability of the firing group should be minimized.
This object is attained
An essential advantage of the firing group in accordance with the invention lies in that its vulnerability is less in comparison with the vulnerability of conventional, linked firing units with a “master” unit and at least one “slave” unit, because in spite of their coordinated activities, the firing units are equal and autonomous. If one of the firing units fails, the size of the firing group is reduced, but is functioning basically remains the same. Since no firing unit is a “master” unit, there can be no failure of a “master” unit. But in their deployment, the same advantages are obtained as with the previously known firing group with “master” and “slave”units, since the firing units linked in accordance with the invention are coordinated in respect to their functions. This is achieved in particular in that, for the assessment of the threat to a common object to be protected, the search results of all search antennas of all fire control units are considered, and for the selection of a aerial target to be engaged by a firing unit this assessment of the threat as well as the respective state of the weapons are considered.
The linkage in accordance with the invention of the firing units into a firing group, in which the firing units are equal and autonomous, but act in coordination when deployed, permits a more efficient engagement of aerial targets than would be the case when deploying a firing group with the same number and types of firing units, but without a linkage of the firing units, and without an increase of the vulnerability, such as must be accepted in connection with conventional firing groups with a “master” unit and several “slave” units. On the one hand, this is because of an increase and complementation of the monitored airspace by the fire control unit, and on the other hand because of full utilization of the capacity and optimization of the deployment of the weapons. The total of the search area of the fire control units of the firing group in accordance with the invention is not greater than the total of the search areas of the individual fire control units, and the total of the weapons of the firing group does not exceed the sum of the weapons of the individual firing units. In spite of this, the total efficiency of the firing group is much higher
Chambers Guy W.
Eldred J. Woodrow
Oerlikon Contraves AG
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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