Ammunition and explosives – Drop bombs – With drop-retarding means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-25
2001-09-25
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 3644)
Ammunition and explosives
Drop bombs
With drop-retarding means
C102S386000, C244S014000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293202
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to deployment of torpedoes. In particular, this invention relates to a method and system for remotely delivering torpedoes accurately and clandestinely with reduced exposure to hostile response.
Torpedoes are effective against shipping. Most navies have numerous attack torpedoes in inventory. These torpedoes use various sensors and data inputs to seek and engage enemy ships or submarines. Unless attack torpedoes are released from a mine, they are usually launched from surface, subsurface, and airborne platforms to engage and destroy targets. These deployments may work reasonably well under a variety of operational scenarios, but they cannot deliver a torpedo in an area that is strongly defended without placing the host air or sea platform at great risk. This is because torpedo-dispensing platforms usually need to perform their torpedo-dispensing mission well within the detection range of the target. Consequently, the target and other vessels may retaliate and hunt them down. In other words, the conventional deployment methods for torpedoes are observable, and the presence of the relatively large platform alerts others so that its activities are closely monitored and invite decisive countermeasures.
Launching torpedoes by relatively undetectable submarines is not without its disadvantages. Submarines are slow as compared to torpedo dispensing aircraft. If a submarine is to engage a target about 100 nautical miles from its position, it might take many hours to navigate the distance underwater. Thus, to ensure stealthy operation, a submarine's slow and careful progress will operationally limit it, especially if the operation is taking place through a hostile monitored region. Once a torpedo is launched, the submarine's location is likely to be revealed. Evasive maneuvering during the submarine's withdrawal to safer waters location may be needed to ensure survivability. This can take hours during which time the submarine is vulnerable to counter attack from surface, subsurface, and airborne platforms. Thus, airborne platforms may be more desirable to deliver torpedoes from safe and undetected standoff positions. Some aircraft can take less than an hour to deploy torpedoes and return to base without detection. However, if such aircraft are detected, they too are vulnerable to destruction.
Thus, in accordance with this inventive concept, a need has been recognized in the state of the art for a means to remotely deploy torpedoes clandestinely with GPS accuracy that reduce risks and hazards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to providing a method of and means for remotely deploying a torpedo to a remote area. Mounting a torpedo on a rigid winged unmanned aircraft and flying the torpedo to a remote location calls for generating control signals in the unmanned aircraft in response to entered GPS coordinate signals representative of the remote location and to received GPS signals representative of the location of the unmanned aircraft. Steering the unmanned aircraft to the remote location in response to the control signals allows releasing the torpedo from the flying unmanned aircraft in response to GPS signals that are representative of the proximity of the remote location.
An object of the invention is to provide a method and means for remotely deploying a torpedo with GPS accuracy.
Another object of the invention is to provide an unmanned aircraft deploying a torpedo to a remote location in response to GPS signals.
Another object of the invention is to provide method and means for remotely deploying a torpedo according to GPS coordinates and signals.
Another object of the invention is to provide method for deploying standoff delivered torpedoes that provides the capability of remotely launching torpedoes in defended areas without exposing friendly craft to detection and hostile action.
Another object of the invention is to provide for deployment of torpedoes from an unmanned gliding aircraft when conventional systems for deploying torpedoes are unavailable or could not perform such missions.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method to accurately deploy torpedoes using GPS signals and much closer to high-risk areas without exposing craft or personnel to risk.
Another object of the invention is to provide a method and system that provide for clandestine deployment of torpedoes.
Another object is to provide a system that allows torpedoes to be remotely emplaced many nautical miles from a point of aim.
Another object of this invention is to provide a method and means to deploy torpedoes in engagement areas that can be lethal for conventional aircraft deploying torpedoes in current fashion.
These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing specification when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.
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Garcia Felipe
Woodall Robert
Gilbert Harvey
Jordan Charles T.
Peck Donald G.
Smith Kimberly S
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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