Rapid ignition infrared decoy for anti-ship missile

Ammunition and explosives – Pyrotechnics – Flare

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C102S341000, C089S001110

Reexamination Certificate

active

06230629

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to decoys for anti-ship missiles. In particular, this invention relates to a decoy continuously emitting an infrared (IR) plume from immediately after launch through the time it floats on the water.
Liquid fueled, IR radiating decoys have been used that produce an IR plume, or signature after they have been launched, entered the water, and floated back to the surface. Because these decoys do not produce an IR decoy plume immediately after launch, a finite time passes while the decoy is launched, flies through the air, impacts the water, sinks, and then is buoyed back to the surface before it begins to produce its decoying IR plume. Consequently, such decoys do not provide adequate ship protection because during the interval while the decoy is in the air and underwater, the ship is vulnerable to an incoming IR radiation-seeking anti-ship missile (ASM).
Some ASM decoy systems use activated metals to produce IR signatures immediately upon launch. However, these decoys create only short bursts of IR radiation that rapidly fade as the expelled metal diffuses in the air and/or the chemical reaction wanes. Since the activated metal IR radiating decoys do not produce a constant IR plume over a prolonged period, successive IR radiating decoys have to be launched in a properly spaced sequence while the ship is moving. A more serious consequence of using successive IR radiating decoys is that they may actually draw an ASM seeker back to the targeted ship after the IR cloud of a previous burst has already decoyed the missile away.
Thus, in accordance with this inventive concept, a need has been recognized in the state of the art for an ASM decoy emitting an IR plume immediately upon launch from a platform, during flight away from the platform, and later while floating on the surface of the water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to providing a decoy for an IR radiation seeking missile. The decoy ignites an IR plume immediately at safe separation distance from an IR radiating target and continuously maintains the IR plume while the decoy flies away from the target and while it floats on the water to draw the IR seeking missile away from the target.
An object of the invention is to provide a decoy for an ASM that produces an IR decoy plume immediately upon reaching safe separation distance from a ship.
Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy for an ASM having a primary advantage over previous countermeasure devices by its production of an immediate, continuous, and sustained IR decoying signature.
Another object is to provide a decoy for an ASM producing IR radiation immediately after launch and continuously thereafter while it floats on the water away from the targeted ship.
Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy for an IR seeking missile emitting continuous IR radiation for a number of minutes as determined by the size of its gas generator and fuel tank.
Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy for an IR seeking missile that is capable of diverting the missile from a target that has been acquired and locked onto by the missile.
Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy for an IR seeking missile burning different fuels to create different IR radiations that decoy different IR seeking missiles.
Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy for IR seeking missiles having a safe and arm section completing an explosive train in ordnance right after exit from the launcher.
Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy for an IR seeking missile having a liquid fuel interlock in the safe and arm section.
Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy for an ASM having parachutes and flotation collar that function in consonance with the generation of a large IR plume.
Another object of the invention is to provide a decoy for an IR seeking missile having a fuel delivery and mist creating system that functions at all encountered flight aspects and angles during deployment.
These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing specification when taken in conjunction with the appended claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3759216 (1973-09-01), Sanders et al.
patent: 4069762 (1978-01-01), Maury
patent: 4307665 (1981-12-01), Block et al.
patent: 4624186 (1986-11-01), Widera et al.
patent: 4719857 (1988-01-01), Spring
patent: 5331897 (1994-07-01), Handler
patent: 5435224 (1995-07-01), Andreotti et al.
patent: 5895882 (1999-04-01), Woodall, Jr.
patent: 5951346 (1999-09-01), Woodall, Jr.

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