Method for performing exo-atmospheric missile's interception trial

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10012481-B2
Application number	US-201514861328-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2015
Priority date	Mar 17, 2008
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

An inflatable dummy target fittable into a carrier missile capable of being released from the carrier missile during exo-atmospheric flight; upon release, the dummy target or portion thereof is capable of being inflated and manifest characteristics that resemble GTG missile characteristics, wherein the GTG missile characteristics include IR signature, RF signature and GTG missile.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of facilitating exo-atmospheric Ground-to-Ground (GTG) missile's interception trial, comprising:
(a) launching a carrier missile accommodating at least one inflatable dummy target, said carrier missile being configured to release each said at least one inflatable dummy target therefrom; wherein each said dummy target or portion thereof is configured to be inflated and has characteristics that resemble a GTG missile characteristics; and wherein each said dummy target is configured to re-route its flight trajectory during and/or after its release from the carrier missile for at least (i) facilitating sensing from the carrier missile of data during an interception process, by said carrier missile, during the END GAME, (ii) assuring that the carrier missile is substantially out of the field of view of an interceptor during the END-GAME, or iii) assuring that the carrier missile is substantially in the field of view of the interceptor during the END-GAME at a pre-defined location relative to each said dummy target;
(b) launching an interceptor for exo-atmospheric interception of each said dummy target; and
(c) receiving communication of data sensed during the interception process.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising validating hit accuracy and lethality onto each said dummy target.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each said dummy target having a plurality of inflatable ducts wrapped with a sheet.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said characteristics further includes GTG exo-atmospheric flight dynamics being in the pitch and roll axes, respectively, and wherein said ducts further include nozzles for achieving said flight dynamics.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier missile is further configured to self-destruct after the interception.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the interceptor is further configured to self-destruct after the interception.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said re-routing comprises re-routing to a longer flight trajectory associated with a real GTG missile.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said re-routing includes initiating an acceleration vector in a direction that deviates from the flight trajectory of each said dummy target.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said release is configured to be activated at a selected timing so as to achieve a pre-defined distance between each said dummy target and the carrier missile during the END-GAME.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said release is configured to be activated in a selected direction from carrier missile trajectory so as to achieve a pre-defined angle in the interceptor field of view between each said dummy target and the carrier missile during the END-GAME.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carrier missile is further configured to be guided at a pre-defined area for falling after the interception.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interceptor is configured to be guided at a pre-defined area for falling after the interception.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein each said dummy target's characteristics manifest an RF signature that resemble the GTG missile RF signature and an IR signature that resembles the GTG missile IR signature.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein each said dummy target is configured to trigger its IR signature during the homing stage and the END-GAME.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein each said dummy target's characteristics manifests exo-atmospheric flight dynamics that resemble exo-atmospheric flight dynamics of the GTG missile.

Assignees

• Israel Aerospace Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Rovinsky Jacob
• Tourgeman Yoav

Classifications

• F42B8/24

  Rockets · CPC title

• F41J9/08

  Airborne targets, e.g. drones, kites, balloons {(aircraft for towing targets B64D3/02)} · CPC title

• F41J2/00 Primary

  Reflecting targets, e.g. radar-reflector targets; Active targets transmitting electromagnetic {or acoustic} waves · CPC title

• F41G7/006

  Guided missiles training or simulation devices · CPC title

• F41G7/004

  for infrared seekers · CPC title