Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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KINETIC ENERGY ROD WARHEAD DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improvements in kinetic energy rod warheads.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority of Provisional Application Serial No.
60/406,828
filed August 29, 2002.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Destroying missiles, aircraft, re-entry vehicles and other targets falls into
three
primary classifications: "hit-to-kill" vehicles, blast fragmentation warheads,
and
kinetic energy rod warheads.
"Hit-to-kill" vehicles are typically launched into a position proximate a re-
entry
vehicle or other target via a missile such as the Patriot, Trident or MX
missile. The
kill vehicle is navigable and designed to strike the re-entry vehicle to
render it
inoperable. Countermeasures, however, can be used to avoid the "hit-to-kill"
vehicle.
Moreover, biological warfare bomblets and chemical warfare submunition
payloads
are carried by some threats and one or more of these bomblets or chemical
submunition payloads can survive and cause heavy casualties even if the "hit-
to-kill"
vehicle accurately strikes the target.
Blast fragmentation type warheads are designed to be carried by existing
missiles. Blast fragmentation type warheads, unlike "hit-to-kill" vehicles,
are not
navigable. Instead, when the missile Garner reaches a position close to an
enemy
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missile or other target, a pre-made band of metal on the warhead is detonated
and the
pieces of metal are accelerated with high velocity and strike the target. The
fragments,
however, are not always effective at destroying the target and, again,
biological
bomblets and/or chemical submunition payloads survive and cause heavy
casualties.
The textbooks by the inventor hereof, R. Lloyd, "Conventional Warhead
Systems Physics and Engineering Design," Progress in Astronautics and
Aeronautics
(AIAA) Book Series, Vol. 179, ISBN 1-56347-255-4, 1998, and "Physics of Direct
Hit
and Near Miss Warhead Technology", Volume 194, ISBN 1-56347-473-5,
incorporated herein by this reference, provide additional details concerning
"hit-to-
kill" vehicles and blast fragmentation type warheads. Chapter 5 and Chapter 3
of these
textbooks propose a kinetic energy rod warhead.
The two primary advantages of a kinetic energy rod warhead is that 1) it does
not rely on precise navigation as is the case with "hit-to-kill" vehicles and
2) it
provides better penetration then blast fragmentation type warheads.
To date, however, kinetic energy rod warheads have not been widely accepted
nor have they yet been deployed or fully designed. The primary components
associated with a theoretical kinetic energy rod warhead is a hull, a
projectile core or
bay in the hull including a number of individual lengthy cylindrical
projectiles, and an
explosive charge in the hull about the projectile bay with sympathetic
explosive
shields. When the explosive charge is detonated, the projectiles are deployed.
See
"Aligned Rod Lethality Enhanced Concept for Kill Vehicles," R. Lloyd "Aligned
Rod
Lethality Enhancement Concept For Kill Vehicles" 10th AIA.A/BMDD
TECHNOLOGY CONE, July 23-26, Williamsburg, Virginia, 2001 incorporated
herein by this reference.
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SUMMARIF OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an obj ect of this invention to provide a new kinetic energy
rod
warhead deployment system.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such a kinetic energy rod
warhead deployment system which is capable of destroying multiple spaced apart
target
clusters but requiring only a single carrier missile.
It is a fiu-ther obj ect of this invention to provide such a kinetic energy
rod
warhead deployment system which is highly versatile.
The invention results from the realization that a more versatile kinetic
energy rod
warhead deployment system capable of destroying spaced apart target clusters
but
requiring only a single carrier missile is achieved by packaging proj ectiles
in a number of
housings jettisoned from the carrier missile and each placed in the vicinity
of an
individual target so that the projectiles, when deployed from each jettisoned
housing, lie
in the traj ectory paths of all of the targets.
This invention features a kinetic energy rod warhead deployment system
comprising at least one jettison housing including a plurality of lengthy
individual
projectiles therein and means for deploying said projectiles and a navigatable
carrier
for the j ettison housing including means for ej ecting the j ettison housing
in the vicinity
of a target whereupon the means for deploying the projectiles is activated to
deploy the
individual proj ectiles in the traj ectory path of the target.
In one example, the means for deploying the projectiles includes an explosive
charge core surrounded by the projectiles. In another example, the means for
deploying the proj ectiles includes an explosive charge within the j ettison
housing
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surrounding the projectiles. In still another embodiment, the means for
deploying the
projectiles includes explosive charge sections surrounding the projectiles.
Typically, the carrier is a missile and there are a plurality of j ettison
housings
carried by the missile and each selectively ejectable from the missile.
The means for ej ecting the j ettison housing may include spinning the Garner
to
import a velocity to the housing, an explosive charge about the jettison
housing, or a
propulsion subsystem associated with the jettison housing.
The method of destroying a number of spaced targets of this invention features
navigating a carrier missile proximate the target, ejecting housings each
containing a
plurality of projectiles into the trajectory path of each target, and
deploying the projectiles
of each jettison housing to destroy each target.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features and advantages will occur to those spilled in the art
from
the following description of a preferred embodiment and the accompanying
drawings, in
which:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view showing the typical deployment of a "hit-to-kill"
vehicle in accordance with the prior art;
Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing the typical deployment of a prior art blast
fragmentation type warhead;
Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the deployment of a theoretical kinetic
energy
rod warhead system;
Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing the deployment of a kinetic energy rod
warhead as a replacement for a blast fragmentation type warhead in accordance
with the
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subjectinvention;
Figs. SA-SC are schematic views showing the ejection of a single jettison
housing
from a missile and the deployment of a plurality of proj ectiles in accordance
with the
system and method of the subject invention;
Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the primary components
associated with one type of jettison housing in accordance with the subject
invention;
Fig. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the primary components
associated with another embodiment of a jettison housing in accordance with
the subject
invention;
Fig. ~ is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the primary components with
still another embodiment of a jettison housing in accordance with the subject
invention;
Fig. 9 is a schematic view showing a carrier missile with a number of jettison
housings in accordance with the subject invention;
Fig. 10 is a schematic view showing the ejection of a number of jettison
housings
from a single missile and the deployment of the projectiles of each jettison
housing to
destroy object clusters deployed far apart in space in accordance with the
system and
method of this invention;
Fig. 11 is a schematic view showing how, in one embodiment, the housings are
j ettisoned from the carrier;
Fig. 12 is a schematic view showing an explosive charge for jettisoning the
housings from the Garner; and
Fig. 13 is a schematic view showing a propulsion subsystem for jettison of the
housings from the carrier.
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DISCLOSURE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As discussed in the Background section above, "hit-to-kill" vehicles are
typically launched into a position proximate a re-entry vehicle 10, Fig. 1 or
other target
via a missile 12.. "Hit-to-kill" vehicle 14 is navigable and designed to
strike re-entry
vehicle 10 to render it inoperable. Countermeasures, however, can be used to
avoid
the kill vehicle. Vector 16 shows kill vehicle 14 missing re-entry vehicle 10.
Moreover, nuclear, biological bomblets and chemical submunition payloads 18
are
carned by some threats and one or more of these bomblets or chemical
submunition
payloads 18 can survive, as shown at 20, and cause heavy casualties even if
kill vehicle
14 does accurately strike target 10.
Turning to Fig. 2, blast fragmentation type warhead 32 is designed to be
carried
by missile 30. When the missile reaches a position close to an enemy re-entry
vehicle
(RV), missile, or other target 36, a pre-made band of metal or fragments on
the
warhead is detonated and the pieces of metal 34 strike target 36. The
fragments,
however, are not always effective at destroying the submunition target and,
again,
biological bomblets and/or chemical submunition payloads can survive and cause
heavy casualties.
The textbooks by the inventor hereof, R. Lloyd, "Conventional Warhead
Systems Physics and Engineering Design," Progress in Astronautics and
Aeronautics
(AIAA) Book Series, Vol. 179, ISBN 1-56347-255-4, 1998, and "Physics of Direct
Hit
and Near Miss Warhead Technology" Volume 194, ISBN 1-56347-477-5, incorporated
herein by this reference, provide additional details concerning "hit-to-kill"
vehicles and
blast fragmentation type warheads. Chapter 5 and Chapter 3 of these textbooks
propose a kinetic energy rod warhead.
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In general, a kinetic energy rod warhead, in accordance with this invention,
can
be added to kill vehicle (interceptor) 14', Fig. 3 to deploy lengthy
cylindrical projectiles
40 directed at re-entry vehicle 10 or another target. In addition, the prior
art blast
fragmentation type warhead shown in Fig. 2 can be replaced with or
supplemented
with a kinetic energy rod warhead 50, Fig. 4 to deploy projectiles 40 at
target 36.
Two key advantages of kinetic energy rod warheads as theorized is that 1) they
do not rely on precise navigation as is the case with "hit-to-kill" vehicles
and 2) they
provide better penetration then blast fragmentation type warheads.
The idea behind the subject invention is to deploy projectiles in the
trajectory
path of a target from a jettison housing or housings ejected from a carrier
such that the
projectiles are placed in the trajectory path of a target or targets as shown
in Figs. 5A-
5C. Thus, the deployment system of this invention features navigatable carrier
50 such
as a missile including jettison housing 52 and means for ejecting jettison
housing 52 in
the vicinity of target 54 to be destroyed as shown in Fig. 5B. Jettison
housing 52
includes a plurality of projectiles 56, Fig. 5C therein which are deployed in
the
trajectory path P of target 54 as shown.
In one embodiment, jettison housing 52a, Fig. 6 includes hull 60 and therein
explosive charge core 62 surrounded by projectiles 56. Upon detonation of
explosive
charge 62, hull 60 fragments and projectiles 56 are deployed as shown in Fig.
5C. In
another embodiment, jettison housing 52b, Fig. 7 includes hull 70 encasing
explosive
charge 72 surrounding projectile core 74. Upon detonation of explosive charge
72,
hull 70 breaks up and projectile core 74 is deployed as shown in Fig. 5C.
In still another embodiment, j ettison housing 52c, Fig. 8 includes explosive
charge sections 80a-80d surrounding projectiles 82 and separated by detonation
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cord 84. In this way, the projectiles can all be deployed in one primary
direction by
detonating, for example, the detonation cord between explosive charge sections
80b
and 80c, 80a and 80b, and between 80d and 80c to deploy explosive charge
sections
80b and 80c. Then, explosive charge sections 80a and 80d are detonated to
deploy
projectiles 82 in the general direction of vector 86.
Thus, the means for deploying the projectiles in accordance with this
invention
can vary depending on the specific design and purpose of the jettison housing
and in
accordance with the state of the art. See also U.S. Patent Application Nos.
10/301,420,
09/938,022 and 09/938,022, incorporated herein by this reference. These patent
applications describe other types of deployment systems. See also the
application filed
on an even date herewith entitled "Kinetic Energy Rod Warhead with Imploding
Charge for Isotropic Firing of the Penetrators" by the same inventor.
It is preferred that the missile carrier include a number of jettison housings
as
shown in Fig. 9 which can be selectively ej ected each to be placed in the
vicinity of a
number of potential and actual targets as shown in Fig. 10. Thus, jettison
housing 52'
is ej ected in the vicinity of decoy cluster 54a, Fig. 10, j ettison housing
52" is ej ected in
the vicinity of actual target 54b (e.g., a re-entry vehicle), jettison housing
52"' is ejected
in the vicinity of decoy cluster 54c, and jettison housing 52'" is ejected in
the vicinity
of decoy cluster 54d.
The projectiles or rods of each jettison housing, once deployed, are now in
the
trajectory path of each target 54a-54d and will destroy each target.
The means for ejecting each jettison housing can vary depending on the design
criteria. At least three different jettison technologies could be used to
deploy the
warhead housing. A predictor fuse can be used to determine which object is a
threat.
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The guidance system of the missile is able to computer range and angle of the
obj acts
relative to the missile system. Based on this data, a time-to-go is computed.
The
jettison housing is deployed to the space and initiated ahead of the incoming
objects.
This creates a cloud of proj ectiles that kill all the enemy obj acts.
One ejection concept is to deploy the housings by spinning the missile. This
generates an angular rotation of all the housings. The fuse determines which
housing
to deploy relative to the position of all the obj act clouds. The spinning
energy is
converted to linear energy and velocity by releasing the housing while it is
spinning.
The spinning housing is released and is still spinning as it approaches it
intercept point.
The proj ectiles are then released with a linear shaped charge that cuts a
retaining band
or they are explosively deployed. If rods are used, they are perfectly aligned
after
angular deployment because the housing contains a high angular velocity. The
rods are
deployed with perfect spacing as shown in Fig. 11 where v is the deployment
velocity
and w is the angular velocity.
The housings could also be deployed with an explosive. An explosive axc 80,
Fig. 12 is placed around the housing 52 and given the correct time-to-go, the
housing is
explosively launched from the missile. The same fuse logic would be employed
as the
spinning concept, except a small explosive change would be used for
deployment. The
explosive change would be designed thin enough with a proper buffer to protect
the
housing from damage during initial deployment. Polyurethane foam buffer 82 is
used
to help protect the housing 52 from explosive damage.
Another ej action concept is a propulsion system 90, Fig. 13 for each housing
(e.g., a thruster). Each housing would contain a small propulsion system that
would
accelerate the housing to its correct point in space. Once it has reached this
point, then
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the rods are deployed with a small center core of explosives as shown in Fig.
6.
The projectiles or rods within the jettison housings may be lengthy cylinders
or
may have special shapes as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 10/162,49
filed
June 4, 2002 and incorporated herein by this reference.
The advantages of such a system wherein the projectiles are housed in housings
jettisoned from a Garner missile include the ability to destroy multiple
target clusters
spaced apart in space with only one Garner missile. Thus, the method of this
invention
features navigating carrier missile 50, Fig. 10 proximate the targets,
ejecting a housing
containing a plurality of projectiles into the trajectory path of each target
as shown in
Fig. 10, and deploying the projectiles of each jettison housing to destroy
each target.
Although specific features of the invention are shown in some drawings and
not in others, this is for convenience only as each feature may be combined
with any or
all of the other features in accordance with the invention. The words
"including",
"comprising", "having", and "with" as used herein are to be interpreted
broadly and
comprehensively and are not limited to any physical interconnection. Moreover,
any
embodiments disclosed in the subject application are not to be taken as the
only
possible embodiments.
Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the
following claims:
What is claimed is:
