Embodiments described herein provides a low-complexity solution and current protection for a current driver that provide current pulses to pyrotechnic initiators. The current drivers include current limiters that prevent high current transients during a current pulse. Further, a duration of the current pulse is controlled based on a thermal limit of the current driver to prevent thermal damage to the current driver. One embodiment comprises an apparatus that includes a control circuit and a current driver. The current driver is electrically couplable to a pyrotechnic initiator. The current driver includes a power switch circuit electrically coupled to a supply rail that supplies a current to a high side of the pyrotechnic initiator in response to receiving a drive signal from the control circuit.

An autonomous flight termination system for terminating vehicle flight after the vehicle is launched from an aircraft includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver; a termination unit selected from a cut-off switch connected to terminate vehicle flight when actuated, and a switch connected to detonate an explosive on the vehicle; a system controller for receiving a first signal indicating separation of the vehicle from the aircraft and a second signal from the GPS receiver to calculate an actual vehicle trajectory, and for sending a third signal to actuate the termination unit to terminate the flight of the vehicle when the actual vehicle trajectory is determined to be outside the safety bounds of a mission-planned flight trajectory; and a failsafe controller connected to receive operational data of the system controller, and to actuate the termination unit when the operational data indicates that the system is in an error state.

A Vehicle Based Independent Range System (VBIRS) (10) comprised of individual stacked chambered modules that function as a single integrated system that provides a self-contained space based range capability, and is comprised of a power module (12), an artificial intelligence/autonomous engagement/flight termination system module (20), a satellite data modem module system (30) and a navigation, communications and control module system (40), all of which interface with a VBIRS test and checkout system (52) and a weather data system (116). The artificial intelligence/autonomous engagement/flight termination system module (20) is comprised of an inherent artificial intelligence capability that envelopes and interchanges data with an autonomous engagement controller (22) that contains all missile/rocket autonomous cooperative engagement, destruct decision software and range safety algorithm parameters required for optimum mission planning. VBIRS employed aboard an aircraft or between any combination of launching systems allows that aircraft to launch a missile/rocket from any location on earth, whether the missile/rocket is singularly launched by itself or as a larger group of missiles/rockets launched in a salvo arrangement, while providing collaborative real-time targeting to occur directly between missiles/rockets in conjunction with other missile/rocket launch platforms or stand-alone mission control centers.

A method and apparatus for generating, in an aircraft in flight, a feasibility display indicative of the feasibility of a weapon, the method comprising: providing a performance envelope for the weapon; determining, using the performance envelope, configuration data for configuring a generic algorithm; uploading the configuration data to the aircraft; generating feasibility data N indicative of the feasibility of a weapon carried on the aircraft successfully engaging a target and/or the feasibility of a weapon carried on the target successfully engaging the aircraft; determining, on board the aircraft, using the same generic algorithm and the uploaded configuration data, one or more test criteria; performing, on board the aircraft, an assessment process including determining whether or not the feasibility data satisfies the one or more test criteria; and, based the assessment, using the feasibility data, generating the feasibility display.

A targeting system for guidance correction of a projectile along a flight path toward a target. The targeting system includes seeker/guidance system mounted on the projectile which controls guidance of the projectile along the flight path toward the target. A remote fire control system receives and displays a survey image of a battlefield and enables an operator to mark location coordinates of the target in the survey image. Based on the location coordinates, the fire control system defines a reference image and transmits the reference image and location coordinates to the seeker/guidance system for use in guiding the projectile toward the target. If the target moves as the projectile travels toward the target, the remote fire control system enables the operator to update the location coordinates and transmit only an offset of the coordinates to the seeker/guidance system which then adjusts or corrects the flight path of the projectile.

Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes one or more radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the plurality of aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, and divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector. The eject vehicle activates at least one of the alignment thrusters responsive to the intercept vector.

A method and a device for assisting aiming at a target, in particular for the purpose of improving the accuracy with which a projectile is guided towards said target by means of a laser beam. The method makes use of a camera serving to capture either a complete image of the environment, or else a selective image of said target in said environment. Thereafter, the method makes it possible to verify that said laser beam is indeed pointing at said target by displaying the point of contact of said laser beam in said environment on the image captured by said camera, and then to determine the accuracy with which said laser beam is indeed pointing at said target. As a function of said accuracy, launching of said projectile may either be confirmed or cancelled. This method also makes it possible to identify the code of said guide beam illuminating said target.

A launch control system relates to a method and apparatus for launch control packet processing that is provided in the launch control system and configured to allow interworking between a plurality of firing control systems and the launch control system. The launch control system comprises a plurality of operation equipments, a system control device, and control the plurality of operation equipments, a launch control packet processing unit, a control signal distribution device, and a status display device.

A target assignment system,includes a sensor system which detects a position, of a moving vehicle, an assigning section which determines the launcher system assigned with the moving vehicle in response to the position of the moving vehicle and generates a first display signal which shows the moving vehicle and a first launcher system, a display section which displays the moving vehicle and the assigned launcher system in real time in response to the display signal, and an input section which instructs a change of the assigned launcher system. The assigning section generates a second display signal in which the first launcher system is changed to a second launcher system, in response to an instruction of assignment change.

Systems and methods that can be used in lightweight vehicles, such as lightweight small Armed Aerial Scout (AAS) vehicles, and can provide small, lightweight weapons capable of Fire and Forget type performance to defeat the next generation Swarm Weapon Systems, such as, groups of high speed attack boats armed with anti ship weapons, are disclosed.