A projectile delivery module to be mounted on an aerial vehicle includes a projectile delivery system including a kinetic projectile and a base system. The kinetic projectile includes a projectile body, an RF receiver, and an onboard steering system including: a steering mechanism operable to change an attitude, orientation, and/or direction of flight of the kinetic projectile; and a steering actuator. The base system includes: an RF transmitter to communicate with the RF receiver; a projectile holder; a target tracking system; and a projectile guidance system including a projectile tracking system and a projectile control system. The base system is configured to: release the kinetic projectile from the projectile holder such that the kinetic projectile is driven toward a target by gravity; track the target using the target tracking system; track the released kinetic projectile using the projectile tracking system; and automatically control the onboard steering system using the projectile control system to adjust a trajectory of the falling kinetic projectile to steer the kinetic projectile to the target.

A system for firing a projectile mounted on a carrier, the decision assistance system comprising: a first simulator for simulating a navigation system of the carrier and configured to produce a precision of a solution for navigation of the carrier; a second simulator for simulating a navigation system of the projectile and configured to be initialized with the precision of the solution for navigation of the carrier and produce a precision of a solution for navigation of the projectile; and a selector configured to select or not the projectile as projectile to be fired as a function of the precision of a solution for navigation of the projectile.

A system for firing a projectile mounted on a carrier, the decision assistance system comprising: a first simulator for simulating a navigation system of the carrier and configured to produce a precision of a solution for navigation of the carrier; a second simulator for simulating a navigation system of the projectile and configured to be initialized with the precision of the solution for navigation of the carrier and produce a precision of a solution for navigation of the projectile; and a selector configured to select or not the projectile as projectile to be fired as a function of the precision of a solution for navigation of the projectile.

A 1-to-N munitions adapter that includes a physical launcher interface, a physical munitions interface, and electronic control circuitry. The physical launcher interface is operable to connect the 1-to-N munitions adapter to a single munition launcher that is i) configured and arranged to carry and launch a single munition of a first type, and ii) integrated to an airborne platform. The physical munitions interface is operable to connect the 1-to-N munitions adapter to multiple munitions of a second type. The 1-N munitions adapter i) emulates a control interface of a single munition of the first type to the single munition launcher, in part by identifying the 1-to-N munitions adapter to the single munition launcher as a single munition of the first type, and ii) selectively controls the release of munitions of the second type while the airborne platform is in flight in response to signals received from the single munition launcher.

A 1-to-N munitions adapter that includes a physical launcher interface, a physical munitions interface, and electronic control circuitry. The physical launcher interface is operable to connect the 1-to-N munitions adapter to a single munition launcher that is i) configured and arranged to carry and launch a single munition of a first type, and ii) integrated to an airborne platform. The physical munitions interface is operable to connect the 1-to-N munitions adapter to multiple munitions of a second type. The 1-N munitions adapter i) emulates a control interface of a single munition of the first type to the single munition launcher, in part by identifying the 1-to-N munitions adapter to the single munition launcher as a single munition of the first type, and ii) selectively controls the release of munitions of the second type while the airborne platform is in flight in response to signals received from the single munition launcher.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to controlling an explosive burst event of a ballistic ordnance, based on a ground surface topography mapped by a phased-array LIDAR system. The ground surface topography is mapped using an integrated photonics LIDAR system configured to: generate a beam of coherent light; non-mechanically steer a beam of coherent light over a solid angle about an ordnance axis; and detect the beam reflected from the ground surface. The integrated photonics LIDAR system is further configured to map the ground surface topography, based on a functional relation between an angle of the beam and a time difference between generating the beam and detecting the beam reflected from the ground surface. A timing and/or direction of the explosive burst can be controlled, based on the calculated ground surface topography, so as to advantageously realize a desired effect of the explosion.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to controlling an explosive burst event of a ballistic ordnance, based on a ground surface topography mapped by a phased-array LIDAR system. The ground surface topography is mapped using an integrated photonics LIDAR system configured to: generate a beam of coherent light; non-mechanically steer a beam of coherent light over a solid angle about an ordnance axis; and detect the beam reflected from the ground surface. The integrated photonics LIDAR system is further configured to map the ground surface topography, based on a functional relation between an angle of the beam and a time difference between generating the beam and detecting the beam reflected from the ground surface. A timing and/or direction of the explosive burst can be controlled, based on the calculated ground surface topography, so as to advantageously realize a desired effect of the explosion.

A projectile delivery module to be mounted on an aerial vehicle includes a projectile delivery system including a kinetic projectile and a base system. The kinetic projectile includes a projectile body, an RF receiver, and an onboard steering system including: a steering mechanism operable to change an attitude, orientation, and/or direction of flight of the kinetic projectile; and a steering actuator. The base system includes: an RF transmitter to communicate with the RF receiver; a projectile holder; a target tracking system; and a projectile guidance system including a projectile tracking system and a projectile control system. The base system is configured to: release the kinetic projectile from the projectile holder such that the kinetic projectile is driven toward a target by gravity; track the target using the target tracking system; track the released kinetic projectile using the projectile tracking system; and automatically control the onboard steering system using the projectile control system to adjust a trajectory of the falling kinetic projectile to steer the kinetic projectile to the target.

A projectile delivery module to be mounted on an aerial vehicle includes a projectile delivery system including a kinetic projectile and a base system. The kinetic projectile includes a projectile body, an RF receiver, and an onboard steering system including: a steering mechanism operable to change an attitude, orientation, and/or direction of flight of the kinetic projectile; and a steering actuator. The base system includes: an RF transmitter to communicate with the RF receiver; a projectile holder; a target tracking system; and a projectile guidance system including a projectile tracking system and a projectile control system. The base system is configured to: release the kinetic projectile from the projectile holder such that the kinetic projectile is driven toward a target by gravity; track the target using the target tracking system; track the released kinetic projectile using the projectile tracking system; and automatically control the onboard steering system using the projectile control system to adjust a trajectory of the falling kinetic projectile to steer the kinetic projectile to the target.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to controlling an explosive burst event of a ballistic ordnance, based on a ground surface topography mapped by a phased-array LIDAR system. The ground surface topography is mapped using an integrated photonics LIDAR system configured to: generate a beam of coherent light; non-mechanically steer a beam of coherent light over a solid angle about an ordnance axis; and detect the beam reflected from the ground surface. The integrated photonics LIDAR system is further configured to map the ground surface topography, based on a functional relation between an angle of the beam and a time difference between generating the beam and detecting the beam reflected from the ground surface. A timing and/or direction of the explosive burst can be controlled, based on the calculated ground surface topography, so as to advantageously realize a desired effect of the explosion.