LAUNCHING ARRANGEMENT FOR A MISSILE FOR INTERCEPTING ALIEN DRONES

Abstract

The invention relates to a launching arrangement (29) for a missile (1) for intercepting alien drones, wherein the launching arrangement (29) comprises a launch container (30) with an opening (31), wherein the missile (1) is or can be arranged within the launch container (30).

The launching arrangement (29) and the associated missile (1) are improved in that the missile (1) has a propeller drive (6) in a bow area of the missile (1).

Claims

1. Launching arrangement (29) for a missile (1) for intercepting alien drones, wherein the launching arrangement (29) comprises a launch container (30) with an opening (31), wherein the missile (1) is or can be arranged within the launch container (30), characterised in that the missile (1) comprises a propeller drive (6) in a bow area of the missile (1).

2. Launching arrangement according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the launch container (30) is fitted with a cover (32) closing the opening (31), wherein the launch container (30) and the cover (32) are connected to one another via an actuatable closing mechanism (37), wherein when the closing mechanism (37) is actuated, the closing mechanism (37) releases the cover (32) and the missile (1) can leave the launch container (30).

3. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the closing mechanism (37) is coupled to on-board electronics of the missile (1) via a connecting line (39), wherein a signal to open the cover (32) can be sent to the closing mechanism (37) via the on-board electronics of the missile (1).

4. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the launch container (30) comprises at least one, in particular a plurality of guide elements (34), wherein the missile (1) is guided by the guide elements (34).

5. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the launching arrangement (29) comprises a power supply (40), wherein the power supply (40) feeds the electrically actuatable closing mechanism (37).

6. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the missile (1) for intercepting alien drones (21) comprises a net (9) and a parachute (18), wherein a plurality of weights (15) are connected to the net (9), wherein the net (9) can be ejected from the missile, wherein the weights (15) can be ejected from the missile, wherein the net (9) can be ejected by means of a first means and the weights can be ejected by means of a second means, wherein the weights (15) and the net can be ejected from the missile (1) at different points of time.

7. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the time difference between the ejection of the net (9) and the weights (15) can be selected depending on the current airspeed of the missile (1).

8. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the net (9) is arranged in a container (11), wherein the container (11) forms a rear area of the missile (1), wherein the container with the net (9) can be ejected by the first means.

9. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the weights (15) are arranged in ejector receptacles (14), wherein the ejector receptacles (14) are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the missile (1) seen in front of the container (11).

10. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the missile (1) comprises a replaceable unit (12), wherein the replaceable unit (12) comprises the net (9), the weights (15) and the ejector receptacles (14).

11. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the replaceable unit (12) comprises a fuselage part (13), wherein the fuselage part (13) comprises a hollow space (17), wherein a parachute (18) is arranged in the hollow space (17), wherein the parachute (18) is connected to the fuselage part (13) and/or the net (9) via a flexible connection means (19, 20).

12. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hollow space (13) adjoins the container (11), wherein the container (11) comprises an opening (26), wherein the net (9) is connected to the weights (15) and/or a parachute (18) via a flexible connection means (16, 19) and this connection means (16, 19) or the net (9) are guided through the opening (26).

13. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the internal diameter of the container (11) is larger than the opening (26).

14. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the net (9) in the form of a coiled rope is arranged in the container (11) and thus forms a winding, wherein an end of the rope connected to the weights (15) is found inside the winding and a free coil end is found on the outside of the winding.

15. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the missile (1) has the form of a rocket.

16. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the missile (1) comprises a plurality, in particular more than three circumferentially spaced wings (2).

17. Launching arrangement according to any one the preceding claims, characterised in that the propeller drive (6) is arranged in the flight direction in front of the centre of gravity of the missile (1).

18. Launching arrangement according to any one the preceding claims, characterised in that the weights (15) are arranged in the area of the centre of gravity of the missile (1).

19. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the maximum airspeed of the missile (1) is over 100 km/h, in particular over 200 km/h.

20. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first means and/or the second means are formed by at least one pyrotechnic propellant and/or a means operating with pressurised air.

21. Launching arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a means for ejecting the parachute from the hollow space (13) is provided.

Description

[0030] There are now a number of possibilities for configuring and further developing the missile according to the invention in advantageous different ways. For this purpose, reference can first be made to the claims subordinate to claim 1. In the following, preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail using the drawing and the associated description. In the drawing:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a missile for intercepting alien drones,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the missile of FIG. 1, wherein here a net and a parachute have already been ejected,

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of a part of the missile of FIGS. 1 and 2, for example a rear fuselage part, which forms a replaceable unit and comprises the net and the parachute,

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a trajectory of the missile, wherein an alien drone is captured,

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a schematic sectional view of a container with the missile, wherein the missile can launch independently from the container,

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a schematic top view of the opened container with the missile,

[0037] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional representation of the opened container without the missile, and

[0038] FIG. 8 shows a schematic top view of the container without the missile.

[0039] In FIGS. 1 to 4, a missile 1 can be clearly seen which forms part of a launching arrangement 29 according to the invention. The missile 1 has the form of a rocket. The missile 1 comprises a plurality of wings 2, in particular three or more wings 2, wherein each wing 2 in particular comprises an aileron 4. In particular, four wings 2 are arranged evenly spaced circumferentially around a fuselage 3.

[0040] A drive 5, in particular in the form of a propeller drive 6, is provided in a front area of the fuselage 3. The drive 5 preferably has an electric motor. The form of the missile 1 is selected such that the missile 1 can be easily controlled around all transverse axes by means of the aileron 4. The wings 2 are wider in the rear area of the missile 1 than in the front area, i.e. they substantially taper towards the fuselage 3 in the direction of the drive. Thus, the missile 1 substantially has the form of a rocket which allows for a high-top speed. The top speed of the missile 1 is preferably more than 100 km/h, in particular more than 200 km/h, preferably in the range between 250 km/h and 350 km/h. This ensures that the missile 1 can be used with a high differential speed to an alien drone 21 which facilitates the capture of the alien drone 21 with the present missile 1.

[0041] The tip of the fuselage 3 is formed by a seeker 7, wherein the seeker 7 has at least one, in particular a plurality of sensors. The seeker 7 is arranged in front of the drive 5. The sensors can comprise electro-optical sensors or radar sensors. It is conceivable for the seeker 7 as an optical system to have a camera, in particular a 4 K camera.

[0042] Behind the drive 5, the fuselage 3 comprises a central fuselage part 8. Preferably, the on-board electronics and/or a power supply are arranged inside the central fuselage part 8. To capture the alien drone 21, the missile 1 now has a net 9 which in FIG. 3 is arranged packed in a rear fuselage part 10, for example in particular in a container 11 at the end of the rear fuselage part 10. The internal diameter of the container 11 is larger than an opening 26 in the base 30B of the container so that the net 9 is only gradually pulled out to avoid it becoming entangled. Flexible connection means 16, 19 are led through the opening 26 which connect the net 9 to the weights 15 and a parachute 18.

[0043] The net 9 is arranged in the container 11 in the form of a coiled rope and thus forms a winding. An end of the rope connected to the weights 15 is located inside the winding and a free end of the rope is outside of the winding, i.e. on the inside wall of the container 11. By means of this spiral-formed winding it is ensured that the net 9 is gradually pulled out when the container 11 is ejected without it becoming entangled.

[0044] The unfolded state of the net 9 is represented in FIG. 2. The rear fuselage part 10 is made up of several individual components, for example a fuselage part 13 and the container 11, among others. In a preferred embodiment, the rear fuselage part 10 forms a replaceable unit 12. This facilitates the reloading and repair of the missile 1 after an interception attempt. A plurality of replaceable units 12 can be provided so that the missile 1 can be quickly made ready for use.

[0045] This replaceable unit 12 comprises the fuselage part 13, wherein a plurality of ejector receptacles 14 with corresponding weights 15 arranged therein are arranged on the fuselage part 13. The ejector receptacles 14 and the weights 15 are arranged in the area of the centre of gravity of the missile 1. The ejector receptacles 14 are thus aligned such that the weights 15 can be ejected to transverse to the flight direction and also transverse to the longitudinal direction of the missile 1. It is conceivable that the ejector receptacles 14 are thus aligned substantially radially or that the ejector receptacles 14 point obliquely backwards. The weights 15 serve to span the net 9. Thus, the weights 15 are connected to the net 9. In particular, a rope, a belt or another flexible connection means 16 can be used as a connection. This connection means 16 is connected to a weight 15 on the one hand and connected to a circumference of a net 9 (not shown in detail). Preferably, at least three weights 15 and at least three corresponding ejector receptacles 14 are provided. In the embodiment shown, four weights 15 and four corresponding ejector receptacles 14 are used. In the spread-out state, the net 9 can in particular be four-sided, in particular square. In an alternative embodiment, it is conceivable to use a three-sided, five-sided, six-sided or even a round net 9.

[0046] The fuselage part 13 has a hollow space 17, wherein a parachute is arranged inside the hollow space 17. The hollow space 17 is opened in the direction of the container 11. The parachute 18 is connected to the net 9 via a further flexible connection means 19 and preferably connected to the fuselage part 13 via a further flexible connection means 20. When the net 9 is ejected together with the parachute 18 as will now be described in the following (cf. FIG. 2), the missile 1 and the net 9 are safely brought to the ground together with the captured alien drone 21 if present.

[0047] The missile 1 now has a first means (not shown here) for ejecting the container 11. The means can in particular be arranged on the front side of the fuselage part 13 facing the container 11. These means can be formed pneumatically or by a pyrotechnic propellant, for example. The means can be triggered via the on-board electronics. The ejector receptacles 14 can also be actuated via the on-board electronics. It is conceivable that the ejector receptacles 14 can also be confirmed by pneumatic means or by pyrotechnic propellants.

[0048] Furthermore, means to eject the parachute 18 are provided. These means assigned to the net 9, the weights 15 and the parachute 18 can be triggered in any desired sequence.

[0049] The process of the method for intercepting the alien drone 21 will now be described in more detail using FIG. 4. First, the missile 1 is launched from the ground 22. A radar system or another sensor system, for example, can be arranged on the ground that detects the appearance of the alien drone 21. This system transmits the coordinates and/or the direction vector of the alien drone 21 to the missile 1 via a radio connection 23. It is conceivable that the missile 1 is initially controlled from the ground. At a point 24 along the flight path 25, the seeker 7 now detects the alien drone 21. Hereafter, the on-board electronics guide the missile 1 in the direction of the alien drone 21 without external influence, i.e. without the use of the radio connection 23. The speed of the alien drone 21 is preferably determined by a seeker 7 or by the sensor on the ground 22. Furthermore, the speed of the missile 1 is preferably determined. Depending on the distance from the missile 1 and in particular depending on the relative speed between the alien drone 21 and the missile 1, the container 11 is ejected with the described means at a certain point 41. This leads to the net 9 being pulled out through the opening 26 (cf. FIG. 3) in the base 27 of the container 11.

[0050] At a later point in time, at a later point 28 of the flight path, the weights 15 are then ejected out of the ejector receptacles 14, whereby the net 9 is spanned. This point in time is selected such that the alien drone 21 can thus be securely captured. The flight path of the missile 1 is thus adapted to the flight path of the alien drone 21 such that the alien drone 21 can also be captured taking into account the braking effect of the net 9 on the missile 1. By capturing the alien drone 21, the parachute 18 is now also pulled out of the hollow space 17 and the missile 1 now floats to the ground together with the net 9 and the captured alien drone 21.

[0051] It has proven to be particularly advantageous that the container 11 and the weights 15 are ejected at different points in time, i.e. first the net 9 and then at a later point in time the weights 15. Thus, the net 9 is first unrolled and only when the net 9 has substantially left the container 11 is it spanned by the weights 15. The time difference between these two points in time depends in particular on the airspeed of the missile 1.

[0052] In the following, a preferred launching arrangement 29 will now be described. The launching arrangement 29 comprises a launch container 30, wherein the missile 1 is initially arranged in the launch container 30. The launch container 30 has an opening 31 which is initially closed by a cover 32. The cover 32 is arranged on the launch container 30 such that it can be pivoted by a hinge 33. A plurality of guide elements 34 are arranged inside the launch container 30, wherein the guide elements 34 are designed substantially U-shaped so that the wings 2 of the missile 1 are held in a slot 35. The missile 1 is thus arranged in the launch container 30 such that the tip or the bow of the missile 1 is arranged with the drive close to the cover 32 and the rear is arranged substantially between the guide elements 34 close to the base 30B of the launch container 30. The cover 32 has a damper 36 inside of it. The damper 36 is thus opposite the tip, i.e. the seeker 7 of the missile 1.

[0053] A closing mechanism 37 is now arranged on the side of the launch container 30 opposite the hinge 33. A hook 38 of the closing mechanism 37 is shown here. The closing mechanism 37 is electrically actuatable, for example by means of a servo, so that the closing mechanism 37 securely locks the cover 32 in a base position and after a corresponding activation releases the cover 32. It is conceivable for the cover 32 to be substantially swung into the opened stated by a spring or similar. Alternatively, it is conceivable for the cover to be pushed open by the launching of the missile 1 alone.

[0054] The signal to open the cover 32 is now transmitted from the on-board electronics of the missile 1 to the closing mechanism 37. Thus, the missile 1 is coupled to the closing mechanism 37 by means of a connecting line 39 The missile 1 is again connected to a ground station via a radio connection 23 so that the ground station gives the signal to launch the missile 1, the on-board electronics automatically send a signal to the closing mechanism 37 via the connecting line 39 that the cover 32 should now be opened or the hook 38 should now be retracted in order to release the cover 32. The connecting line 39 is thus plugged into a jack (not shown in detail) on the missile 1 so that a data connection to the on-board electronics is established. The power to open or to activate the closing mechanism 37 is preferably supplied externally via a power supply 40.

[0055] This launching arrangement 29 has the advantage that the launching arrangement 29 can protect the missile 1 from external weather conditions and at the same time does not comprise any delicate electronics as these are provided by the on-board electronics of the missile 1. This facilitates inexpensive production of the launching arrangement 29. Now, when the signal to launch is given by the ground station, the drive 5 is activated, i.e. the propeller begins to rotate and the cover 32 is swung to the side by the resulting thrust, so that the opening 31 of the launch container 30 is released and the missile 1 passes out of this opening 31 out into the open.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0056] 1 Missile [0057] 2 Wing [0058] 3 Fuselage [0059] 4 Aileron [0060] 5 Drive [0061] 6 Propeller drive [0062] 7 Seeker [0063] 8 Central fuselage part [0064] 9 Net [0065] 10 Rear fuselage part [0066] 11 Container [0067] 12 Replaceable unit [0068] 13 Fuselage part [0069] 14 Ejector receptacle [0070] 15 Weights [0071] 16 Flexible connection means [0072] 17 Hollow space [0073] 18 Parachute [0074] 19 Flexible connection means [0075] 20 Flexible connection means [0076] 21 Alien drone [0077] 22 Ground [0078] 23 Radio connection [0079] 24 Point on flight path [0080] 25 Flight path [0081] 26 Opening [0082] 27 Base [0083] 28 Point on flight path [0084] 29 Launching arrangement [0085] 30 Launch container [0086] 31 Opening [0087] 32 Cover [0088] 33 Hinge [0089] 34 Guide element [0090] 35 Slot [0091] 36 Damper [0092] 37 Closing mechanism [0093] 38 Hook [0094] 39 Connecting line [0095] 40 Power supply [0096] 41 Point on flight path