DE102015009200A1 - Energy system and weapon system - Google Patents

Abstract

An energy conversion system (2) with a high-energy laser source (4) for laser radiation (6) for military combat of a target object (8) comprises a modulator (10) for time modulation of the laser radiation (6) according to a modulation pattern (12) for illuminating the target object (8) under a follow-up procedure. A weapon system (14) contains an energy-return system (2) according to the invention and a target-tracking unit (16) for aligning the laser radiation (6) with the target object (8). The high energy laser source (4) of the energy system of the invention (2) or weapon system (14) is used to illuminate the target object (8) as part of the target tracking process.

Description

The invention relates to an energy system with a high-energy laser source, which is designed to emit laser radiation to a target object. The high energy laser source is further designed such that a military combat of the target object is made possible by the laser radiation.

In the military environment, the control of target objects is known, inter alia, by the use of a high-energy laser. The high energy laser is part of an energy system and in particular a weapon system. It is also known, alternatively or additionally, to combat target objects with the aid of projectiles. Such a projectile is for example an ammunition or a missile.

A "Semi-Actives-Laser (SAL) with Coherent Receive" SAL is e.g. B. from the DE 10 2007 014 256 A1 known. There, a laser seeker is proposed, which makes it possible to detect and evaluate continuous wave designator radiation, which in turn can only be detected by countermeasures triggering laser warning sensors very difficult. At the same time, the possibility is created to transfer information between designators and viewers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved power system, an improved weapon system and an improved use of a high energy laser source.

With regard to an energy system, the object is achieved by an energy system according to claim 1. Preferred or advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the dependent claims, the following description and the accompanying drawings.

The energy system includes a high energy laser source. The laser source is designed to emit laser radiation towards a target object. "High energy" is to be understood such that the laser source generates laser radiation with a sufficiently high energy that a military combat of the target object by the laser radiation is possible. A high-energy laser source thus has a high average power, in particular in the range of a few kilowatts. The energy system also includes a modulator. The modulator is designed for temporal modulation of the laser radiation according to a modulation pattern such that the laser radiation - in addition to the military combat - to illuminate the target object as part of a target tracking method is used.

The invention is based on the following observation: The military combat of a target object is known to take place by means of a high-energy laser and / or with a projectile which z. B. is directed by a "semi-active laser" method. A "projectile" in the sense of the invention is an ammunition and / or a missile. Here target designers are used, which are based on pulse lasers. The pulse durations are in the range of about 10 nanoseconds. Alternatively, corresponding projectiles are directed via a "passive homing" method. Alternatively, completely unguided projectiles are used.

The alternative energy to the high energy laser weapons are usually used when the use of the high-energy laser is insufficient to combat the target object. According to the invention, the use of a projectile can take place simultaneously and without delay for this case, without interrupting the control process with the high-energy laser. Because the fighting high-energy laser also serves as a marker laser for the target on the target object, so the radiated on the target object recognition pattern. Also, therefore, no further weapon system needs to be used that includes a conventional laser designer. The target tracking is already done by the high energy laser source by the laser beam is used to illuminate the target object as part of the target tracking method. A beam overlay between the laser radiation of the high energy laser source and another laser designer is not required. An additional target tracking unit for the second weapon in addition to the high energy laser is also not necessary, since the laser radiation of the high energy laser source naturally - namely for the purpose of combat - already as long as possible on the target shows or pursues this.

According to the invention, the laser radiation of the high-energy laser source is modulated in time, in particular in a "quasi-cw" mode, and the target object is illuminated with the modulated laser radiation. The reflected back from the target object radiation can then z. B. from a - especially imaging - sensor of a projectile and continuously evaluated by means of signal processing methods. Thus, directional information about the target object can be derived for the projectile.

According to the invention, an expansion of the military application spectrum of the high-energy laser source takes place in that, in addition to the intended effect of a directed action of energy on the target object, there is a possibility of missiles, which are equipped with suitable sensors, being modulated by the modulator Direct the target designer directly and without interference to the target object.

According to the invention, therefore, an energy-saving system with integrated semi-active control system is provided. In addition to targeting by means of directed energy action, a projectile can switch to a target object based on a sensor and combat it. For this purpose, the high-energy laser source or its laser radiation is modulated in time.

In operation, the high-energy laser source according to the invention thus also works as a laser designer.

In a preferred embodiment, the modulator is designed for modulation during combat. Target tracking and combat can thus be performed simultaneously on the target object. In particular, the fight against the use of the tracking procedure on the basis of modulation need not be interrupted.

In a preferred embodiment, the modulator is designed for temporal modulation of the power of the laser radiation. In other words, therefore, the laser emission of the high-energy laser source is modulated. Performance modulation is a simple and common method that is easy to do. Power modulation occurs in quasi-cw operation of the laser source, i. H. that this permanently generates a basic power to which a temporally variable additional power is modulated. The additional power is only a fraction of the basic output in the one to two digit per mille range. The continuous power serves to combat the target object. The additional service serves the target marking.

In a preferred embodiment, the modulation pattern is changeable. In particular, the modulation pattern is programmable in the modulator. The high energy laser source can thus emit differently modulated laser radiation, for example to illuminate different target objects with different modulation patterns, in order to make them distinguishable again in target tracking methods.

In particular, the modulation is adjustable so that it is based on valid standards (STANAG - "Standardization Agreement" of the NATO member states) for laser designators.

In a further preferred embodiment, the modulation pattern is a target marking pattern of the target detection method. In particular, the targeting pattern is associated with the target object. The target object is thereby uniquely marked by the target marker pattern, for. B. projectiles targeted to the specific target object. In addition to the target marking pattern, the spectral characteristic of the laser radiation is optionally additionally taken into account in the target detection method.

With regard to the weapon system, the object is achieved by a weapon system according to claim 6. The weapon system comprises an inventive energy district system. The weapon system also includes a target tracking unit. This is designed to align the laser radiation on the target object in the context of the target tracking method. The target tracking unit and the target tracking method are for directing the laser radiation of the high energy laser source on the target object or to hold on the target object, even if the target object moves.

In the event that, alternatively or additionally, a projectile is to be used to combat the target object, which is likewise to be instructed on the target object based on the back-reflected laser beam and the modulation pattern, the target tracking unit also serves for its targeting. In the weapon system, therefore, only a single target tracking unit is necessary for both the energy system and the projectile. In particular, this is independent of a projectile for the projectile so that existing projectors can be used without a target tracking unit.

In a preferred embodiment, the weapon system includes a monitoring unit. This is designed to monitor a given space area on there target object. In addition, the monitoring unit is designed to communicate the target object to the target tracking unit. The monitoring unit thus serves to detect a potential or arbitrary target object. When the target object is discovered, it transmits information regarding the location of the target object to the target tracking unit so that it can align the laser radiation of the high-energy laser source with the target object in order to illuminate it.

In a preferred embodiment, the weapon system includes a projectile that is assignable to the target object such that military combat of the target object by the projectile is enabled. The weapon system, in particular its projectile, contains a sensor unit. The sensor unit is designed to receive the laser radiation reflected by the target object in such a way that the targeted introduction of the projectile to the target object is made possible. Such a sensor is also called a "viewfinder" and serves to detect and evaluate the reflected radiation to determine the type, location and movement of the target object.

In a preferred variant of this embodiment, the sensor unit is an electro-optical, in particular an imaging sensor unit. By means of the sensor unit in question, detection and evaluation of the laser radiation reflected by the target object in the form of the modulated target signal generator is particularly simple.

In the context of the invention, therefore, a use of a high-energy laser source of an energy system according to the invention or of a weapon system according to the invention for illuminating the target object is used within the scope of the target tracking method.

The invention, including any preferred embodiments, is summarized as follows:
The laser unit, ie the high-energy laser source, is characterized in particular by the fact that its cw power for controlling certain classes of air, ground and sea targets as targets under certain boundary conditions, eg. B. sufficiently high irradiation time, sufficient to achieve destruction or a mission abort on the target object. On the other hand, the laser emission of the high-energy laser source, ie the laser radiation, is modulated in time, so that the time profile of the emitted laser power, ie the laser radiation, can assume particular programmable forms. At the same time, a high average laser power can be maintained.

With a target tracking sensor system of a weapon system or a laser source, a target object can be tracked after its discovery. After target identification, the target can be illuminated with the laser radiation emitted by the high-energy laser source. The effect on the target object can be tracked via a suitable sensor. Additionally or alternatively, the target object can be fought by means of a projectile. This is done by the high-energy laser source of the Energiewirksystems, d. H. time-modulated laser radiation emitted by the laser unit. The projectile to be used is equipped with an electro-optical sensor which is sensitive to the modulated laser radiation, but which is preferably not necessarily imaging. The target marking is due to the defined temporal modulation - and in particular the spectral characteristics - the laser radiation highly selective.

In lock-on-before-launch mode, the sensor can deploy the projectile to the target by receiving reflected laser radiation there. The electro-optical sensor of the projectile has a large field of view, so that after firing the projectile the target object remains completely in the field of view. The projectile is directed into the target object based on the angular deviation determined by the electro-optical sensor, which is continuously irradiated by the high-energy laser source. The sensor is characterized by a high level of dynamics, so that the laser radiation reflected by the target object can be continuously recorded and evaluated by the integrated signal processing. Since the target lighting is independent of a launcher and the projectile itself is steered via the sensor, existing launcher can be used, which need not be specially adapted.

The invention is based in particular on a system which includes a sensor system for monitoring and tracking and a high-energy laser source (HEL). The system on which the invention is based contains a sensor system for monitoring a predetermined spatial area as well as for target tracking and a laser unit.

Further features, effects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and the accompanying figures. This shows in a schematic outline sketch:

1 a weapon system with an energy system and a target object.

1 shows an energy system 2 with a high energy laser source 4 that are in operation laser radiation 6 in the form of a laser beam to a target object 8th sent out. By the irradiation of the target object 8th using the laser radiation 6 a military combat of the target object takes place 8th ,

The energy system 2 contains a modulator 10 , which in operation a temporal modulation of the laser radiation 6 causes. The temporal modulation takes place according to a symbolically indicated modulation pattern 12 , resulting in laser radiation 6 arises in the form of a "quasi-cw" radiation. In other words, the power of the laser radiation remains 6 almost constant over time. The modulation leads only to slight fluctuations in performance, eg. B. in one to two digits.

Thanks to the modulation pattern 12 serves the irradiation of the target object 8th with the laser radiation 6 not only its military combat, but also the lighting of the target object as part of a target-tracking process. The modulation pattern 12 serves as a target designer. 1 shows the target object 8th at two different times when moving through the space 9 , A first position is drawn, a later second position shown in dashed lines. thanks to the Target tracking method is the laser radiation 6 always the target object 8th tracked or held on this.

The energy system 2 is part of a weapon system 14 , which in addition to the energy system 2 also a target tracking unit 16 contains. This serves to carry out the above-mentioned target tracking method, ie the target object 8th when moving through the room area 9 to follow or direct the laser radiation in the appropriate direction to permanently illuminate the target object. In accordance with the target tracking method, the target tracking unit determines 16 the current position of the target object 8th in the room and works together with the energy system 2 the respective orientation of the laser radiation 6 on the target object 8th , The respective position determination is indicated by dash-dotted lines.

The weapon system 14 also contains a monitoring unit 18 for monitoring the room area 9 serves. The monitoring is through a surveillance cone 20 symbolically represented. The monitoring unit 18 monitors the room area 9 on the appearance of a target object 8th and, if appropriate, informs the target tracking unit 16 or the energy system 2 with that a corresponding target object 8th was identified. Then starts the above-mentioned target tracking method and the illumination with the laser radiation 6 starts.

The weapon system 14 also contains a bullet 22 , This is on the target object 8th so instructable that a military combat the target object 8th through the floor 22 is possible. The weapon system 14 In the exemplary embodiment, more precisely, the projectile 22 , contains a sensor unit 24 , This is suitable, the laser radiation reflected from the target object 26 receive in such a way that the purposeful instruction of the projectile 22 on the target object 8th is possible. In other words, the sensor unit allows by the reception of the reflected radiation 26 , the target object 8th based on the modulation pattern 12 to identify and its location in the space area 9 to investigate. 1 shows a first position of the projectile 22 undressed, a second later position on the way to the target object 8th shown in dashed lines.

Overall, so the high energy laser source 4 or their laser radiation 6 to illuminate the target object 8th used in the above target tracking method, the projectile based on the modulation pattern 12 on the target object 8th instruct.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

Energy-control system

4

laser source

6

laser radiation

8th

target

9

space area

10

modulator

12

modulation pattern

14

weapon system

16

Target tracking unit

18

monitoring unit

20

surveillance cone

22

bullet

24

sensor unit

26

reflected laser radiation

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102007014256 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

Energy system ( 2 ), with a high energy laser source ( 4 ), which transmit laser radiation ( 6 ) to a target object ( 8th ) is designed so that a military combat of the target object ( 8th ) by the laser radiation ( 6 ), characterized in that the energy system ( 2 ) a modulator ( 10 ), for the temporal modulation of the laser radiation ( 6 ) according to a modulation pattern ( 12 ) is designed such that the laser radiation ( 6 ) in addition to illuminating the target object ( 8th ) as part of a target tracking procedure. Energy system ( 2 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the modulator ( 10 ) is designed for modulation during combat. Energy system ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modulator ( 10 ) for temporal modulation of the power of the laser radiation ( 6 ) is trained. Energy system ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modulation pattern ( 12 ) changeable, in particular in the modulator ( 10 ) is programmable. Energy system ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modulation pattern ( 12 ), in particular with the target object ( 8th ) is a targeting pattern of the target tracking process. Weapon system ( 14 ), characterized in that the weapon system ( 14 ) an energy system ( 2 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5 and a target tracking unit ( 16 ), which is used to align the laser radiation ( 6 ) on the target object ( 8th ) is formed within the scope of the tracking procedure. Weapon system ( 14 ) according to claim 6, characterized in that the weapon system ( 14 ) a monitoring unit ( 18 ) for monitoring a given room area ( 9 ) on the target object ( 8th ) and the communication of the target object ( 8th ) to the target tracking unit ( 16 ) is trained. Weapon system ( 14 ) according to one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that the weapon system ( 14 ) a projectile ( 22 ), which points to the target object ( 8th ) is assignable in such a way that a military combat of the target object ( 8th ) through the projectile ( 22 ), whereby the weapon system ( 14 ), in particular its projectile ( 22 ), a sensor unit ( 24 ), which is adapted to that of the target object ( 8th ) reflected laser radiation ( 26 ) in such a way that the purposeful instruction of the projectile ( 22 ) on the target object ( 8th ) is possible. Weapon system ( 14 ) according to claim 8, characterized in that the sensor unit ( 24 ) is an electro-optical, in particular an imaging, sensor unit. Use of a high energy laser source ( 4 ) of an energy system ( 2 ) according to one of claims 1 to 5 or a weapon system ( 14 ) according to one of claims 6 to 9 for illumination of the target object ( 8th ) within the scope of the target tracking procedure.

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