RU2784528C1 - Weapon aiming system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: weapons.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to systems for the aiming and guidance of unguided and guided high-precision weapons for hitting stationary and mobile ground targets of the enemy in the tactical depth of combat formations thereof using unmanned aerial systems as a means of detection, target pointing, and guidance of guided munitions. Unmanned aerial vehicles applied in the weapon aiming system allow for the location, detection, tracking, position-finding and laser illumination of single and group targets both in normal weather with good visibility and in the presence of clouds covering the target.

EFFECT: effectiveness and reliability of firing weapons with both unguided and guided munitions with semi-active laser guidance is higher as compared to the known state of the art.

6 cl, 2 dwg

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to systems for aiming and guiding unguided and guided high-precision weapons to engage fixed and moving ground targets of the enemy in the tactical depth of his battle formations using unmanned aerial systems as a means of detecting, targeting and guiding guided munitions.

State of the art

A wearable set of means for controlling the fire of artillery units called "Malakhit" is known (https://www.kbptula.m/ru/razrabotki-kbp/artillerijskie-kompleksy-upravlyaem vooruzheniya/malakhit). In combat use, this complex provides detection and identification of targets at any time of the day; measurement of range and angular coordinates of targets, including moving ones; target designation (laser illumination of targets), topographic and geodetic preparation of the command and observation post and firing position; calculation of shooting installations; exchange of information between the command and observation post and the firing position; bringing firing installations to the gun; automated input of installations (flight mission) into guided artillery shells.

The composition of the means located at the command and observation post includes a laser target designator-rangefinder complete with a thermal imaging sight, a commander's console and a radio station. The composition of the means placed at the firing position includes the commander's console, a radio station, a set of gun terminals, training equipment.

The main disadvantage of this set of means for controlling the fire of artillery units is that it can only be used in conditions of direct visibility of targets and cannot be used for firing from closed positions and in the far zone, when the target is over the horizon or hidden behind terrain, for example hills.

A known method of firing a guided projectile with a laser semi-active homing head according to the patent for the invention of the Russian Federation RU 2247297, published 27.05.2005. The invention relates to the control of artillery guided projectiles with a semi-active laser homing head, capturing an illuminated target in the final section of the trajectory. In this method, in battle order, an artillery battery is located at a great distance from the line of contact with the enemy. A scout is sent to the line of contact with the enemy with a laser target designator-range finder, satellite navigation equipment, a digital radio station and a reconnaissance console. A laser designator-rangefinder with a sighting channel is used to detect and track a target, as well as to determine the coordinates of the target, for example, the range and azimuth of the target relative to the location of the laser designator-rangefinder itself, which is set using satellite navigation equipment. The scout measures the range to the target and the azimuth of the target. The measurement results are transferred to the reconnaissance console, converted into the earth coordinate system of topographic reference to the terrain, displayed on the screen of the reconnaissance console, converted into a sequence of binary codes and transmitted to the gun control console via digital radio communication. In the gun control panel, the latitude, longitude and height of the gun, data for ballistic calculations (weight coefficient of the projectile, charge temperature), meteorological data (meteorological bulletin or results of ground meteorological measurements) are entered. In the gun control panel, using the target coordinates received via radio communication, the ballistic firing settings of the gun are automatically calculated. With the use of orientation aids, the loaded gun is aimed at the target according to the firing settings. At the command of the battery commander, a shot is fired from the control and observation post. At the time of the shot, a message is automatically generated in the reconnaissance console about the shot. At the same time, the time of the shot is read from the timer of the clock of the single time system from the gun control panel and the delay time for switching on the laser designator-rangefinder to the target illumination mode is assigned, taking into account the total time of the projectile approach. The scout continues to follow the target and keep it in the crosshairs of the sighting channel. A message about the shot and the required time for switching on the laser designator-rangefinder to the laser target illumination mode comes to the reconnaissance console via digital radio communication. The time for turning on the laser illuminator is automatically set based on the indications of the common time of the gun control panel and the reconnaissance console. When the projectile approaches the target, the homing head on the projectile scans the earth's surface in search of a trace of the laser beam. When a laser spot is detected in a guided projectile, commands are generated on the rudders, which ensure that the projectile turns to the center of the laser spot to hit the target.

The main disadvantage of this method is the need to advance the reconnaissance directly to the enemy’s battle formation with the possibility of detecting and destroying it by the enemy, as well as the limited view of the reconnaissance within the line of sight due to its ground covert location and folds of rough terrain.

A well-known guidance system for high-precision weapons of the far zone according to the patent for the invention of the Russian Federation RU 2284444, published on 27.09.2006. The invention is intended for use in guided weapon systems to destroy single and group armored targets, command posts, fire weapons and other important small targets at a tactical zone depth of up to 100 kilometers.

In the specified guidance system, combined control of missiles in a salvo is implemented: radio command telecontrol in the initial and middle sections of the flight trajectory and autonomous homing in the section of missiles approaching targets. Search, recognition and determination of the coordinates of stationary and moving targets located beyond the horizon or terrain folds is carried out by an air target designation system, for example, by a remotely piloted aircraft "Pchela-1". The guidance system includes a command post, a radar station (radar), direction finding channels for radar missiles, channels for transmitting radar control commands, a beam control unit, a target designation data receiving unit, an air target designation system, a computer, a synchronization and coding unit, a topographic reference system, a video monitor , phased antenna array. A guided missile contains a thermal imaging homing head, a radio transponder, a radio receiver, a control command decoder, control equipment, a command switch and a steering gear. The missiles are controlled relative to the axes of the beams formed by the phased antenna array, according to the target designation data and according to the program embedded in the computer, through the beam control unit. The coordinates of the missiles in the measuring coordinate system are determined by the direction-finding channels of the missiles according to the signals coming from the radio transponders of the missiles and are transmitted to the computer. The computer determines the control commands in azimuth and elevation, proportional to the linear deviations of the missiles from the axes of the beam.

The main disadvantages of this guidance system for high-precision far-field weapons are the high visibility of firing, caused by the need for guided missiles to fly along a high ballistic trajectory to constantly be in the zone of direct radio visibility of a phased antenna array, which is necessary for reliable remote control of missiles in flight. Such visibility can allow the enemy to quickly determine the location of the missile launch in order to suppress it with return fire. In addition, an actively radiating phased antenna array has high radio visibility. It can be easily detected by enemy radio equipment, especially from air surveillance equipment, for subsequent fire damage.

The possibility of using unmanned aerial systems with unmanned aerial vehicles, both military and civilian, largely depends on weather conditions. The flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle itself, for example, is limited by the maximum permissible crosswind speed, especially during takeoff and landing. The efficiency of using electro-optical and infrared means of observing the payload of an unmanned aerial vehicle depends on the presence of clouds and precipitation in the form of rain or snow. Known is a patent for the invention US 7414706, published 08/19/2008, issued for a method and technical means for displaying a target using prediction and detection of obscuring clouds. The invention relates to aerial surveillance systems based on unmanned aerial vehicles. On-board electron-optical and infrared surveillance systems provide high-resolution images of the target area and the target itself. However, they are practically inoperable in the presence of clouds. Airborne synthetic aperture radar can operate in cloudy conditions, but its images are of low resolution. This patent protects a method and technical means for detecting clouds obscuring a ground target and automatically selecting the optimal surveillance tool from the surveillance tools installed on an unmanned aerial vehicle to obtain a continuous image of the specified target with the highest possible resolution.

Known system for semi-active laser guidance on the target of a guided munition using an unmanned aerial vehicle according to US patent US 7719664, published 18.05.2010. Search, detection and laser illumination of the target selected for destruction is carried out using an unmanned aerial vehicle and a laser designator-rangefinder installed on its board.

This system allows you to detect the target and highlight it in the far zone, far beyond the line of sight of ground-based surveillance and target designation. In this case, there is no need to risk the life of a scout to determine the coordinates of the target and its laser illumination. A significant limitation of the use of such a system is the presence of clouds that prevent the passage of the laser beam when measuring the distance to the target and illuminating the target. To eliminate the negative impact of cloudiness, the unmanned aerial vehicle must descend in height below the lower edge of the cloudiness. In most cases, this means the loss of radio communication with the ground control point of the unmanned aerial vehicle, which, given the radio wave band used in unmanned aircraft, requires direct radio visibility from the ground control point. If radio communication is lost, it becomes impossible to transmit the image of the target area and the target itself from the unmanned aerial vehicle to the ground control point and control commands from the ground control point to the unmanned aerial vehicle, including commands to turn on the laser target illumination mode.

An interactive weapon aiming system with display of the target area using a remote image sensor is known according to US patent US 9816785, published on 11/14/2017. Based on the totality of common essential features, the technical solution for this patent was chosen as a prototype.

The weapon aiming system, according to the prototype, contains a weapon, weapon orientation means, a fire control controller, a ballistic computer, a weapon commander's console equipped with a display, a ground communication device made in the form of a radio transceiver, an unmanned aerial system, including a ground control station and an unmanned an aircraft flying in automatic mode or controlled by an operator of a ground control station.

The fire control controller includes an inertial measurement unit that provides the fire control controller with data regarding the elevation angle for firing the weapon; a magnetic compass providing the fire control controller with data on the azimuth for firing the weapon; a navigation unit that provides the fire control controller with data regarding the location of the weapon; a data store that provides the fire control controller with data on the ballistic characteristics of the weapon, circular deviation, properties of ammunition, as well as map information of the surrounding area and information about the meteorological situation.

The unmanned aerial vehicle contains a flight control system, a remote image sensor made in the form of a gyro-stabilized optical and infrared camera, a remote image sensor controller, an airborne radio transceiver, a navigation module, a flight direction and orientation module.

The interactive weapon aiming system allows the weapon commander to observe the target area, as well as to direct and focus the optical and infrared cameras on the selected target. In this case, the corresponding image is transmitted and displayed on the display of the weapon commander's console. This allows real-time observation of projectile explosions, target hits or misses to make the necessary adjustments to the shooting settings and increase its accuracy up to the final destruction of the target.

In one embodiment of the interactive weapon aiming system according to the prototype, one unmanned aerial vehicle interacts with the commanders of four weapons firing at four different targets simultaneously located in the field of view of the optical and / or infrared camera of this unmanned aerial vehicle. Each weapon commander can observe the effectiveness of his shooting using the specified unmanned aerial vehicle.

In another variant of using an interactive weapon aiming system according to the prototype, interaction of one weapon commander with three unmanned aerial vehicles independent of each other is provided, in the observation zones of each of which one target is located. The weapon commander fires successively at each of these three targets, redirecting the weapon from one target to another and observing the results of the firing.

The main disadvantage of the prototype interactive aiming system is the relatively low efficiency of fire destruction of targets, since an unmanned aerial vehicle with a gyro-stabilized optical and infrared camera is only a means of aerial observation of the target area and firing results. The absence of a laser rangefinder on an unmanned aerial vehicle does not allow accurate determination of the target's coordinates. The lack of on-board means for laser illumination of the target does not make it possible to point a high-precision guided munition with a semi-active laser guidance system at it.

In addition, optical and infrared cameras become practically unsuitable for aerial surveillance of the target area in low cloud conditions. When an unmanned aerial vehicle descends below the lower edge of the cloud to achieve the visibility of the target, in the vast majority of cases, radio communication between the ground control station and the unmanned aerial vehicle will be interrupted due to its exit from the zone of direct radio visibility from the ground control point. In such a situation, it becomes impossible to transmit images of the target area from an unmanned aerial vehicle and control commands to it.

The radio communication of the weapon commander with the operator of the ground control station in the prototype is realized through the airborne transceiver of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Such radio communication is not reliable. In the event of a failure of on-board radio-electronic equipment, radio interference by the enemy, damage or destruction of an unmanned aerial vehicle, radio communication is interrupted, making it impossible for the weapon commander and the operator of the ground control center to agree and make the necessary joint decision, for example, to send a reserve unmanned aerial vehicle to the combat area.

The essence of the invention

The claimed weapon aiming system makes it possible to increase the efficiency and reliability of target fire with high-precision weapons with both unguided munitions and guided munitions.

This positive effect is achieved due to the fact that in the weapon aiming system containing the weapon, the weapon orientation means, the fire control controller, the inertial measuring unit that provides the fire control controller with data relative to the elevation angle for firing the weapon, the magnetic compass that provides the fire control controller with data relative to azimuth for firing weapons, a navigation unit that provides the fire control controller with data on the location of the weapon, a data store that provides the fire control controller with data on the ballistic characteristics of the weapon, and its circular deviation, ammunition properties, as well as cartographic information of the surrounding terrain and meteorological conditions, a ballistic computer , a weapon commander's console equipped with a display, a ground-based communication device made in the form of a radio transceiver, as well as an unmanned aerial system, including a ground-based pun control CT, an unmanned aerial vehicle containing an unmanned aerial vehicle flight control system, a remote image sensor made in the form of a gyro-stabilized optical and / or infrared camera, a remote image sensor controller, an airborne radio transceiver, a navigation module, a flight direction and orientation module, in addition to the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a second unmanned aerial vehicle is introduced, controlled from the same ground control station, equipped with a flight control system, a remote image sensor made in the form of an optical and infrared camera, an airborne radio transceiver, a navigation module, a flight direction module and orientation, means of radio communication with a ground control station, a laser target designator-range finder, means of radio communication with the first unmanned aerial vehicle, allowing the transmission of control commands from a ground station control link to the second unmanned aerial vehicle through the first unmanned aerial vehicle and data from remote image sensors of the second unmanned aerial vehicle in the opposite direction through the first unmanned aerial vehicle to the ground control station, the second unmanned aerial vehicle is equipped with additional radio communication means for transmitting control commands from the ground control point to the first unmanned aerial vehicle and data from the remote image sensor of the first unmanned aerial vehicle to the ground control station, the first unmanned aerial vehicle is equipped with additional means of radio communication for transmitting control commands from the ground control station to the second unmanned aerial vehicle and data from the remote image sensor of the second unmanned aerial vehicle to ground control point, the first unmanned aerial vehicle is equipped with a laser target designator-rangefinder, ground control point control system is equipped with additional means of two-way radio communication for transmitting data on the coordinates of targets, as well as an optical and infrared image of the battlefield in real time with the display of the facts of fire destruction of targets or shooting misses on the display of the weapon commander’s console, the weapon is equipped with a command device for shot synchronization and a radio station for transmission to the ground control station of the codegram for launching the laser target designator-rangefinder, a radio station is installed at the ground control post for receiving the codegram for launching the laser target designator-rangefinder and the actuating device of the shot synchronization means for launching the laser target designator-rangefinder.

In the weapon aiming system, the gliders of the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles are identical in shape and size.

In the weapon aiming system, the gliders of the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles are made different in shape and size.

A remote image sensor in the form of a synthetic aperture radar is installed in the weapon aiming system on the first unmanned aerial vehicle.

A remote image sensor in the form of a synthetic aperture radar is installed in the weapon aiming system on the second unmanned aerial vehicle.

A remote image sensor in the form of a synthetic aperture radar is installed in the weapon aiming system on the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles.

In this weapon aiming system, the effectiveness of firing a target with unguided munitions is achieved by determining the exact coordinates of the target: the range and angular coordinates of the target using the installed laser designator-rangefinder on the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles. The target coordinates are transmitted through the ground control station and two-way radio communications to the weapon commander and are taken into account when calculating the firing settings and the firing itself. This allows you to significantly reduce the consumption of unguided munitions to hit a single target.

In the absence of clouds, the accuracy of determining the coordinates of the target is increased by determining them both with the help of the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles simultaneously.

In the absence of clouds, the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles can operate on two different targets simultaneously.

In the absence of clouds, the reliability of the weapon aiming system is increased due to the simultaneous operation of the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles on the same target. In the event of a technical failure of the on-board equipment or the defeat of, for example, the first unmanned aerial vehicle by the enemy, aiming will be carried out using the second unmanned aerial vehicle, as a backup, to ensure the fulfillment of the combat mission.

Under conditions of low cloud cover, the second unmanned aerial vehicle descends in height below the lower edge of the cloud cover, observes the target and determines its coordinates using the installed laser designator-range finder. This information is transmitted to the ground control post and further to the weapon commander through the first unmanned aerial vehicle, which is at the height necessary to ensure direct radio visibility from the ground control post and, accordingly, stable and reliable radio communications.

In this weapon aiming system, the effectiveness of fire destruction of a target by guided munitions with semi-active laser guidance is achieved by laser illumination of the target using a laser designator-rangefinder installed both on the first and on the second unmanned aerial vehicle. In this case, the highest firing efficiency can be achieved when one target is guaranteed to be hit by one guided munition.

In the absence of clouds, the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles can simultaneously and independently of each other illuminate two different targets for aiming two semi-active laser-guided guided munitions at them.

In cloudy conditions, the second unmanned aerial vehicle descends in height below the lower edge of the cloud cover, searches for the target, determines its coordinates and laser illumination of the target using the installed laser designator-range finder. The command to turn on the target illumination mode is transmitted from the ground control station through the first unmanned aerial vehicle, which is at a height necessary to ensure direct radio visibility from the ground control station and, accordingly, stable and reliable radio communication.

High reliability of the guided weapon aiming system with semi-active laser guidance is achieved by selecting the optimal flight altitude, flight path of the second unmanned aerial vehicle and its range to the target when the target illumination mode is turned on. This makes it possible to achieve the required direction and power level of the laser beam reflected from the target for confident target capture by the homing head of an incoming guided munition and its subsequent fire engagement.

In the weapon aiming system, supplying the second unmanned aerial vehicle with additional radio communication means for transmitting control commands from the ground control point to the first unmanned aerial vehicle and data from the remote image sensor of the first unmanned aerial vehicle to the ground control point makes it more versatile. The first unmanned aerial vehicle and the second unmanned aerial vehicle become functionally identical and interchangeable. For example, if the first unmanned aerial vehicle has a larger fuel reserve, then it is advisable to reduce its flight in altitude below the lower edge of the cloud cover and use it to determine the target coordinates and laser target illumination. The second unmanned aerial vehicle with a smaller fuel reserve should be left at the height necessary for stable radio communication with the ground control station and used to transmit control commands to the first unmanned aerial vehicle, including for transmitting a command to turn on the laser target illumination mode.

In the weapon aiming system, the implementation of the airframe of the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles in shape and size is the same allows to reduce the cost of production and operation during maintenance and repair due to the unification of spare parts, repair equipment and tools.

In the weapon aiming system, the implementation of the airframe of the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles in shape and size makes it possible to reduce the visibility of aiming weapons and combat losses of unmanned aerial vehicles. If you use a small unmanned aerial vehicle to determine the coordinates of the target and laser illumination of the target at low altitudes below the lower edge of the clouds, then it will be more difficult for the enemy to notice. In the event of the defeat of this small unmanned aerial vehicle, the economic damage will be less.

In the weapon aiming system, the installation of a synthetic aperture radar on the first unmanned aerial vehicle makes it possible to conduct aerial surveillance with its help in cloudy conditions.

In the weapon aiming system, the installation of a synthetic aperture radar on the second unmanned aerial vehicle makes it possible to conduct aerial surveillance with its help in cloudy conditions.

In the weapon aiming system, the installation of a synthetic aperture radar on the first unmanned aerial vehicle and the second unmanned aerial vehicle makes it possible to conduct aerial surveillance with their help in cloudy conditions.

Brief description of the drawings In the following, the invention is explained by specific examples of its implementation with reference to the attached figure (Figure 1), which shows the main essential elements and their relationships in the weapon aiming system and the figure (Figure 2), which shows a block diagram of the aiming system. weapon that implements the laser target illumination mode.

Implementation of the invention The weapon aiming system 1 (Figure 1) contains a weapon 2 with a guided munition 3 fired to hit a target 4 located in the far zone beyond the horizon or terrain folds 5. Search, detection, recognition of the target, determining the coordinates of the target and its laser illumination is performed using the first unmanned aerial vehicle 6 and the second unmanned aerial vehicle 7, which are controlled from the ground control center 8. The first unmanned aerial vehicle 6 has a field of view 9, in which the target 10 is located, which is a mobile missile launcher. The second unmanned aerial vehicle 7 has a field of view 11 in which there is a target 4, which is a tank. With the help of radio communication facilities of the ground control station 8 and airborne radio transceivers installed on the first unmanned aerial vehicle 6, a two-way radio communication line 12 is formed. 7, a two-way radio link 13 is formed. The two-way radio link 12 transmits an image in the field of view 9, including the target 10 and its coordinates, from the unmanned aerial vehicle 6 to the ground control station 8, as well as telemetry information about the state of the onboard systems and flight parameters unmanned aerial vehicle 6. In the opposite direction, from the ground control station 8 to the unmanned aerial vehicle 6, commands are transmitted to control its flight, control remote image sensors and a laser designator-rangefinder. The two-way radio link 13 transmits the image in the field of view 11, including the target 4 and its coordinates, from the unmanned aerial vehicle 7 to the ground control station 8, as well as telemetry information about the state of the onboard systems and the flight parameters of the unmanned aerial vehicle 7. In the opposite direction commands are transmitted from the ground control station 8 to the unmanned aerial vehicle 7 to control its flight, to control remote image sensors and a laser designator-rangefinder.

With the help of airborne radio transceivers installed on the first unmanned aerial vehicle 6 and the second unmanned aerial vehicle 7, a two-way radio communication line 14 is formed, which, together with additional radio communications installed on the unmanned aerial vehicle 6, allows you to transmit control commands from the ground control station 8 to the second unmanned aerial vehicle 7 and data from the remote image sensor of the second unmanned aerial vehicle 7 to the ground control station 8.

In the presence of clouds 15, it becomes impossible to observe the target 4 using a gyro-stabilized optical and / or infrared camera of the unmanned aerial vehicle 6, which flies above the clouds 15. This cloudiness does not allow determining the coordinates of the target 4 using a laser designator-rangefinder mounted on the unmanned aerial vehicle 6, because the laser beam is scattered in the clouds. In such an environment, to perform a combat mission, the second unmanned aerial vehicle 7 descends in height below the lower edge of the clouds 15, searches for a target 4, determines its coordinates using a laser designator-range finder and laser illumination of the target with an incident laser beam 16 and a reflected laser beam 17 of the laser designator - rangefinder. According to the reflected laser beam 17, the homing head of the guided munition 3 directs it exactly to the target 4. The command to turn on the target illumination mode is transmitted from the ground control station 8 through the two-way radio communication line 12 to the first unmanned aerial vehicle 6 and then through the two-way radio communication line 14 to the unmanned aerial vehicle vehicle 7. In this case, the first unmanned aerial vehicle 6 constantly flies at an altitude necessary to ensure direct radio visibility from the ground control station 8 and, accordingly, stable and reliable radio communications.

With the help of a ground communication device, made in the form of a radio transceiver located at the weapon commander, and additional means of two-way radio communication of the ground control center 8, a two-way radio communication line 18 is formed. Data on the coordinates, characteristics of targets, as well as optical and infrared image of the battlefield in real time with the display of the facts of fire destruction of targets or misses of fire and are displayed on the display of the weapon commander's console. Using the two-way radio link 18, the weapon commander 2 and the operator of the ground control center 8 can agree on and make the necessary joint decision, for example, to send a backup unmanned aerial vehicle to the combat area.

The weapon aiming system 1 (Figure 2), which implements the laser target illumination mode, contains a weapon 2, a guided munition 3 fired to hit a target 4, the first unmanned aerial vehicle 6 and the second unmanned aerial vehicle 7, which are controlled from the ground control station 8. The first unmanned aerial vehicle the aircraft 6 is equipped with a laser target designator-rangefinder 19, the second unmanned aerial vehicle 7 is equipped with a laser target designator-rangefinder 20. The weapon 2 located at the firing position is equipped with a command device of means for synchronizing the shot 21 and a radio station 22 for transmitting to the ground control station 8 a codegram for launching a laser target designator - range finder 20 installed on the second unmanned aerial vehicle 7. At the ground control station 8, a radio station 23 is installed to receive a codegram to launch a laser target designator-range finder and an actuating device of shot synchronization means 24 to launch a laser target designator-range finder 20.

The weapon aiming system allows you to place weapons, such as an artillery battery, at a great distance from the line of contact with the enemy. An unmanned aerial vehicle 6 and an unmanned aerial vehicle 7 are sent to the line of combat contact with the enemy. They are used to search for targets, determine the coordinates of targets in the form of a distance to the target and its angular coordinates. The results of measuring the target coordinates are transmitted to the ground control station 8 and then to the weapon commander 2 via two-way radio communication 18. The measurement results are converted into a ground coordinate system of topographic reference to the terrain and are displayed both on the displays of the operator of the ground control station 8 and on the display of the weapon commander’s console 2. In the weapon commander's console, the coordinates of the latitude, longitude and height of the weapon, data for ballistic calculations (weight coefficient of the projectile, charge temperature), meteorological data (meteorological bulletin or results of ground meteorological measurements) are entered. In the weapon commander's console, using the received target coordinates, the gun's ballistic firing settings are automatically calculated. With the use of orientation aids, the loaded gun is guided to the target according to the firing installations, and the installations (flight mission) are automatically entered into the guided munitions. At the command of the commander of weapon 2, a shot is fired. At the time of the shot, using the command device of the shot synchronization means 21, a codegram is automatically generated to launch the laser target designator-rangefinder, which is transmitted to the ground control point 8 using the radio station 22 installed at the firing position and the radio station 23 located at the ground control point. At the same time, the time of the shot is read from the timer of the clock of the single time system from the weapon commander’s console and the delay time for turning on the laser designator on the unmanned aerial vehicle 7 is set to the target illumination mode 4, taking into account the total time of the guided munition 3 flight. The unmanned aerial vehicles 6 and 7 continue to track targets . The operator of the ground control station 8 receives a message about the shot and the required turn-on time of the laser target designator-rangefinder to illuminate the target 4. The turn-on time of the laser target designator-rangefinder 20 is automatically set based on the indications of the common time of the weapon commander’s console and the operator’s console of the ground control station 8. When the controlled munition 3 to target 4, the homing head on it scans the earth's surface in search of the laser beam 17 reflected from the target.

Thus, the weapon aiming system allows searching, detecting, tracking, determining coordinates and laser illumination of single and group targets not only in normal weather conditions with good visibility, but also in the presence of clouds hiding ground targets. Compared to the prior art, the efficiency and reliability of firing weapons using both unguided munitions and guided munitions with semi-active laser guidance is increased.

Industrial Applicability

The invention is intended for use in the military-industrial complex, in the aviation industry, in the radio-electronic industry and in the communications industry in the design and manufacture of modern and advanced unmanned aerial systems with unmanned aerial vehicles and their payloads for use in aiming and guidance systems for precision weapons with guided and unguided munitions.

All technical means and the software that ensures their operation, the use of which is provided for by the invention, are developed and produced both by domestic industrial enterprises and by leading companies in foreign countries.

The interaction of hardware and software envisaged by the invention is implemented in well-known processes for various purposes in the field of aircraft engineering, radio electronics, radio communications and in the field of combat use of weapons. In the manufacturing process of all devices included in the weapon aiming system, typical, standard industrial equipment, known materials and components can be used.

Claims (6)

1. A weapon aiming system containing a weapon, weapon orientation means, a fire control controller, an inertial measuring unit that provides the fire control controller with data regarding the elevation angle for firing the weapon, a magnetic compass that provides the fire control controller with data regarding the azimuth for firing the weapon, a navigation unit, providing the fire control controller with data on the location of the weapon, a data storage that provides the fire control controller with data on the ballistic characteristics of the weapon and its circular deviation, the properties of ammunition, as well as cartographic information of the surrounding terrain and meteorological conditions, a ballistic computer, a weapon commander's console equipped with a display, ground a communication device made in the form of a radio transceiver, as well as an unmanned aerial complex, including a ground control station, an unmanned aerial vehicle containing an unmanned aerial vehicle flight control system, a remote image sensor made in the form of a gyro-stabilized optical and infrared camera, a remote image sensor controller, an airborne radio transceiver, a navigation module, a flight direction and orientation module, characterized in that, in order to improve reliability and effectiveness of fire destruction of a target by high-precision weapons with both guided munitions and unguided munitions, in addition to the first unmanned aerial vehicle, a second unmanned aerial vehicle was introduced, controlled from the same ground control station, equipped with a flight control system, a remote image sensor made in the form of an optical and infrared camera, airborne radio transceiver, navigation module, flight direction and orientation module, radio communication with ground control station, laser designator-rangefinder, means radio communication devices with the first unmanned aerial vehicle, which allow transmitting control commands from the ground control point to the second unmanned aerial vehicle through the first unmanned aerial vehicle and data from remote image sensors of the second unmanned aerial vehicle in the opposite direction through the first unmanned aerial vehicle to the ground control point, the second unmanned aerial vehicle the aircraft is equipped with additional radio communication means for transmitting control commands from the ground control point to the first unmanned aerial vehicle and data from the remote image sensor of the first unmanned aerial vehicle to the ground control point, the first unmanned aerial vehicle is equipped with additional radio communication means for transmitting control commands from the ground control point to the second unmanned aerial vehicle and the remote image sensor data of the second unmanned aerial vehicle to the ground launcher nct control, the first unmanned aerial vehicle is equipped with a laser target designator-rangefinder, the ground control station is equipped with additional two-way radio communication for transmitting data on the coordinates of targets, as well as an optical and infrared image of the battlefield in real time with the display of the facts of fire damage to targets or firing misses on display of the weapon commander’s console, the weapon is equipped with a command device for the shot synchronization means and a radio station for transmitting to the ground control point a codegram for launching a laser target designator-rangefinder, a radio station is installed at the ground control point for receiving a codegram for launching a laser target designator-rangefinder and an actuating device for shot synchronization means for launching a laser target designator-rangefinder. 2. The weapon aiming system according to claim 1, characterized in that the gliders of the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles are identical in shape and size. 3. The weapon aiming system according to claim 1, characterized in that the gliders of the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles are made different in shape and size. 4. The weapon aiming system according to claim 1, characterized in that the remote image sensor in the form of a synthetic aperture radar is installed on the first unmanned aerial vehicle. 5. The weapon aiming system according to claim 1, characterized in that the second unmanned aerial vehicle has a remote image sensor in the form of a synthetic aperture radar. 6. The weapon aiming system according to claim 1, characterized in that a remote image sensor in the form of a synthetic aperture radar is installed on the first and second unmanned aerial vehicles.

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