Flexible energy management kill vehicle for exo-atmospheric intercept
US10386165B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 2017 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF41G7/2293
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and concept for employing a T-sin-alpha kill vehicle with energy flexibility is disclosed. The energy flexibility method applies divert pulses at multiple phases of the kill vehicle flight time and allows for range extension to increase the kill vehicle coverage of targets outside the normal reach, reaction to target updates, removal of navigation error, and homing divert to intercept the target. Each of these capabilities is essential to the successful intercept of exo-atmospheric ballistic targets in their midcourse phase of flight. A flight vehicle includes a main body, a number of attitude control mechanisms, a control unit, a divert system, a sensor unit, and an attitude control system. The divert system provides acceleration of the flight vehicle in a desired direction. The sensor unit tracks a target along a line of sight (LOS) of the sensor unit. The attitude control system maintains an orientation of the main body.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.