Abstract:
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for remote surface fire support. The remote surface fire support system of the present invention is designed to operate close to shore. The system is adapted to be deployed by a variety of means and remains concealed beneath the water&#39;s surface until it is to be launched. The system includes a plurality of munitions containers which can be deployed by submarines, surface ships or aircraft. The munitions containers each carry a guided munition which can be controlled by a networked fire control system such as NFCS.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to ordinance delivery systems for military missions and more particularly to a method and apparatus for remote fire delivery. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The military is striving to expand its capability to conduct operations in the littoral regions of the world. They desire to project power from the sea to achieve strategic objectives and to support forces operating over and on the land. An integral part of this expanding capability is the ability of sea-based forces to project offensive fire support. Naval surface fires from the sea (NSFS) enable freedom of maneuver by joint and combined ground forces and successful prosecution of the joint land battle. 
     Land forces are being adapted for rapid deployment in the event of crises. Therefore, they are traveling lighter, with less or without traditional land based artillery. Naval surface fires are needed to augment reduced land based artillery. At the beginning of a conflict, NSFS may be the only artillery support available. An example of this principle is the Marine Corps&#39; doctrine of Operational Maneuver From the Sea (OMFTS). The OMFTS doctrine stresses the use of rapid, decisive action with firepower and maneuver from the sanctuary of a sea base. 
     NSFS includes support provided by Navy surface gunnery, missile and electronic warfare systems in support of land units. In the wake of the cold war the Navy retired the last of its battleships, reducing naval surface fire support capability to the 5 inch/54 caliber gun with a maximum range of 13 nautical miles. Planned modifications to this weapon are expected to extend its range substantially. 
     Related to this concept of NSFS, the various branches of the U.S. armed forces have conceived of the idea of Networked Fire Controls such as the Naval Fire Control System(NFCS). The Navy&#39;s Naval Fire Control System (NFCS) gathers intelligence from a variety of sensors including satellites, AWACS, other aircraft and ground observers. The resulting sensor reports are analyzed by a land attack integrated product team (IPT). The IPT identifies targets, catalogues available sensors and collection systems, and decides target locations, priorities and response times. A fire decision center then decides how best to eliminate a particular target and chooses a weapon system to address the target most cost effectively. 
     There are two basic classes of artillery-fired ordinance. The first is so called “dumb projectiles.” Conventional projectiles follow a ballistic trajectory defined by muzzle velocity and elevation and sweep of the gun barrel. Artillery used to fire these shells are large, robust and require a stable platform from which to operate to achieve accuracy. The effective range of such weapons is currently limited to about 20 miles. 
     The second basic class of naval rifle ordinance is competent munitions. Competent munitions are initially launched from a gun using propellant. Often, they also include rocket motors that ignite at a preset time to boost the munition&#39;s range. Once launched, these projectiles are actively guided to their intended target. Competent munitions equipped with rocket motors require less muzzle velocity to be able to reach an intended target than a conventional weapon would require. Competent munitions also do not require a particular trajectory to achieve accuracy. The optimum initial trajectory for competent munitions is often straight up. Guidance systems may include GPS and inertial guidance. 
     At ranges beyond the capability of artillery, a missile must be used to destroy a target. One example of a missile is the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM). The TLAM was used in strike, interdiction, and suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) missions in Desert Storm and Bosnia. Cruise missiles, such as the TLAM have a range of several hundred miles and employ an accurate internal guidance system. Missiles are strategic weapons and, as such, are not wasted on low priority targets. Strategic guided missiles typically cost upwards of $500,000. 
     Both missiles and projectiles play an important role in the fire and fire support missions of the modern military. In the NSFS arena, naval ships are strategically positioned near the coast of a potential target area where land based troops will land and secure an area. There may be hostile assets within striking distance of the landing area. The naval ships provide the required fire support to suppress hostile assets and provide cover fire for the land troops. Providing fire support requires that the ships be within effective range. That means that the fire support shipping must stand off shore. Maintaining ships at a great distance is not a viable option because of the limited range of available artillery. Effective range inland is the artillery range less the distance the ship must stand offshore. Exclusive use of missiles for fire support is prohibitively expensive and the quantity of missiles is limited. 
     There are significant drawbacks associated with placing ships near the shore. Initially, naval vessels are exposed to hostile attack. Naval vessels are costly assets and require years to construct. More importantly, there may be several hundred crew members exposed to risk. Ships exist in limited quantity and are difficult to conceal. This tends to deprive landing forces of the element of surprise. If enough fire support ships were available they could be dispersed to several different potential landing areas to draw off potential defenders. 
     Secondly, existing weaponry requires the presence of a stable launch platform such as a surface ship or submarine. Moving naval vessels within effective range of the intended target is time consuming and hard to conceal, thereby limiting quick strike ability. Additionally, the visibility of ships carry political overtones and limit tactical surprise. Further, many bodies of water are not accessible to shipping due to the depth and/or size of channels. 
     A need exists for a naval fire support weapon system that is unobtrusive, remains concealed until needed and that can be employed without excessively exposing personnel to enemy attack. The system should provide for launching weapons without the need for a visible launch platform. It would be desirable if the system could be flexibly deployed by air, surface or submarine vehicles. The system should support land attack as part of a coordinated NSFS operation and be adaptable to control by a joint integration and targeting system such as the NFCS. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention substantially solves the above problems by providing a remote surface fire support system designed to operate close to shore. The system is adapted to be deployed by a variety of means and remains concealed beneath the water&#39;s surface until it is to be launched. The system includes a plurality of munitions containers which can be deployed by submarines, surface ships, or aircraft. The munition containers each carry a guided munition which can be controlled by a networked fire control system such as NFCS. 
     The munitions containers remain quiescent on the ocean floor until such time as it is desired to activate them. An activation signal is sent to the munitions container at the desired activation time which causes weights attached to the container to be released at which point the container and munition rises to the water&#39;s surface because of its positive buoyancy. Once the container has achieved the water&#39;s surface it will float until it receives an additional signal to launch its munitions. The system of the present invention is adaptable to a variety of different munitions including extended range guided munitions (ERGM), guided missiles, tactical missiles, and land attack standard missiles. 
     The system further includes a self-destruct mechanism that detonates the ordinance within the munitions container if an object should come into contact with the munitions container. This allows the remote surface fire support system to act as a mine if need be. The system may be used to attack shipping as controlled by the NFCS. In addition, the self-destruct mechanism may be activated by remote signal. Further, the self-destruct mechanism may be programmed to destroy the weapon after a certain selected period of time. 
     The system of the present invention is adaptable for use in a variety of bodies of water including rivers, lakes, and inland seas which are not normally accessible to naval shipping. Because the system of the present invention can be emplaced from a variety of platforms, it can be employed in different ways. The launch tubes can be quickly and discretely placed in the particular body of water. The launch tubes are adapted to be placed by submarines, ships, aircraft, and even fired from specialized gun systems. 
     If it is desired that a show of force be made, the system can be deployed from visible aircraft or shipping during daylight hours. In this situation it may be beneficial to include decoy munitions containers either to increase the potential difficulty of removing the containers by intermixing them with the active containers, or using only decoy containers in order to give an impression that attack is imminent providing tactical advantage at another location. Surreptitious deployment by aircraft or submarine is also an option. 
     The remote surface fire support system is remotely activatible using reliable, discrete, extreme low frequency communications methods as well as other methods. The system can be controlled from a remote command position and is adaptable to a networked fire control system such as the NFCS. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the remote fire support system in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a partially exploded, cut away perspective view of a munitions container in accordance with the present inventions 
     FIG. 3 schematically depicts the littoral environment in which the remote fire support system operates; 
     FIG. 4 schematically depicts the deployment of the remote fire support system in accordance with the present invention; and 
     FIG. 5 schematically depicts launching of the remote fire support system in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the remote fire support system  10  generally includes a plurality of munitions containers  12  controlled by a networked firing system  14 . 
     FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary munitions container  12 . Each munitions container  12  generally includes ballast  16 , a guided munition  18 , a launch tube  20  and a control package  22 . Ballast  16  includes a plurality of weights  24  each releasably secured to launch tube  20 . Preferably two weights  24  are releasably secured to launch tube  20  one at each end thereof. 
     Munition  18  may include any of a variety of guided or competent munitions such as an extended range guided munition (ERGM), a land attack standard missile, or even a cruise missile. Any variety of guided weapons may be used. Munition  18  generally includes warhead  26 , rocket propellant  28 , and launch propellant  30 . 
     Launch tube  20  includes tube  32 , tether  34 , and frangible seal  36 . Launch tube  20  includes a closed end  42  and an openable end  44 . Openable end  44  is sealed by frangible seal  36 . Closed end  42  may include fuse  46 . Tether  34  interconnects tube  32  and ballast  16 . Launch tube  20  may be filled with a preservative gas (not shown) such as argon or another of the noble gasses. Launch tube  20  is preferably constructed of a composite material and is essentially a single use, disposable gun barrel in construction. 
     Control package  22  is secured to launch tube  20  and includes power supply  38  and communications and control electronic package  40 . Control electronic package  40  is operably connected to ballast release mechanism  45  and fuse  46 . Communication and control electronic package  40  is also optionally operably connected to munition fuse  48 . Communication and control electronic package  40  may also include a shipping proximity sensor (not shown). 
     Communication and control electronic package  40  also preferably includes electronics to program and control a guidance system (not shown) incorporated into guided munition  18 . The guidance system (not shown) may include GPS, inertial guidance, or any other guidance system known to those skilled in the art. 
     Ballast release mechanism  45  may include explosive bolts, solenoid actuators, servo actuated mechanical latches, or any other mechanism by which ballast may be securely attached to launch tube  20  and reliably released therefrom when desired. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5 , remote fire support system  10  is configured to be deployable by transports  50 . Transports  50  may include surface ships  52 , submarines  54 , or aircraft  56 . Referring to FIGS. 3,  4 , and  5 , the littoral environment in which the present invention operates includes a coastline  58 , sea bottom  60 , water surface  62 , and targets  64 . 
     Networked firing system  14  communicates with communication and control electronic package  40  via extremely low frequency (ELF) radio, sound, laser, or any other communication medium known to those in the art. Networked firing system  14  is preferably the NFCS. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, in operation munitions containers  12  are dispersed along a coastline  58  by transports  50 . Transports  50  may include a surface ship  52 , a submarine  54 , or aircraft  56 . In the case of submarine  54  dispersal, munitions containers  12  may be adapted to be placed by expulsion through submarine missile tubes or torpedo tubes. In the case of dispersal by surface ship  52 , munitions containers  12  may be rolled off the fantail of the ship into the water in a manner similar to depth charges or adapted to be placed by firing out of naval artillery. Aircraft  56  dispersal may be accomplished by, for example, dropping munitions containers  12  such as from the cargo bay of a C130 transport. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, munitions containers  12  sink to the sea bottom  60  due to gravity and lie quiescent there. Because of their location beneath the water surface  62 , munitions containers  12  are effectively concealed from discovery and made difficult to remove without considerable effort. When it is desired to activate remote fire support system  10 , networked firing system  14  signals control electronic package  40  to release ballast  16 . Control electronic package  40  then releases releasable weights  24 . Munitions container  12  then rises to the surface because of its natural buoyancy. Munitions container  12  may remain attached to ballast  16  by tether  34 . Tether  34  then acts to maintain munitions container  12  at a desired location. Munitions container  12  is configured to float in an upright orientation with frangible seal  36  uppermost. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, when it is desired to launch munition  18 , networked firing system  14  relays a signal to control electronic package  40  which programs guidance system (not shown) of munition  18  with targeting information. Targeting information may include the location of targets  64  and other appropriate information. Thereafter, networked firing system  14  signals control electronic package  40  to ignite fuse  46  whereupon launch propellant  30  begins to bum. The rapid expansion of gases caused by launch propellant  30  burning causes warhead  26  to be forcibly ejected from launch tube  20  much like a shell from a cannon. As warhead  26  ascends in launch tube  20 , frangible seal  36  gives way allowing warhead  26  along with rocket propellant  28  to exit launch tube  20 . Munition may also fire in response to proximity of a ship sensed by proximity sensor (not shown). In this way it acts similarly to a naval mine. 
     Once free of launch tube  20 , rocket propellant  28  ignites carrying warhead  26  to a desired altitude. Guidance system (not shown) then guides munition  18  to the location of its desired targets  64 . 
     If munitions container  12  is placed on sea bottom  60  and it is later desired not to launch munition  18 , a self-destruct signal may be sent from networked firing system  14  to control electronic package  40 . Control electronic package  40  then activates munition fuse  48  causing munition  18  to explode effectively destroying munition container  12 . Alternately, control electronic package  40  may activate fuse  46  firing munition  18  straight up without guidance information. Munition  18  then will return straight down to the location of munitions container  12  causing self-destruction. Alternately, control electronic package  40  may include a timing circuit to activate the self-destruct sequence at a particular time after placement. 
     Remote fire support system  10  may also be utilized as an anti-shipping weapon. When used as an anti-shipping weapon networked firing system  14  instructs control electronic package  40  to program guidance system (not shown) with the appropriate shipping target. 
     Preservative gas (not shown) prevents corrosion due to oxidation and extends the shelf-life and ocean bottom concealed life of the contents of munitions container  12 . 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential attributes thereof, therefore, the illustrated embodiment should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.