Abstract:
A counter offensive weapon system is provided for use on a vehicle to fire upon and neutralize those launching projectiles, including RPG&#39;s, at the vehicle. A muzzle flash detected by an on-board monitoring device allows the distance and direction to the projectile launch site to be calculated so that an offensive weapon may be immediately deployed to the projectile launch site to neutralize the enemy weapon and shooter. An air burst munition is programmed to detonate just prior to reaching the measured distance to create a conical dispersion of fragments that are effective at destroying weapons such as RPG tubes. A related method for protecting a vehicle and launching counter offensive weapons is also provided.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/205,077 filed Jan. 15, 2009, entitled RPG launcher deterrent, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a vehicle mounted, fast acting vehicle mounted counter offensive weapon system that returns fire accurately to neutralize a weapon launching an RPG upon the vehicle and the shooter firing the weapon. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In military operations, troops and equipment are continually subject to ambush and attack from all directions, including those utilizing hand held weapons and concealing themselves. 
         [0004]    Perhaps the biggest threats facing military vehicles today are Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPG&#39;s) that are fast moving, highly explosive and damaging projectiles which can easily be fired on a tank or military vehicle from a single enemy combatant&#39;s shoulder. RPG&#39;s are extremely dangerous because they are so portable, but still are very damaging to even the most heavily armored tank or truck, and are fast moving enough that they cannot be manually neutralized. 
         [0005]    In light of the dangers presented by RPG&#39;s, as well as other projectiles that may be fired upon military vehicles, there is clearly a need to equip military vehicles with a defense device to engage and destroy any projectile coming at the vehicle. There are, in fact, a number of such defense devices and mechanisms known in the prior art. Generally, such defense devices comprise military vehicles equipped with incoming projection recognition means and a countermeasure that is launched to engage the incoming projectile prior to impacting the vehicle. Various defensive vehicle protection systems are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,202,809; 6,720,907; and U.S. Patent Applications US2004/0056792 and US2007/0180983. In each disclosure, the defensive vehicle protection system detects a projectile and calculates its path and impact, calculates an intercept point for the incoming projectile, and launches a countermeasure to intercept the incoming projectile. All of those actions must be done with great speed and precision to defeat an incoming projectile. It is also necessary that the defensive vehicle protection system have the capability to detect and intercept multiple incoming projectiles from different locations, requiring the need to select the most immediate threat and launch countermeasures in response to the multiple incoming threats. 
         [0006]    To carry out this purpose, the defensive vehicle protection system must first be able to detect when a valid launch has occurred and distinguish the firing of a weapon from other flashes of light or heat. This is typically done by looking at the detected thermal signature characteristics of a suspected weapon launch, for example heat intensity/temperature and size of the flash, and then comparing the detected thermal signature characteristics to stored data for various weapons, including an RPG launcher. Next, the verification is confirmed by the presence of an incoming projectile from the direction of the suspected weapon launch. 
         [0007]    Prior art devices and systems utilizing such weapon launch detection do not, however, take subsequent steps after detection of incoming projectiles to precisely determine the launch point and/or fire an offensive weapon to neutralize the weapon (such as an RPG launcher) or the shooter. The disadvantage of not immediately firing back is that another projectile can be launched from the weapon and, if the countermeasure has not had time to be reset and reloaded, or if the weapon has been moved to a different vantage point, the vehicle and all of its occupants are left vulnerable. Insofar as the weapon being fired is the primary threat, it is most advantageous to use a system and munition that is directed to eliminating the weapon first and the shooter second. 
         [0008]    The present invention is thus directed to a counter offensive weapon system for eliminating a weapon, such as an RPG launcher, that fires upon a vehicle, and the shooter of the weapon, by utilizing information gathered by a defensive vehicle protection system after detection of an incoming projectile. As set forth in more detail herein, the counter offensive weapon system of the present invention utilizes some data acquired by a vehicle defense system, and then calculates the precise position of the weapon and shooter and fires an offensive weapon back at the weapon and shooter to neutralize them. An accurate air burst munition is programmed to detonate just before reaching the weapon and shooter to create a dispersed blast with the highest likelihood of eliminating the weapon. 
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a counter offensive weapon system on a vehicle that neutralizes an attack by firing back in the direction and distance that a projectile was launched at the vehicle. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a counter offensive weapon system that cooperates with a vehicle defense system to detect projectiles launched at the vehicle, and to neutralize the weapon and shooter launching such projectiles. 
         [0011]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a vehicle defense system and counter offensive weapon system that neutralizes those attacking equipped vehicles by utilizing munitions intended primarily to eliminate an enemy combatant&#39;s weapon. 
         [0012]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a counter offensive weapon system utilizing programmable air burst munitions. 
         [0013]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a counter offensive weapon system that can, in coordination with a defensive vehicle protection system, detect and eliminate multiple enemy combatant weapons and shooters and shooters firing upon a vehicle. 
         [0014]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a review of the following specification and accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The present invention provides a counter offensive weapon system mounted on a vehicle having a laser range finder, a munitions firing tube, programmable munitions and a communications link to an on-board vehicle defense system for receiving position data for a launch of an incoming projectile that was fired upon the vehicle. The laser range finder calculates a distance to the launch point of the incoming projectile and launches the programmable munition at the launch point to neutralize the weapon and shooter at the launch point. 
         [0016]    In another embodiment, a combination vehicle protection system and counter offensive weapon system is provided. A monitoring device is provided that detects and verifies suspected projectile launches and incoming projectiles. Means for calculating the speed, travel path and estimated time of the arrival of the incoming projectile to strike the vehicle, and means for calculating a ballistic solution to intercept an incoming projectile and means for launching a countermeasure to engage and destroy an incoming projectile are all provided as part of a vehicle protection system. A communication link from the vehicle protection system is provided to an on-board counter offensive weapon system. A laser range finder, a munitions firing tube, and programmable munitions are all provided as components of a counter offensive weapon system. The laser range finder calculates a distance to the launch point of the incoming projectile, utilizing data relating to the detected flash position, and launches a programmable munition at the launch point. The programmable munition in the most preferred embodiment is an air burst munition that detonates just prior to reaching the launch point to create a fragmentary dispersion that is particularly effective at eliminating an enemy combatant weapon, such as an RPG launcher. 
         [0017]    A related method for protecting a vehicle and launching counter offensive weapons is also provided. The inventive method comprises multiple steps including first detecting a flash of light or heat indicating a rocket blast and narrowing the monitored range where the flash was detected. Next, the thermal signature characteristics of the detected flash of light or heat is compressed to data for known weapons to confirm whether the flash was, in fact, a rocket blast. Finally, an incoming projectile is detected and the trajectory calculated. 
         [0018]    The next steps in the inventive method is scheduling the launch of a countermeasure to engage an incoming projectile at an intercept point, and then launching the countermeasure. Next, the distance to the rocket blast location is measured, and the air burst munition is programmed to detonate just short of the measured distance to the launch position to create a desirable fragment dispersion to increase the likelihood of eliminating the weapon. Finally, the air burst munitions are deployed to the launch site and detonate just prior to reaching the launch site to create the desired fragment dispersion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  is a representation of the primary components of the counter offensive weapon system of the present invention and its operation and the coordination and communication with the on-board vehicle protection system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic representation of the vehicle utilizing a counter offensive weapon system and defensive vehicle protection system to detect and eliminate an incoming projectile and to detect and eliminate an enemy combatant weapon and shooter. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of stacked dual rotating guns designed to deploy an RPG countermeasure and to fire a neutralization round at the RPG launch site. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of stacked dual rotating guns designed to deploy an RPG countermeasure and to fire a neutralization round at the RPG launch site. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a top view of stacked dual rotating guns designed to deploy an RPG countermeasure and to fire a neutralization round at the RPG launch site. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The present invention is a counter offensive weapon system comprising a rotary offensive gun  10  and a control system  11  therefor mounted on a vehicle  12 . In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle  12  includes an on-board vehicle protection system comprising a rotary countermeasure gun  13  and control system  15  therefor that detects launches of incoming projectiles  14  and deploys countermeasures to intercept and defeat the incoming projectile  14 . 
         [0025]    The vehicle  12  is equipped with a full 360 degree monitoring device  16  that is continually looking at the area surrounding the vehicle  12  to detect any launch of a projectile  14  toward the vehicle  12 . In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, this monitoring device  16  is a radar system having four panels  16 A,  16 B,  16 C,  16 D, although other monitoring devices such as thermal imaging, infrared, video, or any other device that monitors an area and detects incoming projectiles or flash events is contemplated such that their use does not depart from the principles of the present invention. 
         [0026]    When the monitoring device  16  detects an apparent flash  18  of light or heat preliminarily indicating a weapon discharge, the control system  15  of the vehicle protection system then compares the thermal signature characteristics of the detected flash  18  to stored data relating to thermal signatures of known weapons, including RPG launchers, to verify whether the flash  18  was, in fact, a weapon launch. Examples of thermal signature characteristics considered include heat intensity/temperature, and the diameter of the detected flash. Once it has been confirmed that the flash  18  was a weapon launch from a remote enemy combatant weapon  19 , the monitoring device  16  narrows its focus and begins looking for an incoming projectile  14  in a small sector of space based upon where the flash  18  was detected. Once the incoming projectile  14  has been positively detected, the vehicle protection system  13  calculates the speed of the incoming projectile  14  and travel path and time of arrival for the projectile  14  to strike the vehicle  12 . 
         [0027]    In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotary offensive gun  10  comprises a 360 degree rotating base  10 A and a vertically adjustable barrel  10 B, and the rotary countermeasure gun  13  comprises a 360 degree rotating base  13 A and a vertically adjustable tube  13 B. Other arrangements for similar 360 degree viewing, vertically adjustable gun devices are contemplated by the principles of the present invention such that their use is not patentably distinguishable. 
         [0028]    After determining the speed, position and time at which the incoming projectile  14  will strike the vehicle  12 , the vehicle protection control system  15  calculates a ballistic solution, rotates and elevates the tube  13 B and launches a countermeasure  20  from the tube  13 B to engage and destroy the incoming projectile  14  at an intercept point  22 . The vehicle protection control system  15  then communicates relevant data to the counter offensive weapon control system  11  via data link  25 . Next, utilizing data from the vehicle protection control system  15 , the counter offensive weapon control system  11  first calculates the precise distances to the launch point and shooter  24  utilizing a laser range finder  26 . 
         [0029]    The laser range finder  26  is trained on the detected location of the flash  18 , received from the vehicle protection control system  15 , and calculates the precise distance to the launcher  19  and shooter  24 . 
         [0030]    Once the distance to the launcher  19  and shooter  24  is calculated, a programmable air burst munition  28  is programmed, the rotary offensive gun  10  is rotated and its barrel  10 B elevated, and the air burst munition  28  is launched from the barrel  10 B. The air burst munition  28  has a very well defined and contained detonation solution so that, if the distance to the desired detonation point is known, in this case the position of the launcher  19  and shooter  24  (x 2  y 2  z 2 ), a very efficient strike is carried out wherein the air burst munition  28  detonates to create a conical fragmentary dispersion  27  just before reaching the launcher  19  and shooter  24 . It is the primary focus of the counter offensive weapon system to eliminate the launcher  19  and a fragmenting munition  28 , such as an air burst munition  28  is highly desirable because of the damage its dispersed fragments will do to the launcher  19 . 
         [0031]    Just as with the vehicle protection control system  15 , the counter offensive weapon control system  11  responds very quickly when an incoming projectile  14  is detected. Typically, from the time that the incoming projectile  14  is detected to the time that the launcher  19  is eliminated, a total of only 2-3 seconds has elapsed. 
         [0032]    In addition to the apparatus set forth above, a method for offensive protection of a vehicle is also provided. In the first step of the method, a vehicle  12  is provided having both a vehicle protection control system  15  and rotating countermeasure gun  13  and a counter offensive weapon control system  11  and rotating offensive gun  10  on-board that operate cooperatively. The next step in the present method is detecting a flash  18  event that preliminarily indicates a weapon has been discharged in the vicinity of the vehicle  12 . The vehicle protection control system  15  is programmed to analyze the detected flash  18  and, using known parameters such as the thermal signature of an RPG launch, the temperature of the detected flash and the size of the flash, distinguish whether the detected event was, in fact, a weapon being discharged. 
         [0033]    The next step in the present method is for the on-board monitoring device  16  to narrow the area monitored to focus on that area in which the flash  18  was detected. 
         [0034]    Having narrowed the area it is monitoring, the monitoring device  16  then looks for an incoming projectile in the limited monitoring area. If an incoming projectile  14  is detected, the next step is to calculate the incoming projectile position, trajectory and estimated time of arrival. 
         [0035]    Next, the on-board vehicle protection control system  15  calculates and schedules the launch of countermeasures  20  to engage the incoming projectile  14  at an intercept point  22 . 
         [0036]    Having eliminated the immediate threat of the incoming projectile  14 , the next step in the present method is to turn on the laser range finder  26  that communicates with the counter offensive weapon control system  11 . The laser range finder  26  then determines the distance to the launch point weapon  19  and shooter  24 , utilizing the position of the weapon  19  and shooter  24  (x 2  y 2  z 2 ) provided by the vehicle protection control system  15 . 
         [0037]    The next step in the present method is to program and load a programmable air burst munition  28  in the rotating offensive gun  10 . The air burst munition  28  may be of many different types, but it will be adjustable to detonate at a specific distance. Once the air burst munition  28  is programmed, it is then loaded into the counter offensive weapon system  10  and launched toward the weapon  19  and shooter  24 . 
         [0038]    The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.