Method and utilization of final flight phase-corrected submunition for the attacking of armored shelters cross-reference to related applications

A method of attacking aboveground armored objects, in particular those which are employed for sheltering aircraft; and moreover, to the utilization of steeply descending final flight phase-corrected submunition. The shelter is attacked in an orientation directed generally horizontally against its gate. Furthermore, in the utilization of steeply descending submunition of the type which is employed for implementing the foregoing method, this includes at least one projectile-forming covering oriented genrally transversely of the longitudinal axis thereof, and with a maneuvering sensor responsive to the center of a typical aircraft apron clutter signature in front of an aircraft shelter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a method of attacking aboveground armored 
target objects, in particular those which are employed for the sheltering 
of aircraft; and moreover, the invention relates to the utilization of 
steeply descending submunition having a final flight phase-corrected 
trajectory. 
2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
From the disclosure of MILITARY TECHNOLOGY 2/85 (page 72, middle towards 
the left) there has become known a so-called anti-shelter weapon, which is 
employed for the attacking of aboveground armored shelters (dugouts) which 
are installed on airbases, and against the aircraft parked therein, 
wherein the submunition which is fired thereagainst in the form of 
dispersed or scatter ammunition is equipped with a drive or propulsion 
unit in order to enable it to penetrate the soil wall surrounding a 
shelter. In that instance, the submunition utilizes a tandem charge 
consisting of a forwardly-oriented shaped charge and an auxiliary charge 
for bursting open the concrete shelter armoring, and for the attacking the 
aircraft which is parked therein through the intermediary of fragments. 
Should, by accident or chance, the scatter ammunition at any time not land 
on the ground, but strike directly against the armored gate of the 
shelter, then, without any precedent ignition of the drive unit, the 
tandem charge will be immediately triggered. 
However, the technological demands on the practical implementation 
realization of such a submunition is extremely considerable; whereas, on 
the other hand, there can be expected only a limited effect in the target, 
inasmuch as only a relatively small percentage of the scattered 
submunition will accidentally or by chance strike the soil cover on the 
earth embankment extending over the shelter; in effect, so as to actually 
attack a protectedly parked aircraft. In addition, it is hardly possible 
that for penetrating the earth or soil walls of shelters possessing a 
thickness of more than a few meters, to be able to arrange a drive or 
propulsion unit within the typical dimensions of submunition with 
representable requirements, whose capacity or power for the forward thrust 
through the earth or soil wall is adequate to reach to the reinforced 
concrete shelter armoring. However, at a detonation of the tandem charge 
which is already within the soil wall, at a distance from the concrete 
shell of the shelter, there can no longer be expected any penetration of 
this armoring, inasmuch as the effect of the tandem charge essentially 
only unfolds during the penetration of the concrete member itself, and in 
contrast therewith the energy thereof will dissipate within the earth 
embankment located in front thereof. Finally, the probability that the 
scatter ammunition, which is equipped with stabilizing fins but which, for 
the remainder, is free-falling in its trajectory, will strike the armored 
gate with any degree of hitting accuracy, wherein the gate is set back 
relative to the forward face of the shelter rearwardly of the armoring, is 
extremely low. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, in recognition of these conditions it is an object of the 
present invention to provide an anti-shelter weapon which, with the lowest 
possible requirements from the standpoint of the ammunition technology, 
promises a higher degree of mission effectiveness than heretofore. 
The foregoing is inventively achieved by a method as described herein, in 
which the shelter is attacked at an orientation which is directed 
generally horizontally against its gate. Furthermore, in the utilization 
of steeply descending submunition of the type which is employed in 
implementing the foregoing method, this includes at least one 
projectile-forming covering which is oriented generally transversely of 
the longitudinal axis thereof, and with the provision of a maneuvering 
sensor which is responsive to the center of a typical aircraft apron 
clutter signature located in front of a targeted aircraft shelter. 
In order to attain the foregoing object, the premise is assumed that the 
most vulnerable part of an aircraft shelter is the gate thereof, and that 
this will also remain vulnerable inasmuch as, in the event of an alarm, 
the gate must be moved relatively quickly; in essence, because of 
mechanical and kinematic reasons it cannot be heavily armored to any 
considerable extent, and based upon the further concept, that at 
relatively low demands on target detection sensor technology, the gate can 
be acquired as a target object with an extremely high degree of 
probability; in effect, recognized, hit and destroyed, and even penetrated 
by red-hot masses of fragments for effectuating the destruction of the 
aircraft which are parked therebehind, when the ammunition drops into the 
aircraft turning location or apron in front of the shelter gate, and at 
least one projectile-forming charge fires in a generally horizontal 
orientation against the gate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring to the drawings, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 3, an aircraft 
apron 10 within a target area 11 is relatively simply ascertainable by 
means of a target acquisition detector on board of articles of submunition 
12 which are launched from a carrier missile 14; for example, upon 
detection of a target, such as the apron in front of the gate 16 of an 
aircraft shelter 18 (shown in an opened condition for the exit of an 
aircraft 19) which is protected by a soil or earth embankment. This is 
because it significantly distinguishes itself as a large-surfaced asphalt 
or concrete surface from the clutter received on board of the submunition 
12, which clutter emanates from any bushes, sod or grass and the sand 
present in the more proximate surroundings about the place in front of the 
shelter gate 16. From a sensor 20 arranged in the nose of the submunition 
12, information can be derived, possibly while the submunition is 
suspended from a parachute (not shown) to thereby enable the sensor 20 to 
scan the terrain, so as to initiate maneuvering commands for the 
final-phase flight correction of the submunition, as described in U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,568,040, in order to guide the submunition in a steep final 
approach trajectory towards generally the center of the shelter apron. The 
sensor 20 may be an infrared 
such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,166, or sensor, may be a 
millimeter-wave detector as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,568,040 or 
3,978,797. The hit or strike probability, with respect to the turning 
location between a shelter gate and the connecting roadways or aircraft 
taxiways leading to the runways, is further enhanced when the sensor 20 
for the final-phase flight maneuver is additionally designed for pattern 
recognition so as to, for example, process the widening of the connecting 
roadway to the turning apron and/or the typically somewhat arcuate or 
spoke-shaped fragmentation protective hill structure which encompasses 
such an aircraft turning location as a target criterium, without having to 
concurrently initiate any operation of elements in the signal processing 
technology for the detecting of constructional details which are typical 
of the protrusion of a bunker roof above the shelter gate 16, and which 
can be easily camouflaged through suitable configuration of the earth or 
soil wall or embankment arranged directly thereabove. Moreover, in this 
instance, there is no demand for any sensor signal processing, which would 
be otherwise need to be activated when a sensor-guided submunition is 
intended strike a moving target object, such as a vehicle or tank, in 
which different views thereof necessitate the application of different 
recognition patterns, and the evasive movement capabilities of the target 
object require a more complex aiming evaluation for a proportional 
navigation sequence; since in the present instance, the acquired target 
which is in the configuration of the shelter apron is clearly ascertained 
not only geometrically and with respect to its clutter structure, but in 
particular, is also represented as a stationary target. 
Additionally, there can be contemplated a gate detection procedure which is 
predicated on the aspect that, by means of the forwardly inclined oriented 
control or guidance sensor 20, or by means of a generally horizontally 
oriented auxiliary sensor (not shown), there can be acquired the flat 
surface of the aircraft shelter gate 16 which is bounded between adjoining 
fragment-protective earth or soil walls or embankments on both sides 
thereof, so as to then detonate a generally horizontally oriented 
projectile-forming charge 22 in a warhead 24, for example, as shown in 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,491, pivoting in conjunction with the rotating 
ammunition into a direction facing towards the detected gate. 
Particularly adapted as an article of submunition, within the scope of the 
present invention, is a missile or airborne body which has a correctable 
trajectory during its final phase of flight, pursuant to U.S. Pat. No. 
4,568,040, which during a steep descent into a target area will spirally 
scan the latter, preferably with the characteristic motion of at least one 
rigidly built-in sensor 20, and upon recognition of the target object (in 
this instance, primarily the shelter apron 10), will undertake a 
correction in the trajectory by means of a temporary activation of control 
surfaces 16. Inasmuch as the effect within the target no longer depends 
upon the fact that the submunition will accidentally strike a shelter at 
any suitable location, but is guided in a controlled manner to the place 
in front of the most readily damageable shelter area; namely, the apron 10 
in front of its gate 16, substantially lower technological demands are 
encountered for obtaining the same degree of effectiveness for the 
ammunition; in essence, for example, a substantially lesser number of 
articles of submunition can be deployed over the target area. Adapted for 
this positioning are carriers 14 which are in the form of projectiles, 
missiles, rockets, or manned/unmanned aircraft; however, the deployment is 
preferably effected by means of a remote-controlled warhead or weapon 
carrier which is ejectable from an aircraft, such as is described in 
WEHRTECHNIK 5/84 (page 16, upper left). 
The detection of the target in the form of the widening and relatively flat 
surface location (for example, the surface bounding the flat shelter gate) 
from a surrounding field generating significant other kinds of clutter, is 
effected; for example, pursuant to the criteria described in German OS No. 
34 34 326. 
The warhead 24 of the submunition 12, as shown in FIG. 2, possesses an 
essentially cylindrical structure, whose longitudinal axis is offset by 
the operationally typical angle of descent of the submunition into the 
target area relative to the longitudinal axis of the submunition 12 so as 
to be vertically oriented to the greatest possible extent at the point of 
impact. In this manner there is ensured that the projectile-forming 
coverings 26, which are arranged along the cylinder wall, will deform so 
as to lead to essentially horizontally-fired projectiles, of which at 
least one will strike perpendicularly against the surface of the armored 
gate 16 of the shelter 18 and penetrate the latter with red-hot fragments 
or splinters in order to disable or even destroy any aircraft parked 
within the shelter. Preferably, at least three, and typically about six 
projectile-forming coverings 26 are arranged on the warhead 24, offset 
thereabout relative to each other. From the geometry of the typical 
shelter apron, against which there is homed at generally the mid-point 
thereof (in effect, measured at a distance to the gate), and from the 
typical width of a shelter gate and from the horizontal angle between 
presently two mutually adjacent warhead coverings, even in the absence of 
any special gate detection, achieved is that a projectile will strike the 
gate generally centrally, or two projectiles will strike the gate at both 
of its side regions. However, it is possible to restrict oneself to one or 
only a few larger-sized projectile-forming charges when, additionally, 
there is achieved the above-mentioned acquisition of the gate, and the 
charge is detonated in a controlled manner upon turning into a sight line 
facing towards the gate. Furthermore, the warhead can also be equipped 
with a preacting covering, in order to additionally rupture or destroy the 
shelter apron in the vicinity of the point of impact of the submunition; 
in effect, to render it impossible for aircraft to travel thereover. To 
that extent, this pertains to the utilization of a so-called multi-purpose 
warhead, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,062, issued Sept. 1, 1987, 
assigned to the common assignee of this application; pertaining to a 
cylindrical jacket covering for the warhead which is optimized with 
respect to another mission capability.