Patent GB-1467552-A (GB)
Title: Method and system for guiding missiles to surface targets
IPC: F41G7/32
Filed: 1975-02-28
Abstract: 1467552 A system for guiding a missile; missiles PRECITRONIC GES FUR FEINMECHANIK UND ELECTRONIC mbH 28 Feb 1975 [12 March 1974] 8584/75 Headings F2C and F3A A system for guiding a missile 20 to a surface target comprises a control base 5 having target area picture receiver means 10 for receiving a picture of the target area, and missile guidance means for generating steering signals for guiding the missile in accordance with the target picture received by the receiver means 10, means for firing the missile into a flight trajectory to strike the area of the target, the missile having means for taking a picture of the target area during its flight and generating picture signals for transmission to the control base; and comprises transmission means for transmitting the picture signals from the missile to the control base receiver means 10 for receiving the target area picture thereby and for transmitting the steering signals from the control base 5 to the missile 20 for guiding the latter. In an embodiment guided missiles are fired from a tank 5, which is located at the base, into an indirect ballistic trajectory 6 which leads to an area containing energy tanks 3. Each missile 20 has a TV camera 28 which, during a retarded descent of the missile, scans the target area and transmits a picture thereof to the base. The receiver means 10 of a control unit 13 receives the picture and also receives a light spot 12 which is caused by beaming light from the missile on to the target tank 3. A control lever 14 at the control unit 13 is used to cause the light spot 12 to coincide with the tank target 3 and to cause the missile to follow a trajectory 5<SP>1</SP> leading to the target. Guidance can be continued up to the point of contact with the target tank or until an automatic homing and steering system, mounted in the missile, takes over the control. The tank 5 is provided with a launching guide 22 and an aiming installation 24. The output signal from the TV camera 28 may control a semi-conducting laser 30 connected, via a fibre optics conductor 32, with the base. The conductor 32 may be withdrawn from a storage coil 33 during the flight of the missile. The distance that the missile is from the base can be determined with reference to the coil 33. The laser light signals are received by a combination transmitter/receiver unit 34, controlled by a duplexing unit 36 at the base, and transmitted to a picture processing unit 38 for displaying the target area picture on the screen 10. A picture storage device 40 may be provided. Manual control signals produced at the control unit 13 are processed in a unit 42 and then transmitted, via the unit 36, to the unit 34 where they are employed to modulate a transmitter laser, connected with the conductor 32, to transmit modulated laser steering control signals to the missile in flight, and where they are transformed, by a receiver, for adjusting steering fins 44 of the missile and thereby steer the latter. The light beamed from the missile may be produced by a laser 46. In a modification the picture and steering signals could be transmitted by high frequency signals.