Method for protecting a facility to be protected
The protection system addresses the limitations of conventional methods by using orientable laser devices to create a decoy guidance spot, effectively diverting munitions from static targets with high interception success rates.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AE · AE
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- THALES SA
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-19
AI Technical Summary
Conventional methods for protecting static or high-inertia targets from laser-guided munitions are ineffective, costly, or dependent on environmental conditions, and require heavy equipment, limiting their applicability.
A protection system using orientable laser emission devices that detect and replicate the spectral and temporal characteristics of a designation laser to create a decoy guidance spot, guiding the munition away from the target.
Effectively protects installations from laser-guided projectiles without requiring target mobility or heavy equipment, ensuring high interception success rates regardless of environmental conditions.
Smart Images
Figure ABST_ABST
Abstract
Description
TITLE: Method for protecting a facility to be protected The present invention relates to a method for protecting an installation to be protected.The present invention falls within the field of protection against munitions (shell, bomb, missile) guided by means of a designation laser.The conventional approaches for protecting oneself consist in detecting that one is the subject of a designation, then in engaging a countermeasure that may consist of a maneuver / evasion, smoke generators penalizing the guidance of the munition on the laser spot or the firing of an interceptor seeking to impact the incoming munition.These approaches have their limits, in particular:- the maneuvers, evasions: are effective only insofar as the target has a mobility dynamic greater than the ability of the adversary to repoint / follow the target or than the maneuverability of the munition. In the case of static targets or mobile targets with high inertia (surface vessel), this countermeasure is not applicable.- the use of smoke generators degrades the perception of the laser spot by the guided munition, but the effectiveness is not guaranteed and the latter depends strongly on non-controllable environmental conditions (winds, turbulences, rain etc.).- the interception of an incoming munition by cannon fire, an interceptor missile or a directed-energy weapon requires heavy and costly equipment for the target. The interception success rate becomes acceptable only at the cost of a large volume of munitions or very costly guidance performances in order to be effective. This approach is therefore reserved for high-value targets with low (or even no) mobility.There is therefore a need for a means making it possible to effectively protect an installation to be protected whatever the nature of the installation to be protected.To this end, the invention relates to a method for protecting an installation to be protected, the method being implemented by a protection system comprising at least one entity on which is mounted a laser emission device having an orientable line of sight, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining information relating to the detection of a laser spot on, or in proximity to, the installation to be protected, the laser spot originating from a designation laser guiding a projectile, the information comprising the position of the laser spot, a spectral characteristic relating to the laser spot and a temporal code relating to the laser spot,orienting the line of sight of the or of a laser emission device so as to aim at the detected laser spot, or a position in proximity to the detected laser spot and farther away from the installation to be protected than the detected laser spot,emitting, by said laser emission device, a laser beam reproducing the spectral characteristic and the temporal code of the detected laser spot so as to form a guidance spot on or in proximity to the detected laser spot, the emitted laser beam having a power such that the intensity of the guidance spot is greater than the intensity of the detected laser spot, andprogressively shifting the orientation of the line of sight of said laser emission device so as to guide the projectile at a distance from the installation to be protected.According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the method comprises one or more of the following features, taken in isolation or according to all technically possible combinations:- the installation to be protected is a vehicle and the or each entity is an escort vehicle;- the or each one entity is a drone, such as a land, aerial or naval drone;- the number of entities is greater than or equal to two;- the or each entity of the protection system comprises at least one laser warning detector, the step of obtaining information having been carried out by the or a laser warning detector of the protection system;- the laser warning detector carrying out the step of obtaining information belongs to the same entity as the laser emission device emitting the laser beam forming the guidance spot;- the obtaining step comprises:the positioning of the protection system in proximity to the installation to be protected so that the installation to be protected and its surroundings is in the field of view of the laser warning detector or is in the overall field of view of all the laser warning detectors, andthe detection, by the or one of the laser warning detectors, of a laser spot on, or in proximity to, the installation to be protected, the detection comprising the determination of the information relating to the detected laser spot as a function of the backscattering of the laser beam at the origin of the laser spot on said laser warning detector;- during the detection, the laser at the origin of the laser spot is identified as being a designation laser as a function of the information determined for the laser spot;- the obtaining step comprises the movement of the entity or entities of the protection system following a movement of the installation to be protected, so as to maintain the installation to be protected and its surroundings in the field of view of the laser warning detector or in the overall field of view of all the laser warning detectors.The invention also relates to a protection system for an installation to be protected, the protection system comprising at least one entity on which is mounted a laser emission device having an orientable line of sight, the protection system being suitable for implementing the steps of a protection method as described previously.The invention will become more clearly apparent upon reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the drawings in which:- figure 1 is a schematic view of an example of an installation to be protected and of a protection system for the installation to be protected, the protection system comprising an entity comprising a laser warning detector and a laser emission device mounted on the entity, the laser warning detector being used to detect a laser spot in proximity to the installation to be protected,- figure 2 is a schematic view of another example of an installation to be protected and of a protection system for the installation to be protected, the protection system comprising two entities each comprising a laser warning detector, one of the laser warning detectors being used to detect a laser spot in proximity to the installation to be protected, and- figure 3 is another schematic view of figure 1, the laser emission device emitting a laser beam forming a guidance spot in proximity to the installation to be protected.An installation to be protected 10 and a system 12 for protecting the installation to be protected 10 are illustrated in the examples of figures 1 to 3.The installation to be protected 10 is a static or mobile installation.The installation to be protected 10 is, for example, a vehicle (naval, land or aerial), a platform, a building, or also a tactical deployment. The term “installation” therefore denotes, in the broad sense, an element to be protected. In the examples of figures 1 to 3, the installation to be protected 10 is a vehicle (battle tank).The protection system 12 is suitable for protecting the installation to be protected 10 from firings of projectiles (shell, bomb, missile) guided by a designation laser.The protection system 12 comprises one or more entities 14.Preferably, the or each entity 14 is mobile so as to follow the possible movements of the installation to be protected 10. As a variant, in the case where the installation to be protected 10 is fixed, the or each entity 14 may be static.Preferably, the or each entity 14 is a drone. Thus, this allows the entities 14 to move easily in the environment.The or each drone is, for example, an aerial, land (solves the energy problems of aerial drones) or naval drone.As a variant, the installation to be protected 10 is a vehicle and the or each entity 14 is an escort vehicle. For example, the installation to be protected 10 is a naval vessel, and the entities 14 are a fleet of ships framing the naval vessel.In the example illustrated by figures 1 and 3, the protection system 12 comprises a single entity 14.In a variant, the protection system 12 comprises a number of entities 14 greater than or equal to two. This makes it possible to facilitate the monitoring of the whole of the installation to be protected 10. In particular, in the example illustrated by figure 2, the protection system 12 comprises two entities 14, each protecting different portions of the installation to be protected 10. The entities 14 are then, for example, positioned on either side of the installation to be protected 10 so as to cover different parts of the installation to be protected 10.The or each entity 14 comprises a laser emission device 15 mounted on said entity 14. Preferably, the or each entity 14 also comprises a laser warning detector 16 (LWD).The laser emission device 15 has an orientable line of sight.The laser emission device 15 is, for example, a laser beacon carried by the entity 14 (beacon of a drone).By way of example, the or each laser warning detector 16 comprises a sensor suitable for receiving a laser flux arriving on the detector, and a processing unit suitable for detecting a laser spot T as a function of the laser flux collected by the sensor.Preferably, the or each laser warning detector 16 has a field of view greater than 80°, preferably greater than or equal to 90°. This allows the laser warning detectors 16 to monitor an extended zone.As a variant, at least one laser warning detector 16 has a field of view less than 80°, but all the laser warning detectors has an overall field of view greater than 80°, preferably greater than or equal to 90°.Preferably, the or each laser warning detector 16 is suitable for detecting laser spots T whose wavelength is at least one of the following wavelengths: 0.8 µm, 1.06 µm and 1.5 µm. The spectral range of the sensor of each laser warning detector 16 is therefore compatible with the preceding wavelengths.Advantageously, the or each laser warning detector 16 is suitable for detecting at least the wavelength 1.06 µm (typical wavelength of a designation laser).An example of a method for protecting an installation to be protected 10, by the protection system 12 described previously, will now be described.The protection method comprises a step 100 obtaining, by the protection system 12, information relating to the detection of a laser spot T on, or in proximity to, the installation to be protected 10. By the term “proximity”, it is understood in the environment of the installation to be protected 10. The laser spot is for example 1 meter from the installation to be protected.The laser spot T originates from a designation laser guiding a projectile. The information comprises the position of the laser spot T, a spectral characteristic relating to the laser spot T and a temporal code relating to the laser spot T. The spectral characteristic comprises information relating to the wavelength of the laser beam at the origin of the laser spot T. The temporal code comprises information relating to the temporal sequence of the pulses of the laser beam at the origin of the laser spot T.In one embodiment example, when the or each entity 14 of the protection system 12 comprises at least one laser warning detector 16, the step 100 of obtaining information is carried out by the or a laser warning detector 16 of the protection system 12.In one example, the obtaining step 100 first comprises the positioning of the protection system 12 in proximity to the installation to be protected 10, so that the installation to be protected 10 and its surroundings is in the field of view of the laser warning detector 16 or is in the overall field of view of all the laser warning detectors 16.The surroundings of the installation to be protected 10 are the immediate environment of the installation to be protected 10, namely a few meters around the installation to be protected 10, typically 5 meters, or even 10 meters. More generally, the surroundings of the installation to be protected are a zone where the impact of a munition would be likely to cause damage to the installation to be protected 10.The overall field of view is the sum of the fields of view of all the laser warning detectors 16.When the or each entity 14 is mobile, the positioning step 100 is carried out directly by the entities 14.Otherwise, the detection system 12 has for example been previously positioned as a function of the installation to be protected 10.In this example, the obtaining step 100 then comprises the detection, by the or one of the laser warning detectors 16, of a laser spot T on, or in proximity to, the installation to be protected 10.In particular, the detection is carried out following the reception of the backscattering of the laser beam at the origin of the laser spot T on said laser warning detector 16.Figures 1 and 2 are examples illustrating the carrying out of a detection by a laser detector carried by an entity 14 of a protection system 12.In one implementation example, the detection comprises:the determination of a position for the laser spot T, of a spectral characteristic relating to the laser spot T and of a temporal code relating to the laser spot T, as a function of the backscattering of the laser beam at the origin of the laser spot T on said laser warning detector 16. As indicated previously, the spectral characteristic comprises information relating to the wavelength of the laser beam at the origin of the laser spot T. The temporal code comprises information relating to the temporal sequence of the pulses of the laser beam at the origin of the laser spot T.the identification of the nature of the laser at the origin of the laser spot T as a function of the spectral characteristic, of the temporal code, and of a database associating predefined spectral characteristics and temporal codes with natures of lasers (for example, designation, telemetry or also beam-rider). For example, this makes it possible to determine that the detected laser spot T originates from a designation laser or originates from a laser performing telemetry (in this case the laser warning detector(s) 16 are likely to detect for example several spectral bands, typically at least 1.06 µm, and for example also 0.8 µm or 1.5 µm).Thus, the laser at the origin of the laser spot T is identified as being a designation laser as a function of the information determined for the laser spot T.For example, an alert is then generated, by said laser warning detector 16, when a laser spot T has been detected. The alert is notably intended to inform an operator in order to engage protection actions.Preferably, the obtaining step 100 comprises the movement of the entity or entities 14 of the protection system 12 following a movement of the installation to be protected 10, so as to maintain the installation to be protected 10 and its surroundings in the field of view of the laser warning detector 16 or in the overall field of view of all the laser warning detectors 16.Preferably, the laser warning detector 16 carrying out the obtaining step 100 belongs to the same entity 14 as the laser emission device 15 emitting the laser beam forming the guidance spot TG.As a variant, the laser warning detector 16 carrying out the obtaining step 100 belongs to a different entity 14 and sends the information (via a communication channel) to the entity 14 emitting the laser beam forming the guidance spot TG.Again as a variant, the information has been obtained by a means distinct from the protection system 12, for example, by a laser warning detector 16 positioned on the installation to be protected 10 (direct LWD). The information is then communicated to the protection system 12 via a communication channel.The protection method comprises a step 200 of orienting the line of sight of the or of a laser emission device 15 so as to aim at the detected laser spot T, or a position in proximity to the detected laser spot T and farther away from the installation to be protected 10 than the detected laser spot T.The protection method comprises a step 300 of emitting, by said laser emission device 15, a laser beam reproducing the spectral characteristic and the temporal code of the detected laser spot T so as to form a guidance spot TG on, or in proximity to, the detected laser spot T. The emitted laser beam is therefore identical spectrally (same wavelength) and temporally (same temporal sequence) to the designation laser beam.The emitted laser beam has a power such that the intensity of the guidance spot TG is greater than the intensity of the detected laser spot T, which makes it possible to guide the projectile toward the guidance spot TG rather than toward the spot originating from the designation laser.Figure 3 illustrates an example of emission of a laser beam forming a guidance spot TG shifted from the laser spot T of the designation laser.The protection method comprises a step 400 of progressively shifting the orientation of the line of sight of said laser emission device 15 so as to guide the projectile at a distance from the installation to be protected 10.For example, the line of sight shifts every second by a predetermined distance (for example from 10 to 20 cm per laser pulse).Thus, the system 12 and the protection method make it possible to protect, via a decoy, an installation to be protected 10 aimed at by a designation laser.Indeed, the protection consists of a seduction countermeasure, by a laser emission device 15 (carried beacon), copying the spectral characteristic and the temporal code of the designation laser and having an emission more attractive than the original spot. The line of sight of the laser emission device 15 then shifts progressively to guide the munition at a distance from the initial target into a diversion zone where the impact of the incoming munition will cause only little damage. This therefore makes it possible to prevent the success of a laser-guided munition firing, that is to say to prevent the homing and the impact of the munition on the laser designation spot supposed on the target.The detection may be performed by the target itself or else by another friendly element in proximity to the target or else by the entity 14 emitting the laser emission.The invention makes it possible to offer protection not impacting the architecture of the elements to be protected. The protection offered may be performed for the benefit of a target that may be a single element (vehicle), a set of distributed elements (tactical group) or a command / logistics zone in mobile or fixed format. The protection does not require the movement of the target.A person skilled in the art will understand that the described embodiments may be combined with one another provided that they are technically compatible.
Claims
1. Method for protecting an installation to be protected (10), the method being implemented by a protection system (12) comprising at least one entity (14) on which is mounted a laser emission device (15) having an orientable line of sight, the method comprising the steps of:obtaining information relating to the detection of a laser spot (T) on, or in proximity to, the installation to be protected (10), the laser spot (T) originating from a designation laser guiding a projectile, the information comprising the position of the laser spot (T), a spectral characteristic relating to the laser spot (T) and a temporal code relating to the laser spot (T),orienting the line of sight of the or of a laser emission device (15) so as to aim at the detected laser spot (T), or a position in proximity to the detected laser spot (T) and farther away from the installation to be protected (10) than the detected laser spot (T),emitting, by said laser emission device (15), a laser beam reproducing the spectral characteristic and the temporal code of the detected laser spot (T) so as to form a guidance spot (TG) on or in proximity to the detected laser spot (T), the emitted laser beam having a power such that the intensity of the guidance spot (TG) is greater than the intensity of the detected laser spot (T), andprogressively shifting the orientation of the line of sight of said laser emission device (15) so as to guide the projectile at a distance from the installation to be protected (10).
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the installation to be protected (10) is a vehicle and the or each entity (14) is an escort vehicle. 3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the or each one entity (14) is a drone, such as a land, aerial or naval drone. 4. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the number of entities (14) is greater than or equal to two. 5. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the or each entity (14) of the protection system (12) comprises at least one laser warning detector (16), the step of obtaining information having been carried out by the or a laser warning detector (16) of the protection system (12). 6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the laser warning detector (16) carrying out the step of obtaining information belongs to the same entity (14) as the laser emission device (15) emitting the laser beam forming the guidance spot (TG). 7. Method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the obtaining step comprises:the positioning of the protection system (12) in proximity to the installation to be protected (10) so that the installation to be protected (10) and its surroundings is in the field of view of the laser warning detector (16) or is in the overall field of view of all the laser warning detectors (16), andthe detection, by the or one of the laser warning detectors (16), of a laser spot (T) on, or in proximity to, the installation to be protected (10), the detection comprising the determination of the information relating to the detected laser spot (T) as a function of the backscattering of the laser beam at the origin of the laser spot (T) on said laser warning detector (16).
8. Method according to claim 7, wherein during the detection, the laser at the origin of the laser spot (T) is identified as being a designation laser as a function of the information determined for the laser spot (T). 9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the obtaining step comprises the movement of the entity or entities (14) of the protection system (12) following a movement of the installation to be protected (10), so as to maintain the installation to be protected (10) and its surroundings in the field of view of the laser warning detector (16) or in the overall field of view of all the laser warning detectors (16). 10. System (12) for protecting an installation to be protected (10), the protection system (12) comprising at least one entity (14) on which is mounted a laser emission device (15) having an orientable line of sight, the protection system (12) being suitable for implementing the steps of a protection method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.