Method and device for defending against aircraft, in particular unmanned aerial vehicles

Abstract

Procedures for defending against aircraft (1), - wherein a fuel cloud (6) is formed on a potential flight path (13) of the aircraft (1), - where an actual flight route (13) of the aircraft (1) is recorded and - wherein the fuel cloud (6) is ignited with laser light (7) when the aircraft (1) moves into the fuel cloud (6) on its actual flight path (13).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA OF INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a device for defending against aircraft, in particular unmanned aircraft, i.e. so-called drones.

[0002] The military significance of armed drones is increasing rapidly. Drones offer several tactical advantages. They can fly very low, making them difficult to detect with radar or other detection systems. When drones are deployed in swarms, air defenses are quickly overwhelmed trying to intercept them all, even if all drones are detected. Drones are relatively simple and inexpensive, and can therefore be easily deployed in large numbers. For air defenses trained for larger aircraft, there can be a mismatch between the cost of an air defense operation and the average damage caused by an undefended drone.In addition, many air defense measures are not suitable for defending against very low-flying drones, and there is a great risk that the air defense measures themselves, for example through falling anti-aircraft missiles or missile parts, will cause extensive damage.

[0003] Unarmed drones also have military uses, for example in reconnaissance or to disrupt surveillance, flight and weapon systems.

[0004] Outside of the military sphere, the task of defending against armed and unarmed drones is becoming increasingly important. STATE OF THE ART

[0005] On October 27, 2022, the Tagesschau news program reported that the German Armed Forces had shot down a drone using a laser weapon. The test had already taken place in August 2022 with the participation of the defense companies MBDA and Rheinmetall. The laser weapon is described as a high-energy laser weapon system and is said to be particularly suitable for defending against drones, drone swarms, or attacking speedboats at close range.

[0006] To defend against a drone swarm with a laser weapon, each individual drone must be irradiated with a laser beam emitted from the weapon for a sufficient duration to destroy it or at least damage it so severely that it can no longer reach its intended target. This requires precise tracking and monitoring of flight paths, as well as very accurate alignment of the laser beam with the drones moving along these paths. When engaging a drone swarm, either a separate laser beam must be available for each drone, which is unrealistic, or the laser beam must be directed at each drone sequentially to destroy or sufficiently damage them. If the laser beam is primarily suited for engaging drones at close range, only a very short window of time is available to defend against each individual drone in an invading swarm.

[0007] German patent DE 102010018641 A1 discloses a method and a device for dispelling a smokescreen. In the known method, an active agent is delivered into the smokescreen by means of a launchable missile. The active agent is distributed within the smokescreen by means of a suitable delivery mechanism in the missile. The active agent is a flammable substance that is distributed throughout the smokescreen, forming an aerosol cloud of these particles. The aerosol cloud is then ignited by laser irradiation. A flammable metal powder can be used as the flammable substance. TASK OF INVENTION

[0008] The invention is based on the objective of demonstrating a method and a device for defending against aircraft, in particular unmanned aerial vehicles, i.e. drones, which enables effective combat even of drone swarms with limited effort and reduced risk of collateral damage. SOLUTION

[0009] The object of the invention is achieved by a method with the features of independent claim 1 and by a device with the features of independent claim 11. The dependent claims relate to preferred embodiments of the method and the device according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In an inventive method for defending against aircraft, in particular unmanned aircraft, i.e. so-called drones, a fuel cloud is formed on a potential flight path of the aircraft, an actual flight path of the aircraft is detected and the fuel cloud is ignited with laser light when the aircraft moves into the fuel cloud on its actual flight path.

[0011] To create the fuel cloud, a fuel carrier projectile can be launched from the ground into the vicinity of the target fuel cloud. Fuel can then be ejected from the launched fuel carrier projectile to form the fuel cloud.

[0012] The term "moving the aircraft into the fuel cloud on its actual flight path" refers to the section of the aircraft's flight path on which the aircraft must be located when the fuel cloud ignites, in order for the aircraft to enter the area of ​​influence of the ignited fuel cloud and the thermal energy released as a result.

[0013] Insofar as laser light is mentioned here for igniting the fuel cloud, it is understood that this refers to a high-power laser beam with high power density in order to reach the ignition temperature of the fuel cloud as quickly as possible. The laser light may, but need not, be capable of directly damaging the aircraft being defended against. However, in the method according to the invention, the damage to the aircraft for the purpose of defense is specifically caused by the thermal energy released in the ignited fuel cloud.

[0014] Igniting the fuel cloud with laser light does not place any particular demands on the precision of the laser beam's alignment. Simply hitting the fuel cloud with the laser beam is sufficient. Nevertheless, it can be advantageous to direct the laser beam not just anywhere within the fuel cloud, but specifically at the aircraft within it. Firstly, this allows the aircraft to be damaged by the laser beam itself. Secondly, the aircraft can be used to convert the laser beam into heat, thereby igniting the fuel cloud.

[0015] Igniting the fuel cloud in any case releases significant thermal energy in the vicinity of the aircraft being targeted, which is used to effectively combat the aircraft even if it is not hit by the laser light or is not sufficiently damaged by the laser light alone.

[0016] In the method according to the invention, at least one fuel cloud is positioned as a trap for the aircraft along at least one potential flight path. If the aircraft moves into this fuel cloud along its recorded actual flight path, the fuel cloud is ignited, thereby destroying, damaging, or diverting the aircraft from its flight path, either within or entering the ignited fuel cloud. The aircraft may crash. The associated risk to objects on the ground is unavoidable. However, neither the fuel cloud nor its ignition necessarily leads to a risk to objects on the ground. This is true at least if the fuel cloud is spatially confined and its composition is selected such that its ignition affects the aircraft to the necessary extent but does not damage any objects on the ground.

[0017] In addition to the fuel, other substances can also be emitted from the fuel carrier projectile fired to form the fuel cloud, for example substances to mark the fuel cloud visibly or invisibly to the human eye and / or to simplify the ignition of the fuel in the fuel cloud with the laser light.

[0018] Depending on the environment in which the aircraft are to be intercepted, the fuel cloud can be deliberately made large enough to ignite several aircraft in a swarm simultaneously. However, it is particularly advantageous to create several fuel clouds separated from one another, allowing each to be ignited independently. These fuel clouds can be arranged sequentially along a potential flight path or across multiple potential flight paths. Depending on the location of aircraft that have not yet been adequately countered, these can then be engaged by igniting a single fuel cloud or by igniting several fuel clouds simultaneously or sequentially.

[0019] The fuel for the multiple fuel clouds can be ejected successively from the respective fired fuel carrier projectile and / or from several fired fuel carrier projectiles.

[0020] It is understood that wind or other air movements occurring at a specific location must be taken into account when forming each fuel cloud. The method according to the invention can include detecting such air movements, for example with a LiDAR.

[0021] The fuel cloud can contain solid particles as fuel that can be activated to undergo a redox reaction. Such a redox reaction does not consume atmospheric oxygen. In this way, the effects of the ignited fuel cloud on its surroundings caused by strong atmospheric pressure fluctuations, such as those deliberately induced by thermobaric weapons, so-called vacuum bombs, can be prevented. For example, the solid particles can undergo an aluminothermic reaction after ignition.

[0022] The solid particles can be airborne nanoparticles that form a cloud that remains stable for at least an extended period before settling to the ground. Specifically, these solid particles could be so-called nanothermites or superthermites.

[0023] In principle, the fuel cloud can also be designed to ignite in a reaction that consumes atmospheric oxygen. This is how a fuel cloud can be formed from a so-called Fuel Air Explosive (FAE). After ignition of such a fuel cloud, the strong air pressure fluctuations typical of thermobaric weapons occur. These air pressure fluctuations can be deliberately used to bring down the aircraft. However, it should be noted that these air pressure fluctuations also endanger objects on the ground.

[0024] If the fuel in the fuel cloud does not convert the laser light sufficiently into heat to reach its ignition temperature, an additional substance, for example in the form of passive solid particles, can be introduced into the fuel cloud. This substance serves only to convert the laser light into heat in order to ignite the fuel located nearby. In a further embodiment, reactive solid particles are introduced into the fuel cloud alongside the actual fuel. These particles can be easily ignited by the laser light and then act as an ignition agent to ignite the fuel.

[0025] In the method according to the invention, the fuel cloud can be formed from the ground or from a flying platform. Likewise, the fuel cloud can be ignited with laser light from the ground or from a flying platform. Forming and igniting the fuel cloud from the ground can be carried out using stationary, mobile, portable, or even shoulder-mounted devices. If a flying platform, which itself can be an aircraft, in particular an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), i.e., a drone, is used, the same flying platform can serve both as the starting point for forming the fuel cloud and for the laser light used to ignite the fuel cloud. However, different flying platforms can also be used.

[0026] An inventive device for defending against aircraft comprises fuel carrier projectiles for forming fuel clouds by ejecting fuel, a launching device for firing the fuel carrier projectiles and a laser device for emitting laser light to ignite the fuel.

[0027] The device comprises fuel carrier projectiles for forming fuel clouds by ejecting fuel, a launching device for firing the fuel carrier projectiles, a laser device for emitting high-energy laser light to ignite the fuel, an aircraft flight path detection device, and a control device. Furthermore, the device may include an aircraft flight path detection device and a control device that controls the launching device to determine the firing directions of the fuel carrier projectiles and the fuel ejection points such that the fuel clouds are formed along the aircraft flight paths, and that controls the laser device to ignite those fuel clouds into which the aircraft enter their flight paths with the laser light.The control of the launching device by the control unit is also preferably dependent on the flight paths of the aircraft recorded by the detection device.

[0028] The device according to the invention can also comprise several firing devices and / or laser devices and / or detection devices, which can also be positioned spatially separated from one another. Instead of a self-contained detection device for the flight paths of the aircraft, for example with its own radar system, the detection device can also detect the flight paths of the aircraft based on externally obtained data.

[0029] The device according to the invention can be stationed on the ground as a single or multi-part unit or arranged on a flying platform. Stationing on the ground also includes mounting the device on an extendable crane or the like, for example, to raise it above treetop or roof height.

[0030] Advantageous further developments of the invention result from the patent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0031] The advantages of features and combinations of features mentioned in the description are merely exemplary and can have an effect alternatively or cumulatively, without the advantages necessarily having to be achieved by embodiments according to the invention.

[0032] Regarding the disclosure content—not the scope of protection—of the original application documents and the patent, the following applies: Further features can be derived from the drawings—in particular, the geometries depicted and the relative dimensions of several components to one another, as well as their relative arrangement and functional connection. The combination of features from different embodiments of the invention or from features of different claims is also possible, deviating from the chosen cross-references of the claims, and is hereby encouraged. This also applies to features that are illustrated in separate drawings or mentioned in their description. These features can also be combined with features from different claims.Likewise, features listed in the patent claims may be omitted for further embodiments of the invention, but this does not apply to the independent patent claims of the granted patent.

[0033] The features mentioned in the claims and the description are to be understood, with regard to their number, as meaning that exactly that number or a greater number than the stated number is present, without the need for the explicit use of the adverb "at least". Thus, for example, if the formation of a fuel cloud is mentioned, this is to be understood as meaning that exactly one fuel cloud, two fuel clouds, or more fuel clouds are formed. The features listed in the claims may be supplemented by further features or may be the only features that the subject matter of the respective claim possesses.

[0034] The reference numerals contained in the patent claims do not constitute a limitation of the scope of the subject matter protected by the patent claims. They merely serve the purpose of making the patent claims easier to understand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0035] The invention will now be further explained and described with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the figures. Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a first ground-based device during the execution of the method according to the invention. Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a second shoulder-supported device during the execution of the method according to the invention. Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a third air-supported device in the execution of the method according to the invention. Fig. Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of the device according to Fig. 1 in the execution of a modified embodiment of the method according to the invention; and Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a further modified embodiment of the method according to the invention. FIGURE DESCRIPTION

[0036] Fig. Figure 1 shows the defense against an unmanned aerial vehicle 1, a so-called drone, using a device 2 according to the invention. The device 2 according to the invention has a launching device 3 for launching fuel carrier projectiles 4 from the ground 15. Fuel 5 is ejected from the launched fuel carrier projectiles 4 to form a fuel cloud 6. The launch directions of the fuel carrier projectiles 4 and the ejection points at which the fuel 5 is ejected from the fuel carrier projectiles 4 to form the fuel cloud 6 are determined such that the fuel cloud 6 is formed along a flight path 13 of the aircraft 1. When the aircraft 1 moves into the fuel cloud 6 along its flight path, the fuel cloud 6 is ignited by means of laser light 7 from a laser device 8 on the ground 14.Igniting the fuel 5 releases thermal energy that destroys, damages, or dislodges the aircraft 1 from its course to such an extent that it is rendered harmless. The flight path 13 of the aircraft 1 can be detected by a detection device of the apparatus 2, which is not shown separately here. Fig. Figure 1 indicates that the fuel 5 is present in the fuel cloud 6 in the form of solid particles 9. These are airborne nanoparticles that are in Fig. 1. They are not shown to scale, but much too large.

[0037] Fig. Figure 2 shows a shoulder-supported version of the device 2, which is operated by an operator 10. The operator 10 can detect the flight path 13 of the aircraft 1 himself or be assisted in this by a detection device (not shown).

[0038] In the embodiment according to Fig. 3. The device 2 is airborne. Specifically, it is mounted on a flying platform 11 in the form of another unmanned aerial vehicle 12. The detection of the flight path 13 of the aircraft 1 to be engaged can be carried out by a detection device on the aircraft 12.

[0039] Fig. Figure 4 shows that the fuel cloud 6 can be formed well in advance of the aircraft 1 to be targeted, along its potential or expected flight path 13. It then forms a trap invisible to the aircraft 1, which is activated by the laser light 7 as soon as the aircraft 1 moves into the fuel cloud 6 along its actual flight path 13.

[0040] Fig.Figure 5 illustrates several fuel clouds 6'-6'''' separated by distances 14. The distances 14 are such that when one of the fuel clouds 6'-6'''' is ignited with the laser light 7, only that fuel cloud is ignited, while the other fuel clouds remain unignited. The other fuel clouds can therefore be ignited later with the laser light 7 to act again on the same aircraft 1, or in particular on another aircraft 1 of a swarm of aircraft 1. REFERENCE MARK LIST 1 aircraft 2 Device 3 Launching device 4 Fuel Carrier Projectile 5 Fuel 6 Fuel cloud 7 Laser light 8 Laser device 9 solid particles 10 operator 11 flying platforms 12 aircraft 13 Flight route 14 distance 15 Floor 6'-6''''' fuel cloud

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