Modular arrangement of autonomous aircraft to form a multi-mission flight unit and corresponding aircraft

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the military field and more particularly to the field of military aeronautics. It is known that the military anti-aircraft defense capabilities of states have developed significantly in recent years. These military defense capabilities include means of airspace surveillance and means of destroying aircraft such as airplanes and missiles. The surveillance means essentially include radars. The means of destruction include high-rate guns, ground-to-air missiles and airplanes equipped with air-to-air missiles, these different means being selected according to the target, the emergency and the mode of intervention considered to be the most relevant.

[0002] In order to preserve the lives of pilots and piloted aircraft, which are the most expensive, and to successfully complete missions in a dense anti-aircraft defense environment, future military projects for next-generation combat aircraft in Europe (SCAF, TEMPEST) and the USA (drones produced by KRATOS, the “LOYAL WINGMAN” program of BOEING) plan to combine piloted aircraft and autonomous carrier aircraft acting in collaboration with said piloted aircraft.

[0003] It is thus envisaged that several types of autonomous carrier aircraft will be available depending on the type of mission to be carried out. Autonomous carrier aircraft would thus include autonomous carrier aircraft carrying sensors or jammers to serve, for example, as reconnaissance or electronic warfare or decoy means and autonomous carrier aircraft carrying different types of military loads to form projectable weapons such as missiles or bombers.

[0004] However, this possibility of having several types of autonomous carrier aircraft is relatively expensive, while in most countries any increase in military budgets is the result of tough negotiations.

[0005] Aircraft incorporating modules are known, in particular from documents US-A-6056237, RU-U-193778, DE-A-4218197, WO-A-86 / 01175, US-B-10259560 and FR-A-1059020.

[0006] The aircraft according to US-A-6056237 comprises a propulsion module, a lift module with a wing, a detection module and an armament module. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention aims in particular to improve the intervention capabilities of an air fleet. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] To this end, according to the invention, a modular assembly of autonomous aircraft is provided, comprising common modules and specific modules which can be fixed to each other, the modules each comprising an envelope forming a fuselage section, . common modules comprising: - propulsion modules provided with a motor, - guidance modules provided with at least one mobile flight surface and an actuator for moving said mobile flight surface, - control modules incorporating an electronic control unit provided with means for connecting it to the motor and to the actuator, - lift modules provided with a wing to ensure the lift of the autonomous aircraft, . specific modules comprising: detection modules comprising at least one sensor of an environment of the aircraft, armament modules.

[0009] This makes it possible to build an air group comprising autonomous carrier aircraft with different functions from the modules. This results in a reduction in manufacturing costs but also in maintenance costs since a faulty module can be easily and quickly replaced.

[0010] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the following description of a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Reference will be made to the attached drawings, including: There figure 1 schematically illustrates in perspective an air combat group in accordance with the invention; The figure 2 is a partial schematic view of an assembly in accordance with the invention for the manufacture of autonomous carrier aircraft of this combat group; The figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of one of the support modules; The figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of one of the motorization modules; The figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of another of the motorization modules; The figure 6 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of a command module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] With reference to the figures, the invention is described here in application to an autonomous carrier aircraft, generally designated 1, intended to operate in association with at least one “master” piloted aircraft M such as a fighter.

[0013] The piloted aircraft M is said to be master in the sense that the autonomous carrier aircraft 1 is controlled by the piloted aircraft M or exchanges data directly with the piloted aircraft M which uses said data. In the example described here, the piloted aircraft M is part of an air group comprising a piloted command aircraft PC and autonomous carrier aircraft 1 according to different versions distinguished from each other by the letters A, B, C, namely: - an autonomous 1A area surveillance and transmission relay aircraft; - an autonomous 1B reconnaissance aircraft; - an armed autonomous 1C1 carrier aircraft; - an armed autonomous 1C2 carrier aircraft.

[0014] The autonomous carrier aircraft 1A, 1B, 1C1, 1C2 are formed by assembling fuselage sections forming common modules and specific modules belonging to a set of modules comprising one or more copies of each module.

[0015] The modules each comprise an envelope 2 forming a fuselage section. The envelope 2 here has a substantially circular cross-section. The envelope 2 of each module contains or carries the equipment giving the module its function(s) (common or specific) making it a common module or a specific module.

[0016] Common modules include: - a first propulsion module 11, - a second propulsion module 12, - a third propulsion module 13, - a fourth propulsion module 14, - a first fuel reserve module 15, - a second fuel reserve module 16, - a control module 21, - a nose module 25, - a first lift module 31, - a second lift module 32.

[0017] Each of the propulsion modules 11, 12 here forms a tail section of the autonomous carrier aircraft 1 and comprises, on the one hand, an engine and, on the other hand, a guidance unit so that the propulsion modules 11, 12 also form guidance modules.

[0018] The first propulsion module 11 here comprises at least one engine 111, of the rocket engine type, mounted at the end of the casing 2 which also contains a liquid fuel tank, an oxidizer tank for supplying the engine 121 and an electronic engine control unit 112 ensuring the control of the engine 111 as a function of control signals coming from the control module 21 and measurement and / or status signals coming from operating parameter sensors of the engine 111. The second propulsion module 12 here comprises at least one engine 121, namely a single or double-flow turbojet, mounted at the end of the casing 2 which contains an electronic engine control unit 122 ensuring the control of the engine 111 as a function of control signals coming from the control module 21 and measurement and / or status signals coming from operating parameter sensors of the engine 121.

[0019] The guidance unit is provided with at least one movable flight surface and an actuator for moving said movable flight surface. More specifically, the envelope 2 is provided with a tail unit comprising two ailerons 201 and a rudder 202 which are mounted projecting externally from the envelope 2 and which are connected to an actuation assembly 203 known per se and comprising here electromechanical actuators driving the ailerons 201 and the rudder 202 in rotation as a function of control signals coming from the control module 21 and measurement and / or status signals coming in particular from position sensors of the ailerons 201 and the rudder 202.

[0020] The guidance module and the propulsion module can be part of a single module as described above but can also constitute two separate modules. Thus, one can have a tail section provided with a tail unit as previously and an intermediate section provided with propulsion means as on the figures 4 et 5 .

[0021] To the figure 4 a third propulsion module 13 is shown here comprising two “openrotor” type engines 131 each mounted at the end of a support 133 extending projecting from the casing 2. The casing 2 of the first propulsion module 11 also contains a fuel tank 134 for supplying the engine 131 and an electronic engine control unit 132 ensuring the control of the engine 131 as a function of control signals coming from the control module 21 and measurement and / or status signals coming from sensors of operating parameters of the engine 131.

[0022] To the figure 5 a fourth propulsion module 14 is shown here comprising at least one engine 141, of the solid fuel rocket type, mounted at the end of a support 143 extending projecting from the casing 2. The casing 2 of the fourth propulsion module 14 contains an electronic engine control unit 142 ensuring the control of the engine 141 as a function of control signals coming from the control module 21 and measurement and / or status signals coming from sensors of operating parameters of the engine 141.

[0023] The fuel reserve modules 15, 16 have different capacities depending on the autonomy required to accomplish the mission assigned to the autonomous carrier aircraft.

[0024] The command module 21, shown in the figure 6 , comprises an electronic control unit 211, a set of flight and navigation parameter sensors 212 (inertial unit, air speed sensor, satellite positioning signal receiver, barometric sensor, air temperature sensor in particular) and an interconnection assembly 213 of the electronic control unit 211 with the actuation assembly 203 and the electronic engine control unit 112, 122, 132, 142. The electronic control unit 211 is arranged to pilot the autonomous carrier aircraft 1 and make it perform tasks by controlling equipment of the different modules making up the autonomous carrier aircraft 1.

[0025] The control module 21 further comprises a first electronic telecommunication unit 214 connected to the electronic control unit 211 to enable an exchange of electromagnetic signals between the electronic control unit 211 and the piloted aircraft M. The first electronic transmission unit 213 comprises a transmitter / receiver and a cryptographic device for encrypting the signals to be sent and decrypting the signals received. The first electronic telecommunication unit 214 is arranged to provide relatively short-range, but low-detectability, transmission with the piloted aircraft M which constitutes a first type of aircraft.

[0026] The control module 21 further comprises a second electronic telecommunication unit 214 connected to the first electronic telecommunication unit 213 directly or via the electronic control unit 211, to allow an exchange of electromagnetic signals between the first electronic telecommunication unit 213 and a piloted command aircraft PC intended to fly behind and at a distance from the rest of the air group. The second electronic telecommunication unit 214 is arranged to ensure a relatively long-range transmission, but with greater detectability, with the command aircraft which is a second type of aircraft.It is understood that the second electronic telecommunications unit 214 constitutes an amplifying relay of the signals that the pilot of the piloted aircraft M wishes to transmit to the command aircraft PC while limiting the risk that the emission of the signals by the piloted aircraft M could be detected by an enemy device and reveal precisely the position of the piloted aircraft M. At worst, it is the position of the autonomous carrier aircraft 1 emitting the amplified signals which will be detected.

[0027] The nose module 25 here has only an aerodynamic function but can incorporate sensors such as Pitot type air speed sensors or others, or equipment giving the nose module 25 a particular function. The nose module 25 thus comprises for example a laser illuminator, a front radar antenna, a homing device (visible, infrared, imaging, hot spot or laser spot detection, etc.).

[0028] The first support module 31 (visible on the figure 2 ) equipped with a conventional wing 311, fixed, integral with the envelope 2 and sized to ensure the lift of the autonomous carrier aircraft 1 whatever its version. The second lift module 32 (visible on the figure 3) is provided with a variable geometry wing 321 secured to the envelope 2 and provided with a motorization 322 connected to an electronic control unit 323 connectable to the electronic piloting unit 211 to be piloted by the electronic piloting unit 211 in order to ensure the lift of the autonomous carrier aircraft 1 according to its version (mass, position of the center of gravity and the center of thrust) and the flight conditions (speed and altitude). For this purpose, the electronic piloting unit 211 has a table relating controls of said motorization with the different versions and the flight parameters corresponding to different flight conditions.

[0029] For example, the shapes of the wing and fuselage, and the aircraft's engine will be chosen to allow a speed between 0.5 and 0.9 Mach, an altitude of 12,000 meters. The internal dimensions of the fuselage defined by the cross-section of envelope 2 are determined to allow the carriage of a military load of different types. The fuselage and wing will also be determined to meet predetermined stealth constraints.

[0030] Specific sections include: - a first detection module 41, - a second detection module 42, - a third detection module 43, - a radar jamming module 44, - a first arming module 51, - a second arming module 52, - a third arming module 53.

[0031] The first detection module 41 comprises an air-to-air radar 411 allowing relatively long-range aerial surveillance, and an electronic radar signal processing unit 412 arranged to be connected to the electronic control unit 211. The first detection module 41 may comprise one or more other sensors of an environment of the autonomous carrier aircraft 1, such as for example an optical sensor in the infrared range and / or an optical sensor in the visible range. The second detection module 42 comprises an air-to-ground radar 421, an electronic radar signal processing unit 422 arranged to be connected to the electronic control unit 211, a ground imaging device 423 and an electronic image signal processing unit 424 connected to the ground imaging device 423 and arranged to be connected to the electronic control unit 211.The air-to-ground radar 421 is, for example, a side-looking radar or a synthetic aperture radar. The second detection module 42 may further comprise a laser illuminator for target designation.

[0032] The third detection module 43 comprises a forward surveillance radar 431, such as a radar having a phased array antenna to also provide a terrain following function, and an electronic radar signal processing unit 432 arranged to be connected to the electronic control unit 211.

[0033] The radar jamming module 44 comprises a radar transmitter 441 arranged in a manner known per se to saturate a ground radar antenna or to send false echo signals to this antenna and a control unit 442 of the radar transmitter 441.

[0034] The first weapon module 51 incorporates a first explosive charge 511. The first explosive charge 511 is a conventional charge, here a blast effect charge of a first power.

[0035] The second weapon module 52 incorporates a second explosive charge 521. The second explosive charge 521 is a conventional charge, here a fragmentation charge of a second power.

[0036] The third weapon module 53 incorporates a third explosive charge 531. The third explosive charge 531 is a penetrating charge having a third power. The autonomous carrier aircraft described above have a fuselage having the same master couple.

[0037] Thus, the autonomous carrier module 1A is obtained here by assembling the following modules: - a third propulsion module 13; - a second fuel reserve module 16 offering the longest range; - a first lift module 31; - a control module 21; - a first detection module 41; - a nose module 25.

[0038] The autonomous carrier module 1B is obtained here by assembling the following modules: - a first propulsion module 11; - a first fuel reserve module 15 offering an average autonomy; - a first lift module 31; - a control module 21; - a second detection module 42; - a nose module 25.

[0039] The autonomous carrier module 1C1 is obtained here by assembling the following modules: - a first propulsion module 11; - a first fuel reserve module 15; - a first lift module 31; - a control module 21; - a third detection module 43; - a third weapons module 53; - a nose module 25.

[0040] The autonomous carrier module 1C2 is obtained here by assembling the following modules: - a second propulsion module 12; - a first lift module 31; - a command module 21; - a first weapons module 51; - a nose module 25.

[0041] The members for connecting the sections of the casing 2 to each other comprise ferrules for mechanically connecting the sections two by two and electrical and / or optical connectors allowing the equipment to be connected to the control unit 211. These connecting members are known in themselves.

[0042] The air group may comprise modular autonomous carrier aircraft, such as those described above, but also non-modular autonomous carrier aircraft which may be of the same size or, on the contrary, smaller or larger than the modular autonomous carrier aircraft. Preferably, the non-modular autonomous carrier aircraft are homothetic to the modular autonomous carrier aircraft.

[0043] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0044] In particular, the aircraft that can be produced in accordance with the invention may have a structure different from that of the invention.

[0045] The choice of wing and fuselage shape will be dictated in a classic manner by the expected performance of the aircraft and in particular its aerodynamic performance (finesse, drag, aerodynamic stability) and its stealth with respect to radars. Other parameters may come into play such as: - the air supply to the engine taking into account the air flow along the wing and fuselage and the positioning of the engine air intake in relation to the wing and fuselage; - the carrying capacity under wing or in the hold; - the maximum load factor...

[0046] The wing of all or part of the lift modules may have a shape other than that described and for example a rectangular, elliptical, swept trapezoidal, reverse swept trapezoidal, delta, rhomboidal shape, etc. The wing may be of the monoplane, biplane type, etc.

[0047] The sail can be high, medium or low, suspended, gull-wing...

[0048] The wing may have variable or fixed geometry. In the case of variable geometry, the geometry variation law will be adapted to the aircraft version and the flight profile.

[0049] Lift modules may include wings of different surfaces and shapes and / or of different types.

[0050] All or part of the guidance module and the lift module can be grouped together in a single section, for example in the case of a delta wing.

[0051] The envelope 2 forming a fuselage section may have a cross-section having a shape other than that described and for example a circular, elliptical or oval shape with a vertical or horizontal major axis, square, rectangular with a vertical or horizontal major axis, trapezoidal, triangular, etc.

[0052] The autonomous carrier aircraft comprises a nose and a tail section: these two sections may or may not include equipment making them common modules or specialized modules.

[0053] It is possible to provide other modules such as, for example, a navigation module comprising a navigation device using signals of opportunity (or "navsop") suitable for missions in areas where satellite navigation signals (type GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, etc.) are not available because they are absent, masked or jammed.

[0054] The inertial unit may include gyroscopes or gyrometers of any type such as vibrating axisymmetric resonator gyroscopes, laser gyros, microelectromechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes. The inertial unit may include pendulum or oscillating accelerometers, vibrating beam, MEMS type or others.

[0055] It could be envisaged to have an autonomous carrier aircraft equipped with a radar transmitter module to operate in association with a radar receiver equipping either another autonomous carrier module or the master aircraft in such a way that the latter have radar information while being more difficult to locate than if they used a radar transmitter.

[0056] The antennas and wavelengths of the radar transmitters / receivers will be chosen according to the intended applications, taking into account in particular the range, the fineness of detection and the desired resolution.

[0057] The weapon modules may comprise several armed versions, each constituting a missile and incorporating a military charge of different masses and / or of different types (conventional or not, blast effects, fragmentation, penetration, etc.). The weapon module may comprise a charge of any type such as a fragmentation charge, a thermobaric charge, an electromagnetic charge, a graphite charge, etc. The weapon module may be arranged to release the charge or to project it (for example in the form of a missile) or to constitute itself the vector intended to crash into the target...

[0058] The propulsion module may comprise a conventional propeller engine, a ramjet, a propeller engine and a booster, for example to facilitate takeoff operations, a solid-fuel rocket engine. It is possible to have several types of nose and / or air intake and / or wing depending on the engine. Preferably, the modules are arranged for the manufacture of subsonic autonomous carrier aircraft. Alternatively, the modules allow the manufacture of supersonic autonomous carrier aircraft. It could also be envisaged to have a set of modules allowing the manufacture of autonomous carrier aircraft according to a subsonic version and autonomous carrier aircraft according to a supersonic version, some of the modules being common to both versions.

[0059] Other means of coupling modules are possible provided that they allow the modules to be connected to each other and the transmission of electrical signals and / or power to the equipment that needs it.

[0060] Navigation can be hybrid navigation based on satellite, inertial and / or optronic data.

[0061] The common modules may comprise a single type of propulsion module, and / or a single type of command module and / or a single type of lift module and / or a single type of guidance module. There may be several types of command module in the common modules. It is possible to provide modules other than those described: - electrical power supply or electrical energy storage module (batteries, fuel cells, etc.) if some of the equipment in the other modules is relatively energy-intensive or must be powered according to specific parameters (voltage, current, etc.); - landing module comprising, for example, landing gear, retractable or fixed, or a parachute if the autonomous carrier aircraft does not have landing gear; - drop module comprising means of attachment to a piloted carrier aircraft if the autonomous carrier aircraft does not have autonomous takeoff means and must be dropped in flight; - countermeasure module incorporating a module for dropping infrared decoys or radar decoys; - swarm navigation module, comprising artificial intelligence, when the autonomous carrier aircraft are intended to fly in close formation.

Claims

1. Modular assembly of autonomous aircraft (1), comprising common modules and specific modules that can be attached to one another, the modules each comprising a shell (2) that forms a fuselage portion, the common modules comprising: - propulsion modules (11 to 14) provided with a drive, - guide modules provided with at least one movable flight surface and with an actuator for moving said movable flight surface, - control modules (21) that include an electronic control unit provided with means for connection thereof to the drive and to the actuator, - lift modules (31, 32) provided with a wing system in order to provide lift to the autonomous aircraft, the specific modules comprising: - detection modules (41 to 43) comprising at least one sensor for an environment of the aircraft, - weapon modules (51 to 53).

2. Assembly according to claim 1, wherein the weapon modules comprise at least: - a first weapon module (51) that includes a first explosive charge, - a second weapon module (52) that includes a second explosive charge.

3. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the detection modules comprise at least: - a first detection module (41) that includes at least a first sensor, - a second detection module (42) that includes at least a second sensor.

4. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the guide module comprises an empennage (201, 202).

5. Assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fuselages of the modules (11 to 14, 21, 31, 32, 41 to 43, 51 to 53) have the same master crosssection.