Aerial Threat Interception Using Lightweight Eject Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current active protection systems for aerial platforms against rocket-propelled grenades and other aerial threats are heavy, bulky, and not suitable for lightweight or size-constrained platforms, and lack the ability to coordinate multiple engagements effectively.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight active kinetic countermeasure system comprising an eject vehicle with an ejection mechanism, radar modules for detection and guidance, and a communication network to coordinate with other platforms for simultaneous threat engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional active protection systems are installed on aerial platforms, then protection effectiveness against aerial threats is improved, but weight and size of the platform increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the active protection function from heavy ground-based APS and implements it using a lightweight eject vehicle that can be launched from the aerial platform. The kill vehicle carries the warhead and intercepts threats externally, removing the need for heavy onboard interception systems while maintaining protection effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The eject vehicle serves as an intermediary between the aerial platform and the aerial threat. Instead of the platform directly engaging the threat with heavy systems, the lightweight eject vehicle is launched as an intermediary carrier that delivers the kill vehicle to intercept the threat at a distance.
2Reliability
If traditional active protection systems are installed on aerial platforms, then protection effectiveness against aerial threats is improved, but the platform's available space and mobility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protection function is extracted from the platform's internal systems and implemented externally through launched eject vehicles. This eliminates the need for large onboard interception systems, preserving the platform's volume and mobility while maintaining protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The eject vehicle is designed as a disposable, lightweight system that is launched only when needed. This eliminates the need for permanent, space-consuming heavy protection systems on the platform, as the lightweight eject vehicle provides temporary protection on-demand.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple aerial platforms operate in the same area, then coverage area and detection capability are improved, but coordination and communication complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple aerial platforms merge their detection and coverage capabilities to create a coordinated network. The platforms communicate threat information and coordinate eject vehicle launches to cover shared threat vectors, combining individual coverage areas into a collective defense system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where platforms share detection data and threat information in real-time. This feedback loop enables automated coordination of interceptors across multiple platforms, reducing manual coordination complexity while maintaining expanded coverage area.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides effective protection against aerial threats with a high success rate, even at close ranges, while minimizing weight and size impact on the platform, and enables coordinated defense against multiple threats.
Implementation Method 1
a radar module configured to cover a predetermined sector and detect the aerial threat
Implementation Method 2
launch an eject vehicle configured to intercept and destroy the aerial threat
Implementation Method 3
engage and destroy aerial threats
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include active protection systems and methods for an aerial platform. An onboard system includes radar modules, detects aerial vehicles within a threat range of the aerial platform, and determines if any of the aerial vehicles are an aerial threat. The onboard system also determines an intercept vector to the aerial threat, communicates the intercept vector to an eject vehicle, and causes the eject vehicle to be ejected from the aerial platform to intercept the aerial threat. The eject vehicle includes alignment thrusters to rotate a longitudinal axis of the eject vehicle to substantially align with the intercept vector, a rocket motor to accelerate the eject vehicle along an intercept vector, divert thrusters to divert the eject vehicle in a direction substantially perpendicular to the intercept vector, and attitude control thrusters to make adjustments to the attitude of the eject vehicle.