Soft-Kill Countermeasure System with Confirmation Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current soft-kill countermeasures in electronic warfare lack confirmation mechanisms to verify the effectiveness of threat neutralization, leading to potential vulnerabilities and delayed response times in multi-threat scenarios, especially against sophisticated guided munitions.
Innovation Solution
A soft-kill countermeasure system incorporating a confirmation device that uses a cueing sensor, a processor, and a beam generator to detect and track threats, determine threat type, and confirm the neutralization of incoming projectiles, allowing for immediate threat re-direction and reduced false alarm rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If soft-kill countermeasures are deployed without confirmation mechanisms, then the system can respond quickly to detected threats, but the system cannot verify whether the threat was successfully neutralized, leaving vehicles vulnerable to simultaneous threats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a confirmation sensor that provides feedback to verify whether the soft-kill countermeasure successfully neutralized the threat. The confirmation sensor detects whether the projectile has been defeated, and this information is fed back to the controller, which then determines whether to engage additional threats or await further cues.
2Measurement precision
If optical sensors are used for threat detection without tracking systems, then the system can detect missile launches, but the system cannot confirm threat defeat until after the maximum flight time has elapsed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a confirmation sensor as an intermediary device that directly detects whether the projectile has been defeated. This confirmation sensor acts as a mediator between the soft-kill countermeasure and the controller, providing direct verification of threat neutralization without requiring the controller to wait for the projectile's maximum flight time to elapse.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If soft-kill countermeasures engage threats without confirmation capability, then the system can counter incoming projectiles, but the system cannot determine if the threat cue was a real threat or reduce false alarm rates
Solution Approach 1:
The confirmation sensor provides feedback information to the controller about whether a detected threat cue corresponds to a real incoming projectile. By verifying the presence and characteristics of the projectile, the system can distinguish between real threats and false alarms, reducing unnecessary countermeasure deployments and improving overall system effectiveness.
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
Enhances vehicle survivability by providing real-time threat confirmation and rapid response capabilities, enabling effective countermeasures against multiple simultaneous threats and improving mission timelines.
Implementation Method 1
a confirmation device having one or more antenna elements operable to locate and track the projectile
Implementation Method 2
a beam generator operable to generate a beam of electromagnetic energy configured to counter the threat posed by the projectile
Data Source
AI summary
A soft-kill countermeasure system utilizing a confirmation device, which may be radar, to enhance existing countermeasures, and enable new countermeasures to be utilized to combat the ever evolving and increasing sophistication of threats. The threat defeat confirmation may allow for rapid or immediate redirection of the countermeasure system to address additional simultaneous threats. The confirmation device can be mounted on a gimbal head or above a gimbal to take advantage of slewing movement to direct the confirmation signal towards the threat.