EP2106525A1 - Système d'énergie multifonctionnel dirige par radiofréquence - Google Patents

Système d'énergie multifonctionnel dirige par radiofréquence

Info

Publication number
EP2106525A1
EP2106525A1 EP07716958A EP07716958A EP2106525A1 EP 2106525 A1 EP2106525 A1 EP 2106525A1 EP 07716958 A EP07716958 A EP 07716958A EP 07716958 A EP07716958 A EP 07716958A EP 2106525 A1 EP2106525 A1 EP 2106525A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rfde
antenna
target
radar
transmitter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP07716958A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2106525B1 (fr
Inventor
Kenneth W. Brown
David J. Canich
Russell F. Berg
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Raytheon Co
Original Assignee
Raytheon Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Raytheon Co filed Critical Raytheon Co
Publication of EP2106525A1 publication Critical patent/EP2106525A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2106525B1 publication Critical patent/EP2106525B1/fr
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41H—ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
    • F41H13/00—Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for
    • F41H13/0043—Directed energy weapons, i.e. devices that direct a beam of high energy content toward a target for incapacitating or destroying the target

Definitions

  • TITLE MULTIFUNCTIONAL RADIO FREQUENCY DIRECTED ENERGY
  • the present invention relates generally to radio frequency directed energy (RFDE) systems, and more particularly to multifunctional type RFDE systems.
  • RFDE radio frequency directed energy
  • Radio frequency directed energy (RFDE) systems are known in the art for directing high power RF 1 microwave and/or millimeter wave electromagnetic energy to destroy or disrupt a target.
  • RFDE systems typically serve as military weapons, RFDE systems need not be limited to weapon systems.
  • RFDE systems of the present invention may be used for non-military purposes such as destroying or disrupting foreign objects, contaminants, undesirable atmospheric conditions, or other types of targets.
  • An electronic warfare system makes use of a priori knowledge of a target it is designed to jam or disrupt.
  • An electronic warfare system uses such a priori knowledge of a target's characteristics (e.g., frequency of operation, method of operation, etc.) to disrupt or confuse the target with "finesse", or a relatively low amount of power.
  • an RFDE weapon system can go after a broad range of targets (electronics, biological, ordinance, structures, etc.) due to its relatively large radiated power.
  • targets electronics, biological, ordinance, structures, etc.
  • a priori knowledge of the intended target characteristics is typically not required because the RFDE weapon either bums-out or overwhelms its target by the shear amount of power it radiates.
  • auxiliary add-on systems An ongoing problem with RFDE systems is targeting— accurately pointing the RF directed energy beam at the intended target and establishing an accurate range from the system to the target.
  • auxiliary add-on systems could include a stand-alone radar system, a stand-alone laser range finder, stand-alone optical or infrared imaging system, etc.
  • these add-on systems add significant cost to the RFDE system.
  • these add-on systems add significant complexity by requiring calibration of the alignment between the RFDE system and the stand-alone targeting system.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a typical RFDE system 10.
  • the system 10 includes a high power transmitter 12 transmitting thru a high power antenna 14.
  • the transmitter 12 operates at RF, microwave or millimeter wave frequencies.
  • the system 10 operates based on a prime power source 16, such as an AC mains, generator, high capacity battery system, etc.
  • a power conditioning block 18 conditions power delivered from the power source 16 so as to be suitable for powering the transmitter 12.
  • a cooling system 20 provides appropriate cooling to the power conditioning block 18 and the high power transmitter 12 as needed.
  • a control block 22 provides appropriate control among the various sub-systems.
  • the RFDE weapon system 10 further includes an antenna pointing system 24 for aiming the high power antenna 14, and thus the high power electromagnetic energy beam transmitted therefrom, at the target.
  • the pointing system 24 typically is driven by coordinate data identifying the direction and range of the intended target.
  • coordinate data is provided by a stand-alone targeting system 26.
  • the targeting system 26 is an add-on often in the form of a stand-alone radar system, a stand-alone laser range finder, stand-alone optical or infrared imaging system, etc.
  • these add-on systems add significantly to the cost and complexity of the RFDE system.
  • the RFDE system of the present invention eliminates the need for a separate, stand-alone targeting system by integrating a targeting system within the RFDE system itself.
  • the RFDE system is multi-functional in that all or part of the RFDE system hardware that functions to direct high power electromagnetic energy also functions to obtain and provide targeting information to aim the high power electromagnetic energy beam.
  • the RFDE transmitter is not only used as the source of the directed electromagnetic energy, but is also used as a radar transmitter for targeting an object.
  • a relatively simple radar receiver may then be added to the RFDE system.
  • the cost of the overall system is substantially reduced since an expensive radar transmitter is not required.
  • the complexity of the system is reduced as calibration of the alignment between the RFDE system and a stand-alone targeting system becomes unnecessary.
  • a multi-functional RFDE system includes an RFDE transmitter and at least one RFDE antenna.
  • the RFDE transmitter and antenna direct high power electromagnetic energy towards a target sufficient to cause high energy damage or disruption of the target.
  • the RFDE system further includes a targeting system for locating the target.
  • the targeting system includes a radar transmitter and at least one radar antenna for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy to locate the target.
  • the RFDE system also includes an antenna pointing system for aiming the at least one RFDE antenna at the target based on the location of the target as ascertained by the targeting system.
  • at least a portion of the radar transmitter or the at least one radar antenna is integrated within at least a portion of the RFDE transmitter or the at least one RFDE antenna.
  • a method operating an RFDE system.
  • the method includes the steps of utilizing an RFDE transmitter and at least one RFDE antenna to direct high power electromagnetic energy towards a target sufficient to cause high energy damage or disruption of the target; utilizing a targeting system to locate the target, the targeting system including a radar transmitter and at least one radar antenna for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic energy to locate the target; aiming the at least one RFDE antenna at the target based on the location of the target as ascertained by the targeting system; and integrating at least a portion of the radar transmitter or the at least one radar antenna within at least a portion of the RFDE transmitter or the at least one RFDE antenna.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional RFDE system
  • Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a multi-functional RFDE system in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a multi-functional RFDE system in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a multi-functional RFDE system in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a multi-functional RFDE system in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a multi-functional RFDE system in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 7 illustrates a multi-functional RFDE system mounted within an aircraft in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 8 illustrates a multi-functional RFDE system mounted within a wheeled vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of a multi-functional RFDE system incorporating a reflector-type antenna in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the RFDE system of the present invention integrates a targeting system, such as a radar targeting system, into an otherwise conventional RFDE system.
  • a targeting system such as a radar targeting system
  • the targeting system can be integrated into the RFDE system as explained herein.
  • the particular embodiments described below are meant to be merely exemplary.
  • the present invention contemplates not only the particular embodiments described herein, but any system in which a targeting system is integrated in part or in whole within the RFDE system.
  • an RFDE system 30 is shown in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Since many of the elements of the RFDE system 30 in Fig. 3 are similar to those in the conventional system 10 discussed above with respect to Fig. 1 , only the relevant differences with be discussed herein for sake of brevity.
  • a portion of an otherwise conventional RFDE system forms part of the targeting system.
  • the high power RFDE transmitter 12 is controlled by the control block 22 to transmit standard radar tracking signals thru the antenna 14.
  • the radar tracking signals may be any type of conventional radar signal such a pulse or continuous wave radar.
  • the power level of the tracking signals may be a high powered signal, such as the RFDE signal itself, or a relatively low powered signal as more typical in radar tracking applications.
  • a separate radar receiver 32 and radar receive antenna 34 are used in conjunction with the integrated RFDE/radar transmitter 12.
  • the RFDE high power output beam intended to destroy or disturb a target is transmitted using the RFDE/radar transmitter 12 and antenna 14.
  • the radar receive antenna 34 receives portions of the RFDE output beam reflected by the target back towards the system 30.
  • the radar receiver 32 processes the reflected return signals using conventional techniques in order to identify the location of the target.
  • the radar receiver 32 can be coherently linked to the transmitted RFDE output waveform (represented by line 36) so that Doppler processing can be achieved and the direction and range of the target identified.
  • the radar receiver 32 provides the target location information to an integrated targeting system block 38 which feeds the location information to the antenna pointing system 24. Such operation allows the antenna 14 to be directed in both search and track radar functions.
  • the RFDE system 30 in Fig. 2 can operate in both an RFDE mode and a tracking mode. Both modes may be carried out simultaneously as described above, for example, where the high power electromagnetic energy output waveform of the RFDE system also serves as the radar tracking system transmit signal.
  • the RFDE system 30 may switch between the RFDE mode and the tracking mode using a separate RFDE high power beam and lower power radar transmit signals, respectively. So long as the system 30 switches between the two modes rapidly enough so as not to lose track of the target, operation between RFDE mode and tracking mode may be time-division multiplexed.
  • the radar transmitter is one of the most expensive portions of a radar tracking system. Therefore, by using the RFDE transmitter 12 and antenna 14 to function as the radar transmitter and antenna for targeting, the cost of the targeting system can be drastically reduced. Also, using the radar return of the RFDE high power beam itself to determine the target location can substantially improve the beam pointing accuracy of the RFDE system 30. By using the RFDE high power beam to determine the location of the target, the power density on target will be maximized when standard radar tracking techniques are employed (e.g., monopulse, continuous scan, etc.).
  • the RFDE transmitter 12 can be any transmitter suitable for transmitting an RFDE high power beam.
  • the RFDE transmitter 12 may be a single or multiple tube source, or solid state source.
  • the antenna 14 can be any type of suitable high power antenna which can be mechanically and/or electronically pointed and scanned via the antenna pointing system 24.
  • the transmitter/antenna can also be comprised of an active electronically steered array (AESA), for example, where an array of high power amplifiers/antennas is utilized.
  • AESA active electronically steered array
  • the radar receive antenna 34 can be any type of suitable antenna for receiving the radar return signals. As with the antenna 14, the radar receive antenna 34 is mechanically and/or electronically pointed and scanned via the antenna pointing system 24.
  • the antenna pointing system 24 can be a mechanical gimbal or a beam steering computer controlling phase shifters in an electronically steerable array.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment representing how a tracking system can be integrated with an RFDE system.
  • Fig. 3 illustrates an RFDE system 40 in which the power amplifier of the tracking system is integrated within the power amplifier of the RFDE system.
  • the RFDE transmitter 12 includes a low power RFDE signal source 42 operating at a first frequency and input to an adder 44.
  • the output of the adder 44 is input to a power amplifier 46 which amplifies the output before being radiated by the transmit antenna 14.
  • a low power radar signal source 48 at a second frequency is also input to the adder 44.
  • the low power radar signal source 48 is input to the radar receiver 32 to provide for coherent processing.
  • the adder 44 thus outputs the combined RFDE signal source and radar signal source to the power amplifier 46.
  • the power amplifier 46 can be any suitable type of amplifier including, for example, an injection locked magnetron, a klystron, a solid-state amplifier, etc., or an array of any of these types of amplifiers in an AESA embodiment.
  • a separate low power radar signal from the signal source 48 is used. This signal is combined with the RFDE signal from the RFDE signal source 42 prior to the combined signal being amplified by the power amplifier 46.
  • the frequencies of the RFDE signal and the radar signal do not have to be at the same frequency. In fact, they can be completely independent of each other within the bandwidth constraints of the power amplifier 46 and the RFDE transmit antenna 14. It will be appreciated that significant isolation can be achieved between the RFDE and radar signals by filtering out the RFDE signal at the receive antenna 34 and/or radar receiver 32.
  • the RFDE system 40 of Fig. 3 may operate in an RFDE mode and a targeting mode. As in the other embodiments described herein, such modes may be carried out simultaneously or in time-multiplexed fashion. In the case where the RFDE signal source 42 and radar signal source 48 are different, one may consider such operation as frequency-multiplexed as will be appreciated.
  • Fig. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of the present invention.
  • the RFDE system 50 integrates the radar receive antenna into the same antenna 14 serving as the RFDE and radar transmit antenna. This is accomplished by means of a high power circulator 52 which routes the RFDE/radar transmit signals from the shared transmitter 12 through to the antenna 14. Reflected signals received by the antenna are routed by the circulator 52 to the receiver 32 for processing.
  • the RFDE transmit signal may also be the radar transmit signal.
  • the return signal is received by the same antenna 14 and coupled through the circulator 52 to the receiver 32.
  • the radar system thus can provide target information feedback to the antenna pointing system 24.
  • the high power circulator 52 can be problematic in that it can be difficult to design a circulator that can handle the typical total power radiated by an RFDE system. Nevertheless, with improvements in materials and technologies such a circulator may someday be commercially feasible. Furthermore, the embodiment of Fig. 4 certainly is very suitable for an AESA system where the output power is broken-up among an array of transmit elements as discussed in more detail below.
  • Fig. 5 illustrates a radar system 32" which functions essentially independently of the RFDE system 60 with the exception of sharing a dual polarized antenna 14.
  • the RFDE system transmits the RFDE high power beam from the transmitter 12 via the dual polarized antenna 14 using one polarization (e.g., vertical, right hand circular, etc.).
  • the radar system 32' with its own transmitter/receiver, transmits the radar transmit signal via the antenna 14 using the orthogonal polarization (e.g., horizontal, left hand circular, etc.).
  • the reflected radar return signal received by the antenna 14 is processed by the radar system 32' to provide target location information, again using conventional techniques.
  • the location information is provided to the integrated targeting system 38 which provides the information to the antenna pointing system 24.
  • the embodiment of Fig. 5 can be used to provide tracking information and/or is especially suitable for providing range information for the RFDE system.
  • Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment in which AESAs or phased array antennas may be incorporated within the present invention.
  • the embodiment of Fig. 6 is fundamentally the same as the embodiment of Fig. 3, with the exception that the power amplifier 46 is represented by an array of power amplifiers 46' included with the RFDE/radar transmit AESA antenna 14.
  • the radar receive antenna 34 may similarly comprise an AESA antenna.
  • the combined signal from the adder 44 is input to a power splitter 72 within the AESA antenna 14.
  • the power splitter 72 separates the signal and provides the split signal to respective phase shifters 74 and power amplifiers 46' corresponding to respective radiator elements 14' in the antenna 14.
  • the antenna pointing system 24 may steer the antenna 14 by adjusting the phase of the phase shifters 74, as will be appreciated.
  • the radar source 48 and RFDE source 42 can be at different frequencies and still radiate in the same direction.
  • the phase shifters 74 are selected to provide a true time delay (which is fairly common in the art), the antenna 14 may be steered concurrently for both frequencies.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment in which the system is employed on an aircraft.
  • the combined RFDE/radar transmitter 12 and antenna 14 (not shown), for example, are mounted to radiate out the side of the aircraft.
  • a pod is then mounted beneath the aircraft, containing the radar receiver 32 and receive antenna 34 (also not shown).
  • Fig. 8 shows an embodiment in which the RFDE system of the present invention can be employed on a wheeled vehicle.
  • the RFDE and radar systems are mounted in the back of the vehicle and share a common antenna.
  • One possible such system 80 is shown in Fig. 9.
  • a high power RFDE source 12 radiates into a beam transport system comprised of mirrors (e.g., 82) suitable for the frequency of operation.
  • a cross-polarized radar transrhit signal from the radar system 32' is then injected into the RFDE beam path by means of a beam combiner/splitter 84.
  • the RFDE and radar transmit signal are then simultaneously transmitted from the common antenna 14, in this embodiment a reflector-type antenna.
  • the radar return signal is received by the antenna 14 and directed back to the cross-polarized radar system 32' via the mirrors 82 and beam combiner/splitter 84.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

Un système RFDE comprend un émetteur-récepteur RFDE (12) et au moins une antenne RFDE (14, 14'). L'émetteur-récepteur RFDE (12) et l'antenne (14, 14') dirigent l'énergie électromagnétique de grande puissance vers une cible, suffisamment pour entraîner un dommage énergétique élevé ou une gêne de la cible. Le système RFDE comprend également un système de ciblage (38) pour localiser la cible. Le système de ciblage comprend un émetteur-récepteur radar (48) et au moins une antenne radar (14, 34) pour l'émission et la réception d'énergie électromagnétique pour localiser la cible. Le système RFDE comprend également un système de pointage d'antenne (24) pour diriger la ou les antennes RFDE (14, 14') vers la cible selon l'emplacement de la cible vérifié par le système de ciblage (38). De plus, au moins une partie de l'émetteur-récepteur radar (48) ou la (les) antenne(s) radar (14, 34) est intégrée dans au moins une partie de l'émetteur-récepteur RFDE (12) ou la (les) antenne(s) RFDE (14, 14').
EP07716958A 2007-01-24 2007-01-24 Système d'énergie multifonctionnel dirige par radiofréquence Not-in-force EP2106525B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2007/001831 WO2008091250A1 (fr) 2007-01-24 2007-01-24 Système d'énergie multifonctionnel dirige par radiofréquence

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2106525A1 true EP2106525A1 (fr) 2009-10-07
EP2106525B1 EP2106525B1 (fr) 2012-08-29

Family

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07716958A Not-in-force EP2106525B1 (fr) 2007-01-24 2007-01-24 Système d'énergie multifonctionnel dirige par radiofréquence

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2106525B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2010517035A (fr)
AU (1) AU2007344661B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2669898C (fr)
IL (1) IL198754A (fr)
WO (1) WO2008091250A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102010053896A1 (de) * 2010-12-09 2012-06-14 Lfk-Lenkflugkörpersysteme Gmbh Zielbekämpfungssystem
JP6127369B2 (ja) * 2012-03-16 2017-05-17 日本電気株式会社 レーダ装置およびレーダ探知方法
JP2015081787A (ja) * 2013-10-21 2015-04-27 三菱電機株式会社 Ｒｃｓ低減装置および着脱可能装備品
WO2020234564A1 (fr) * 2019-05-23 2020-11-26 Bae Systems Plc Unité de redirection aéroportée pour dévier un faisceau d'énergie radiofréquence

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JPS58195799A (ja) * 1982-05-12 1983-11-15 株式会社日立製作所 高速移動物体の破壊方法
JPH01121698A (ja) * 1987-11-05 1989-05-15 Mitsubishi Electric Corp レーザ照射装置
JPH0273182A (ja) * 1988-09-07 1990-03-13 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 送受信制御装置
US5936229A (en) * 1996-04-02 1999-08-10 Trw Inc. Tracking means for distant ballistic missile targets comprising means for tracking largest radius of curvature
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2106525B1 (fr) 2012-08-29
CA2669898C (fr) 2012-04-03
WO2008091250A1 (fr) 2008-07-31
AU2007344661B2 (en) 2011-06-09
CA2669898A1 (fr) 2008-07-31
AU2007344661A1 (en) 2008-07-31
JP2010517035A (ja) 2010-05-20
IL198754A (en) 2014-04-30
IL198754A0 (en) 2010-02-17

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