Air defense system for anti-aircraft combat comprizing counter counter measures device to trigger the counter measure of the aircraft prior launching anti-aircraft missile at the aircraft
The invention refers to an air defense system comprising at least one counter countermeasures device, and at least one anti-aircraft weapon system and to an anti-aircraft combat method comprising said air defense system. The counter countermeasures device is configured for generating and emitting electromagnetic radiation of appropriate wavelengths, i.e. simulated missiles, that mimic real anti-aircraft missiles, and, in this way, the anti-aircraft missile launch warning and detection system (MLWDS) installed on aircrafts are deceived and the countermeasures are released. The operation of the counter countermeasures device and of the anti-aircraft weapon system, i.e. emitting of simulated missiles and launching of anti-aircraft missiles, is coordinated. The counter countermeasures device is implemented as a standalone device or is attached to or is integrated into the anti-aircraft weapon system. With the proposed air defense system and method, the efficiency of the anti-aircraft combat is highly improved, i.e. the probability of the target hit is highly improved.
1 . An air defense system configured for anti-aircraft combat, wherein said system is comprised of:
at least one counter countermeasures device 1 configured for generating and emitting simulated missiles 3 b , with electromagnetic (EM) radiation of wavelengths that mimics real anti-aircraft missiles 21 , which are detected by an anti-aircraft missile warning and detection system 11 installed on an aircraft 10 and
at least one anti-aircraft weapon system 20 with embedded weapon electronic circuit 20 a , and configured for launching at least one anti-aircraft missile 21 , and
a sensor subsystem 30 located on the counter countermeasures device 1 and configured for detecting and acquiring information about the aircraft 10 before generating and emitting simulated missiles 3 b ;
wherein said counter countermeasures device 1 is configured as a standalone hand-held device, or configured to be attached to the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 via a mounting rail, or integrated into a vehicle housing the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 , and wherein emitting of simulated missiles 3 b and launching of anti-aircraft missiles 21 are coordinated such that the counter countermeasures device 1 emits the EM radiation for a first duration to elicit a spoofing of a missile warning alarm on the aircraft 10 prior to the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 firing the anti-aircraft missile 21 .
2 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the counter countermeasures device 1 comprises an EM source unit 3 , an electronic control circuit 4 with processing, memory, and circuitry for driving the EM source unit 3 , a trigger unit 5 , and a power unit 6 ,
wherein the EM source unit 3 comprises at least one EM source 3 a and is configured for emitting simulated missiles 3 b defined by a plurality of simulated missiles, wherein each simulated missile 3 b is defined by a profile which comprises duration, wavelength and intensity of EM radiation emitted by EM source unit 3 ,
wherein the trigger unit 5 is configured for selecting the profile of the simulated missile 3 b or a sequence thereof, and for activating the EM source unit 3 of the counter countermeasures device 1 and
wherein the electronic control circuit 4 is configured for driving the EM source unit 3 , for storing the profiles of simulated missiles 3 b and sequences thereof in a memory, for receiving an input from the trigger unit 5 and for running a counter countermeasures software module which operates the counter countermeasures device 1 .
3 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the electronic control circuit 4 has connection means 7 for enabling a wired or wireless connection between the electronic control circuit 4 and an external computer for programming the electronic control circuit 4 , the programming including uploading, modifying, and updating the profiles of the simulated missiles 3 b.
4 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the counter countermeasures device 1 comprises an EM source unit 3 comprising multiple EM sources 3 a emitting light of the same wavelength or emitting light of different wavelengths operating simultaneously and/or with a time shifted difference, and wherein the EM sources 3 a are arranged in arrays, each individual array emitting light of the same wavelength or emitting light of different wavelengths.
5 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the EM source unit 3 is configured for emitting UV light in solar blind region, and/or IR light in short wave region -SWIR, or medium wave region-MWIR, and/or laser light in IR region-SWIR region, or UV light in solar blind region.
6 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the counter countermeasures device 1 additionally comprises a mechanical or optical sight 8 installed on top or side position of an enclosure 2 into which the counter countermeasures device 1 is installed.
7 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the counter countermeasures device 1 additionally comprises an attachment harness 9 for attachment of the device 1 onto the anti-aircraft weapon systems 20 when configured to be attached to the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 via the mounting rail.
8 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 additionally comprises a weapon connection means 7 a configured for connecting the weapon electronic circuit 20 a with the electronic control circuit 4 on the counter countermeasures device 1 .
9 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the air defense system additionally includes a sensor subsystem 30 configured for detecting and acquiring information about the aircraft 10 , and/or for detecting, analyzing, and recording or counting ejected flares 12 , and/or for sensing of IR lasers emitted from directional infrared countermeasures systems on the aircraft 10 .
10 . The air defense system according to claim 9 , wherein the sensor subsystem 30 is located on the counter countermeasures device 1 .
11 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the counter countermeasures device 1 is located proximate to the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 , or the counter countermeasures device 1 is located at a remote location relative to the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 .
12 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein a triggering sequence of the counter countermeasures device 1 and of the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 is done manually, or when the counter countermeasures device 1 at a remote location relative to the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 , the triggering of the counter countermeasures device 1 and of the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 is done remotely via wired or wireless communication using at least one of the group consisting of copper, WiFi, LoRa, specific military link, directional microwave link or laser based communication link.
13 . The air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the triggering sequence of the counter countermeasures device 1 and of the anti-aircraft weapon system 20 is controlled by a synchronization software module, wherein said synchronization software module runs on the electronic control circuit 4 of the counter countermeasures device 1 or on an additional electronic circuit with processing, memory storage and communication possibilities, wherein the additional electronic circuit is through the connection means 7 , 7 a connected to the electronic control circuit 4 and/or to the weapon electronic circuit 20 a.
14 . An anti-aircraft combat method comprising the air defense system according to claim 1 , wherein the method comprises:
step A: emitting a simulated missile 3 b or a sequence of simulated missiles 3 b in a direction, frontally, sideways or at the rear of an aircraft 10 once the aircraft 10 is within an operating range of the counter countermeasures device 1 ;
step B: locking an anti-aircraft missile 21 onto the aircraft 10 and launching the anti-aircraft missile 21 towards the aircraft 10 .
15 . The anti-aircraft combat method according to claim 14 , wherein the method further includes a step of detecting and assessing information about the aircraft 10 by a sensor subsystem 30 , wherein said step is performed prior to step A.
16 . The anti-aircraft combat method according to claim 14 , wherein step B follows step A.
17 . The anti-aircraft combat method according to claim 14 , wherein step A and step B are at least partly simultaneous.
18 . The anti-aircraft combat method according to claim 16 , wherein the method further includes a step of detecting if the aircraft 10 has released countermeasures 12 by a sensor subsystem 30 , wherein said step is executed prior to step B.