Passive aerial protection system

Abstract

A disclosed aerial protection system relies on the principle of disrupting horizontal flight of an attacking aircraft toward the facility it protects. By disrupting the aircraft's flight, the system helps reduce concentration of any impact and fire from the aircraft. The system includes a number of support masts disposed about an area of terrain enclosing a facility, and a plurality of cable groups that each include a multitude of cables. The cables in each group are coupled to an adjacent pair of the support masts and extend substantially coplanar with the support masts. The cables are separated from each other at a spacing that is comparable to (and preferably slightly less than) a typical wingspan of an aircraft from a class of interest. Numerous variations and methods are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A system for protecting a facility against aerial attack, comprising: 
 (a) a multitude of vertical support masts disposed about an area of terrain enclosing a facility; and    (b) a plurality of cable groups that each include a multitude of cables, wherein for each group, a plurality of the cables are coupled to and substantially coplanar with an adjacent pair of the support masts;    (c) wherein the cables are spaced to disrupt horizontal flight of an aircraft toward the facility.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the cables of each cable group are separated from each other by a horizontal spacing comparable to a typical wingspan of an aircraft from a class of interest.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the cables of each cable group are separated from each other by a horizontal spacing in the range of about 50-200% of the typical wingspan of an aircraft from a class of interest.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the cables of each cable group are separated from each other by a horizontal spacing of about 75% of the typical wingspan of an aircraft from a class of interest.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the multitude of masts are arranged in a polygonal arrangement and include at least four support masts.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of partially buried concrete base structures, wherein each one of the support masts is embedded in a respective one of the base structures.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of partially buried concrete anchors, each disposed between an adjacent pair of the support masts and each connecting to some of the cables of the cable group.