Apparatus and System to Counter Drones Using a Shoulder-Launched Aerodynamically Guided Missile

Abstract

A battlefield weapon system is proposed to counter the threat posed by small drones. The main system element is an aerodynamically guided missile that is compatible with existing multipurpose shoulder launched weapon systems. The system is fully portable for dispersed deployment among infantry.

1 . A system to counteract unmanned aerial vehicles comprising a missile that embodies the following components and features:
 a. compatibility with existing multipurpose shoulder mounted rocket system(s) that have the capability to launch a variety of different rocket types;   b. flight (lift) and maneuvering capability that are provided by aerodynamic forces acting upon the body and fins, or wings, of the missile;   c. the capability to closely encounter the target whereby the target is destroyed or disabled, whether as a result of direct impact or explosion of an onboard warhead; and   d. flight control that is actuated by moveable aerodynamic control surfaces fitted to the missile.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the system is intended to be used against alternate target types, including without limitation other aircraft types (manned and unmanned), vehicles, watercraft, personnel and ground installations. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein there is a guidance system onboard the missile, including without limitation, a camera and a means of guiding the missile on the basis of the images from the camera. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the missile incorporates inertial measurement of linear acceleration and/or rotation. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein flight surfaces, wings or fins are partially or wholly retracted prior to launch and then are extended after launch. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the missile uses two-axis attitude control, such as pitch and roll. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the missile uses three-axis attitude control, such as pitch, roll and yaw. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the guidance system is initiated by sighting the launch tube towards the target prior to launch. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an onboard target tracking camera and/or its associated mount and signal processing electronics is/are provided with image stabilization, including but not limited to the possibilities of electronic stabilization (including translational and rotational stabilization), opto-mechanical stabilization based on movement of one or more lens elements, optical sensor movement (rotational and/or translational) and mechanical or electromechanical stabilization of the camera and/or camera mount in one or more axes. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a target tracking image stabilization system that uses attitudinal feed forward from one of or some combination of: on-board gyros, target motion prediction and/or its flight control system. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the guidance system uses target motion prediction, whether or not the motion prediction takes target range as an input.