Technical Field

The invention relates to a close-in weapon system that autonomously performs target detection, tracking, prioritization, firing and/or target kill assessment to be used in the defense industry.

Prior Art and Background Information

In the present art, low-caliber conventional ammunition is used in the defense systems used in the defense sector, and the effectiveness against the target is ensured by the direct hit of the ammunition to the target. In conventional systems, weapons which have very high firing rates are used to achieve the expected effectiveness. In this case, a large number of ammunitions are fired, and short ranges of effectiveness are obtained.

Some of the similar systems used in another existing technique do not have the precision tracking capability provided by the tracking radar and electro-optical suite. Also, some systems do not have autonomous target destruction and target kill assessment capabilities.

As a result of a research on the subject, application number WO2021048474A1 was found. The application describes a defense robot that can operate autonomously. The robot in question can automatically perform target detection, tracking and destruction. Here, a computer analyzes the target and decides which target to hit and which weapon to use depending on the type of target. It is mentioned that it can contain more than one type of weapon to ensure this. However, there is no information in the application document that the robot in question can fire accurately while in motion. It is not mentioned that it can be mounted on a moving platform, and it cannot fire different types of ammunition from the same type of weapon. It cannot receive target data from an external sensor and cannot share the detected target data. While the sensor tracks a target, the weapon cannot begin firing to other target received from an external sensor.

As a result, due to the above-mentioned disadvantages and the inadequacy of the existing solutions on the subject, it was deemed necessary to make an improvement in the relevant technical field. Purpose of the Invention

The main purpose of the invention is to provide a close-in weapon system that autonomously performs target detection, tracking, prioritization, firing and/or target kill assessment to be used in the defense industry.

Another purpose of the invention is to acquire high fire power with a double barrel, thanks to the ability to program medium-caliber airburst ammunition.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide the optimization of destruction costs and efficiency according to the target type by loading two types of ammunition at the same time and selecting and firing the desired ammunition in accordance with the target type.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide precise target tracking with tracking radar and electro-optical suites.

Another purpose of the invention is to increase safety and optimize target tracking performance by enabling target tracking sensors and weapons to be guided separately.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide the weapon to engage another target with an external sensor data provided while a target is being tracked with the target tracking systems on the system.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide the ability to transmit and receive target information from the platform in which it is located, thanks to the management unit it contains.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide the autonomous execution of operations such as target search, detection, tracking and prioritization without any operator intervention.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide the ballistic calculations and target position estimations required to effectively fire to the target autonomously without any operator intervention.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide an autonomous decision to be made, without any operator intervention, that conditions suitable for firing have been established and that firing may commence. Another purpose of the invention is to provide the operator with kill assessment information of the target that is under firing.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide automatic calculation of the miss-distance between ammunitions and the target during firing to target, and to correct the firing by using this information in subsequent firings.

The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all its advantages will be more clearly understood by means of the following figures and the detailed description with reference to these figures.

Description of Figures

Figure 1 is a representative block diagram view of the autonomous defense system which is the subject of the invention.

Figure 2 is a representative flow diagram of the working principle of the autonomous close-in weapon system which is the subject of the invention.

Description of Part References

1. User control unit

2. Searching unit

3. Tracking unit

3.1. Tracking Platform Computer

3.2. Tracking radar

3.3. EO Sensors

4. Destruction unit

4.1. Fire control computer

4.2. Ammunition programming unit

4.3. Ammunition

5. Auxiliary unit

5.1. Data distribution unit

6. Management unit Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the preferred embodiments of the invention are described only for a better understanding of the subject matter and without any limiting effect.

The invention is a close-in weapon system used on surface ships of naval forces, especially in the defense industry, which autonomously performs target detection, tracking, prioritization, firing and/or target kill assessment, and uses airburst ammunitions for target destruction. It can also be used as a land forces system.

The invention autonomous close-in weapon system comprises,

• an user control unit (1) that provides an interface through which commands are entered by the operator,

• a searching unit (2) that searches for targets in the environment in accordance with the command entered by the operator into the control unit (1),

• a tracking unit (3) which follows one of the tracks determined by the searching unit (2) as a result of the search,

• a destruction unit (4) which enables the target tracked by the tracking unit (3) to be fired automatically or manually via the user control unit (1),

• a management unit (6) which transmits the track information to the tracking unit (3) and receives the information of the tracked target from the tracking unit (3),

• an auxiliary unit (5) that provides energy to the system by converting the power received from the platform where it is located by the inverters it contains to the voltage values required by the system, and a communication interface that provides communication between the system and the platform.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system in question is used on surface ships and is mainly responsible for self-defense. It performs the ship's last point defense against anti-ship G/Ms (Guided Missile), cruise G/Ms, and sea skimming G/Ms. The system provides the energy it needs by converting the power received from the ship to the required voltage values by the inverters in the auxiliary unit (5). The auxiliary unit (5) meets the power requirements of the electronic and electro-mechanical subsystems that the system needs for the execution of its mission and performs signal distribution operations. The user control unit (1 ) provides a graphical user interface to the system operator for the operation of all functions of the system. The user control unit (1) provides the system operator to perform fire control and firing operations, target tracking operations and display sensor images to the operator. The operator enters the orders or target selection information which wants the system to execute into an interface provided by the user control unit (1). Within the scope of the capabilities of the management unit (6), the system has the necessary interface so that similar features can also be performed by the management unit (6).

While performing its task, the system analyzes the track data detected by the searching unit (2) and/or the track data provided externally by the management unit (6), and all data are sorted by a prioritizer in the tracking platform computer (3.1) according to the threat assessment priority. Depending on the operating mode, the system starts tracking manually or automatically through the tracking unit (3). The target, which is the output of the tracking unit (3), is destroyed by the destruction unit (4) automatically by directing the destruction unit (4) on the target, or by the destruction unit (4) with the user order entered in the control unit (1). Here, the tracking unit (3) consists of tracking radar (3.2) and EO sensors (electro-optical sensors) (3.3) and performs target tracking functions.

The software running on the fire control computer (4.1) in the destruction unit (4) performs tasks such as ballistic and dynamic interception calculations required to fire at the tracked target, directing the firing line in accordance with the calculated interception angles, feeding ammunition to the weapons, setting up and firing the weapons, and programming the airburst ammunition (4.3) by the ammunition programming unit (4.2). Two types of ammunition can be loaded into the system at the same time. In addition, while feeding ammunition to the weapons, the desired ammunition type can be selected and fired in accordance with the target type. Thus, destruction costs and effectiveness can be optimized according to the target type. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is an unmanned destruction unit (4) with stabilization capability, located on the auxiliary unit (5) to be integrated into the ship, which allows the 35 mm diameter, parallel axis double gun to be directed to the desired bearing and elevation angles.

With the invention, the ammunition programming unit (4.2) can program and fire mediumcaliber airburst ammunition and obtain high firing rates with its double barrel. Precise target tracking is possible with the tracking radar (3.2) and EO sensors (3.3). The tracking unit (3) and the weapon can be guided separately. This increases weapon safety and optimizes target tracking performance. At the same time, while tracking a target with the tracking unit (3) on the system, the destruction unit (4) can be engaged to another target with an external sensor data provided from the ship. Operations such as target search, detection, tracking and prioritization can be performed autonomously without operator intervention. Ballistic calculations and target position estimations required for effective target engagement can be performed autonomously without any operator intervention. It can be decided without any operator intervention that the conditions are suitable for firing and that firing can be started. Information on the destruction of the target can be displayed to the operator. As a result of the firingto the target, it is possible to automatically calculate how far the ammunitions have missed the target, and corrections can be made using this information in subsequent firings. It has a modular architecture, and the search and tracking radars can be located on the gun turret or anywhere on the ship's platform.