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US-12624928-B2 - Explosively formed active water barrier RPG protection system and method for maritime vessels

US12624928B2US 12624928 B2US12624928 B2US 12624928B2US-12624928-B2

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and system to provide protection for maritime vessels from multiple threat types including shoulder launched rocket propelled threats, ballistic (howitzer), and larger scale missile systems. According to an exemplary embodiment, the protection system is based on the ballistic launch (from the protected vessel) of an explosive charge(s) aimed ˜5 meters away from the vessel and ˜1 meter beneath the waterline followed by detonation to enable the formation of a water wall. Through the formation of a water wall, incident threats can be initiated (piezo fuze) and passivated through dynamic interaction with the water formation. In addition, the upward velocity of the water wall can enable an upwards rotation of the incident threat changing the orientation of the warhead jet formation (for shape charge warheads) above the vessel.

Inventors

  • Raymond Gamache
  • William G. Szymczak

Assignees

  • THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230105

Claims (12)

  1. 1 . An active defense system comprising: a launcher configured to launch an explosive countermeasure into water; an active infrared (IR) detection device configured to detect a target projectile and cue a radar; the radar configured to track the target projectile; and a targeting system configured to enable the launcher, based at least in part on detection of the target projectile, an interception position, and an engagement window timing, wherein the explosive countermeasure is configured to detonate at a target distance and form a water barrier.
  2. 2 . The active defense system of claim 1 , wherein the active IR detection device and radar are configured to determine a trajectory of the target projectile and launch the explosive countermeasure based at least in part on the trajectory of the target projectile intercepting a maritime vessel.
  3. 3 . The active defense system of claim 1 , wherein the explosive countermeasure travels approximately 5 meters from a side of a maritime vessel and 1 meter beneath the waterline.
  4. 4 . The active defense system of claim 1 , wherein an upward velocity of the water barrier is 100 to 160 feet/second.
  5. 5 . The active defense system of claim 1 , further comprising: launching multiple explosive countermeasures.
  6. 6 . The active defense system of claim 1 , wherein the radar is a passive radar, and the active IR detection device and the radar enable detection/tracking of the target projectile at 200 meters or more.
  7. 7 . An active defense method, the method comprising: detecting, by an active infrared (IR) detection device, a target projectile; cueing, by the active IR detection device, a radar by providing range, bearing, elevation, and speed of the target projectile; tracking, by the radar, the target projectile, wherein the tracking is based at least in part on the cueing; enabling, by a targeting system, to launch an explosive countermeasure based at least in part on an interception position and an engagement window timing, and detonating the explosive countermeasure at a target distance, wherein the detonation forms a water barrier.
  8. 8 . The active defense of claim 7 , wherein the active IR detection device and radar are configured to detect and determine a trajectory of the target projectile and launch the explosive countermeasure based at least in part on the trajectory of the target projectile intercepting the maritime vessel.
  9. 9 . The active defense of claim 7 , wherein the explosive countermeasure travels approximately 5 meters from a side of a maritime vessel and 1 meter beneath the waterline.
  10. 10 . The active defense of claim 7 , wherein an upward velocity of the water barrier is 100 to 160 feet/second.
  11. 11 . The active defense of claim 7 , further comprising: launching multiple explosive countermeasures.
  12. 12 . The active defense of claim 7 , wherein the radar is a passive radar, and the active IR detection device and the radar enable detection of the target projectile at 200 meters or more.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT(S) AND APPLICATION(S) This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/296,847, filed Jan. 5, 2022, and entitled Explosively Formed Water Barrier RPG Protection for Maritime Vessels, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. BACKGROUND This disclosure, and the exemplary embodiments described herein, describe methods and systems for explosively actively formed water barrier RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) protection system and method for maritime vessels. The implementation described herein is related to a systems and methods for implementation in a maritime vessel, however it is to be understood that the scope of this disclosure is not limited to such application. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE The following publications are incorporated by reference in their entirety. [Ref. 1] R. Gamache, F. Albert, and J. Blair, “Riverine Active & Passive Rocket Propelled Grenade Defense Study,” Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren VA, 29 Oct. 2013.[Ref. 2] C. E. Higdon, “Water Barrier Ship Self-Defense Concept,” NSWCDD/MP-94/94, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va., 1994, pp. 140-153.[Ref. 3] J. G. Connor and C. E. Higdon, “Water Barrier Line Charge Plume Video Analysis,” NSCWDD/TR-96/178, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va., 1996.[Ref. 4] J. T. Choe, K. A. Boulais, K. A. Chun, and K. A. Irwin, “Microwave Probe for Mass Measurements of a Water Plume,” NSWCDD/TR-95/187, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va., 1995.[Ref. 5] L. Lipton, “Probe Measurement of Water Mass of Plumes Produced by Underwater Detonations,” IHTR 1757, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head Division, Indian Head, Md., 1995.[Ref. 6] C. E. Higdon, W. G. Szymczak, and J. G. Conner “Analysis of Water Barrier Line Charge Plume Measurements,” NSWCDD/TR-97/210, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va., 1998.[Ref. 7] W. G. Szymczak and J. M. Solomon, “Computations and Experiments of Shallow Depth Explosion Plumes,” NSWCDD/TR-94/156, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, Va., 1996.[Ref. 8] W. G. Szymczak and C. E. Higdon, “Model Validations and Predictions for Water Barrier Defense,” NRL/FR/7130-98-9880, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, 1998.[Ref. 9] R. H. Cole, Underwater Explosions (Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J., 1948) Ch. 8, pp. 270-353.[Ref. 10] W. G. Szymczak, J. C. W. Rogers, J. M. Solomon, and A. E. Berger, “A Numerical Algorithm for Hydrodynamic Free Boundary Problems,” J. Comp. Phys. 106, 319-336 (1993).[Ref. 11] J. C. W. Rogers and W. G. Szymczak, “Computations of Violent Surface Motions: Comparisons with Theory and Experiment,” Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. 355(A), 649-663 (1997).[Ref. 12] Szymczak, W. G., Zien, T. F., Hsieh, T. and Pham, K., “BUB3D-RB Formulation Guide,” NRL/FR/7130-05-10130, November, 2006.[Ref. 13] W. G. Szymczak, S. L. Means, and J. C. W. Rogers, “Computations of bubble formations and pulsations generated by impacting cylindrical water jets,” Journal of Engineering Mathematics, 48, 375-389, (2004)[Ref. 14] H. G. Snay, J. F. Goertner, and R. S. Price, “Small Scale Experiments to Determine Migration of Explosion Gas Globes Towards Submarines,” NAVORD Report 2280, Naval Ordnance Laboratory, Silver Spring, Md., 1952.[Ref. 15] M. J. Swisdak, Jr., “Explosion Effects and Properties: Part II—Explosion Effects in Water,” NSWC/WOL TR 76-116, Naval Surface Weapons Center, White Oak Laboratory, Silver Spring, Md., 1978.[Ref. 16] V. K. Kedrinskii, “Surface Effects from an Underwater Explosion (Review),” J. of Appl. Mech. and Tech. Phys. 19(4), 474-491 (1979).[Ref. 17] J. R. Blake, B. B. Taib, and G. Doherty, “Transient Cavities near Boundaries. Part 1. Rigid Boundary,” J. Fluid Mech. 170, 479-497 (1986).[Ref. 18] G. A. Young, “Dispersion of the Chemical Products of Underwater Explosions,” NSWC TR 82-404, Naval Surface Weapons Center, Dahlgren, Va., December, 1984.[Ref. 19] W. L. Fourney, D. J. Goodings, R. J. Bonenberger, and H. U. Leiste, “Visualization of Cratering in an Underwater Environment,” FRAGBLAST: The International Journal of Blasting and Fragmentation, 6, (1), 1-20, (2002).[Ref. 20] DYSMAS User's Manual, NSWC Indian Head Division, Indian Head, MD, DYSMAS Verison 6.5.03, 30 Apr. 2013.[Ref. 21] A. Wardlaw and R. Ilamni, “Simulation of Underwater Explosion Cavitation Phenomena,” NSWC Indian Head Division, Indian Head, MD, IHTR 2589, May 28, 2004. BRIEF DESCRIPTION In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, disclosed is a system for an active defense system operatively associated with a maritime vessel, the active defense system detecting a target projectile, and in response to the detected target projectile, creating a water barrier proximately located near the target projectile, the active defense system comprising: a launcher to launch an explosive countermeasure into water within