RU2820537C1 - Electronic jamming device for unmanned aerial vehicles in short-range anti-aircraft missile system - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: weapons.

SUBSTANCE: electronic jamming device for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for joint operation with a short-range anti-aircraft missile system comprises a housing, made in form factor of transport-launch container of anti-aircraft guided missile with hinged cover, input amplifier, digital signal analysis unit based on fast Fourier transform, control and command generation unit, noise generator, power amplifier, multichannel microwave switch, antenna-waveguide system and director antennae of unmanned aerial vehicles with disc elements from electroconductive material for generation of directed electromagnetic fields, providing creation of interference in UAV control channels.

EFFECT: enabling increase in the effective counteraction to small-size UAVs.

1 cl, 4 dwg

Description

The invention relates to air defense systems, in particular to systems for combating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Low values of indicators of the effectiveness of defeating small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by air defense means necessitate the development and implementation of a set of special measures to organize counteraction to UAVs with active means, namely [1, 2]:

creation of a multifunctional air defense system, including one focused on countering UAVs, including various types of air defense systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, anti-aircraft missile systems, MANPADS, which have relatively high reconnaissance and fire capabilities in detecting and firing at small targets, as well as other promising means and methods of combat with UAV;

modernization of existing air defense systems - air defense systems, air defense missile systems and air defense systems, in the interests of increasing the effectiveness of the fight against small-sized and low-speed air targets;

use in advanced weapons designed to counter UAVs, electronic warfare equipment (REW) aimed at suppressing radio command lines (RCL) and signals, the most common satellite radio navigation systems (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, etc.) ;

development of promising weapons designed to detect and destroy UAVs;

implementation of a set of engineering and technical measures aimed at increasing the secrecy of own forces and means, as well as reducing the effectiveness of the use of UAVs.

To effectively counter small-sized UAVs, it is necessary to create a targeted countermeasures system, including both an “active” fire component (defeating UAVs with anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAM)) and a “passive” radio-electronic (non-fire) component [2].

The well-known analogue of the short-range anti-aircraft missile system “Strela-10M3” is designed to cover the combat formations of units of a motorized rifle (tank) regiment in mobile forms of combat and on the march from low-flying enemy air targets and has only an “active” fire component (defeating UAVs with missile defense fire) .

There is a known method of combating short-range and short-range unmanned aerial vehicles using electromagnetic radiation in the decimeter wavelength range (RU 2551821). The method consists in disabling the on-board control system of the UAV by inducing currents on its parasitic antennas. Achieving a technical result in this method consists of detecting an unmanned aerial vehicle, determining the distance to it, orienting the emitting antenna towards it, calculating the radiation power and generating electromagnetic radiation. The wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation are chosen in the range of 10-20 cm, and the radiation power of the antenna is set sufficient to induce currents on the parasitic antennas of the unmanned aerial vehicle and disable the on-board control system.

The disadvantages of the known method are the extremely high radiation power required for functional suppression, the need to calculate the radiation power and orient the emitting antenna towards the detected UAV, performed before the damaging effect using electromagnetic radiation in the decimeter wavelength range, as a result of which the known technical solution has low efficiency when used for its intended purpose in general due to the presence of only one damaging factor.

A device for electronic counteraction to unmanned aerial vehicles is known (patent No. RU 178484), which includes a housing, a first director antenna installed on the housing to form a directional electromagnetic field, ensuring the creation of interference in the UAV control channel, and a second director antenna for forming a directional electromagnetic field, ensuring the creation interference in the UAV geopositioning channel, and a power supply located in the housing. In this case, the first and second director antennas are made with disk conductive elements, while the housing houses the first generator unit of the control signal suppression channel, connected through the first power amplifier to the first director antenna, which ensures the creation of interference in the UAV control channel, as well as the second generator unit of the channel suppression of geopositioning signals, connected through a second power amplifier to the second director antenna, ensuring interference in the geopositioning channel of the UAV, and the power source is connected to generator units and power amplifiers.

The disadvantages of the device are the inability to determine the nationality of the UAV, short operating time in suppression mode when powered by a battery, insufficient power given the wearable size of the suppression device, to ensure accurate targeting of the target, a focus is required (tremor of the operator’s hands - at maximum range does not provide the required probability hitting the target), the need to provide protective equipment to the operator of the electronic countermeasures device against unmanned aerial vehicles (Fig. 1). Only one damaging factor is used, which, if aimed at the target inaccurately, does not provide the required probability of hitting it, which generally reduces its effectiveness when used for its intended purpose.

Of the studied analogues, the short-range anti-aircraft missile system “Strela-10M3” was taken as a prototype (see SHORT-RANGE ANTI-AIRMISSILE SYSTEM “STRELA-10”: textbook / B.K. Zhdanovich, V.A. Starun, V.N. Andreichenko and others - Moscow: MILITARY PUBLISHING ESTATE 1990 - 208 pp.), containing combat equipment, maintenance equipment and training equipment. The combat assets of the complex include: combat vehicles 9A34 and 9A35 (9A34M and 9A35M or 9A34M2 and 9A35M2); 9M37 missiles of various modifications.

The 9A35M2 combat vehicle is a multi-purpose tractor, light, armored (MT-LB), which contains (Fig. 2): a launcher with four guides; electric drive; equipment for launching anti-aircraft guided missiles; aiming means (coarse sighting device and optical sighting device); passive direction finder 9S16; zone assessment equipment; ground radar interrogator; means of communication and target designation; electrical equipment; additional equipment and spare parts. The anti-aircraft guided missile is designed to destroy low-flying air targets and consists of a container and the missile itself. The container acts as a guide when launching a rocket, and also protects the rocket from mechanical damage and atmospheric influences.

Currently, the prototype - the 9A35M2 combat vehicle with the 9S16 passive direction finder installed - has a set of means (devices) that provide independent detection, identification, and simultaneous firing of one air target with an anti-aircraft guided missile, but they have significant drawbacks.

The use of the Strela-10M3 short-range anti-aircraft missile system (Fig. 2) shows that this complex is capable of hitting aircraft-type mini-UAVs only in daytime conditions. The ability to fire the Strela-10M3 air defense system at this type of target is determined mainly by the target detection range by the operator and the range of capture by the homing head (GOS) of the missile defense system. The average detection range of aircraft-type mini-UAVs by the operator of the Strela-10M3 air defense system is 1.3-4.5 km, which is extremely short for effective shooting. The operator's use of the built-in optical sight in a limited search sector (with precise target designation) allows the detection range of a small target to be increased by 1.5-2.1 times. For similar reasons, the estimated acquisition ranges of the seeker for an aircraft-type mini-UAV missile defense system using a photocontrast channel (FC) will be low and amount to 2.8-3.5 km, and target acquisition via the IR channel is generally impossible due to its extremely weak thermal radiation. Moreover, the UAV of the Akila type is an outdated mini-UAV, removed from service, and modern mini-UAVs have 1.5-2 times smaller sizes and thermal contrast. In this regard, the effectiveness of firing at such targets will be even lower [3].

In the prototype taken, these combat weapons of the complex are only means of fire destruction, and do not provide optimal integration into a single multifunctional air defense system focused on countering UAVs, which also requires the presence of means of electronic suppression. To effectively counter small-sized UAVs, it is necessary to create a targeted countermeasures system, including both an “active” fire component (hitting the UAV with fire in the air) and a “passive” radio-electronic (non-fire) component [2].

In this regard, in order to ensure optimal integration into a single multifunctional air defense system, there is a need to develop and use a device for electronic countermeasures against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), designed to remotely disrupt the operation of control and geopositioning systems of UAVs in order to prevent the latter from carrying out flights through the proposal of implementation in composition of the 9A35M2 combat vehicle, a device for electronic suppression of unmanned aerial vehicles in a container-type short-range anti-aircraft missile system with the possibility of installation on the launcher of a combat vehicle, while the launcher is designed to guide a missile to a target, track the target and launch missiles.

The purpose of this technical solution is to increase the effectiveness of the destruction of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by short-range air defense systems (destruction of UAVs by fire in the air) through the development of electronic warfare equipment aimed at suppressing command radio control lines (CRU) and signals of the most common satellite radio navigation systems ( GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, etc.) and integrated into the existing air defense system.

To achieve this goal, a device is proposed for electronic suppression of unmanned aerial vehicles in a short-range anti-aircraft missile system (for electronic counteraction of UAVs), intended for remote disruption of the control and geopositioning systems of UAVs in order to prevent the latter from carrying out flights), containing a housing made in the form factor of the transport and launch container of an anti-aircraft guided missile with a hinged cover, an input amplifier, a digital signal analysis unit based on fast Fourier transformation, a control and command generation unit, an interference generator, a power amplifier, a multi-channel microwave switch, an antenna-waveguide system and director suppression antennas unmanned aerial vehicles with disk elements made of electrically conductive material for the formation of directed electromagnetic fields that ensure the creation of interference in the control channels of the UAV, characterized in that this device is additionally introduced into the composition of the air defense missile system combat vehicle, which will allow the signal analysis unit based on the signals available in the signal analysis unit fast Fourier transform of the typical characteristics of received electromagnetic signals, determine the type of UAV, the required parameters of the generated interference, determine the nationality of the UAV, increase the operating time in the suppression mode when powered by the standard power sources of the combat vehicle, increase the power of the suppression device, increase the accuracy of pointing at the target using electric drive and optical viewfinder, ensure protection of personnel from electromagnetic radiation. The use of several damaging factors will increase the likelihood of hitting a UAV, and in general will increase the effectiveness of the air defense system when used for its intended purpose.

The proposed device is shown in Fig. 4. The device contains a housing (22) in which an input amplifier (14) is located, which receives signals from the 9S16 passive direction finder of the air defense combat vehicle (7), carrying information about the characteristics of the detected UAV, a digital signal analysis unit based on the fast Fourier transform ( 15), control unit and command generation (16), interference generator (17), power amplifier (18), multi-channel microwave switch (19), antenna-waveguide system (20), director UAV suppression antennas (21) for forming directional electromagnetic fields that cause interference in the control and geopositioning channels of the UAV (director antennas are made with disk elements (23) made of electrically conductive material). The body (22) is made in the form factor of the 9D32 transport and launch container of an anti-aircraft guided missile. The entire anti-UAV module is mounted in a container with a hinged lid (22). The container performs the function of protecting equipment from mechanical damage and atmospheric influences.

In this case, the electronic suppression device for unmanned aerial vehicles will be powered from the combat vehicle’s standard power supplies (MT-LB power supply system (1), 9A35M2 power supply system (2) or 9I111 external power supply system (3)), which will significantly increase the operating time of the device electronic suppression of unmanned aerial vehicles, in contrast to anti-drone guns, which use supply voltage converters, batteries and chargers for power supply.

The device for electronic suppression of unmanned aerial vehicles in a short-range anti-aircraft missile system is turned on when the air defense system equipment is turned on from standard power sources (1, 2, 3). The air defense missile system is assigned the following tasks: detection by a passive radar station of the complex fact of a UAV raid and the formation of their trajectories; determining the nationality of the UAV; receiving and issuing target designation; pointing missile defense systems or directional antennas at UAVs; monitoring the effectiveness of the electronic control system for changing UAV flight trajectories; fire defeat of those UAVs that successfully overcame the influence of electronic warfare systems.

The launcher of the combat vehicle is mounted in the rear of the tractor on a ball chase and consists of a turret with a suspension, a machine tool and a cradle. The appearance of the launcher is shown in Fig. 3.

To aim at the target, the launcher (5) (Fig. 4) is equipped with guidance mechanisms with power servo drives (6). This launcher (5) will also be used to target a UAV container with a device for electronic suppression of unmanned aerial vehicles in a short-range anti-aircraft missile system.

To control the launcher (5) when aiming it at the target, use the guidance console (24), installed in front of the operator on a folding bracket. Vertical guidance is done by turning the control knobs up and down, horizontal guidance and moving the installation 180° by turning the remote control body left and right.

The passive radio direction finder (7) is a means of detecting air targets and detects and finds in azimuth low-flying air targets that have pulsed radio equipment on board. The direction finder (7) provides detection of air targets and determination of target azimuth; precise azimuth guidance of the launcher to the target; visual, light and sound indication of the signal received from the target; amplitude and azimuthal selection of air targets; issuance by the commander of the combat vehicle of target designation to the operator. In addition, the direction finder (7) will provide information to a digital signal analysis unit based on the fast Fourier transform (15). Based on the typical characteristics of the received electromagnetic signals available in the signal analysis unit based on the fast Fourier transform (15), the type of UAV and the required parameters of the generated interference are determined, which are used by the control unit and generation of commands (16) and the interference generator (17). Control signals from the control and command generation unit (16) and the interference generator (17) with generator units are supplied to a power amplifier (18), a multi-channel microwave switch (19), and an antenna-waveguide system (20). The operator of the combat vehicle, turning on the drive (24), switches the launcher (5) to the automatic target designation mode. Through the protective glass or using the sighting device (8), it visually detects the target. Next, the zone evaluation equipment (9) is turned on in the “Measurement” mode, and the position of the target relative to the boundaries of the launch zone is determined. The ground-based radar interrogator (11) is switched on to the general target identification mode and the nationality of the target is determined. When a target enters the launch zone, the zone evaluation equipment (9) emits a “Zone” signal to the launch equipment (13) and to the sighting device (8). After a decision is made to fire or electronically engage a target, either an anti-aircraft guided missile is launched, or interference is created in the control and geopositioning channels of the UAV by a device for electronic suppression of unmanned aerial vehicles in a short-range anti-aircraft missile system using UAV suppression director antennas (21). The use of disk elements (23) in the design of wave channel antennas (21) makes it possible to generate an electromagnetic field with both linear and circular (or elliptical) polarization of the signal, in contrast to traditional antennas having linear or frame elements, which are capable of generating only linear polarization, or spiral ones, in which it is only circular. Circular polarization has a much greater penetrating ability (for example, through foliage, which is a rather serious barrier to the propagation of microwave radio waves), and therefore is more effective when used in real conditions.

Technical result - increasing the effective counteraction to small-sized UAVs, it is necessary to create a targeted countermeasures system, including both an “active” fire component (hitting the UAV with fire in the air) and a “passive” radio-electronic (non-fire) component, characterized in that it is additionally included in the SAM combat vehicle a device for electronic suppression of unmanned aerial vehicles is being introduced in a short-range anti-aircraft missile system, which will make it possible to determine the nationality of the UAV, increase the operating time in suppression mode when powered by the combat vehicle’s standard power supplies, increase the power of the suppression device, increase the accuracy of targeting the target using electric drive and optical viewfinder, ensure protection of personnel from electromagnetic radiation. The use of several damaging factors will increase the likelihood of hitting a UAV, and in general will increase the effectiveness of the air defense system when used for its intended purpose.

Thus, the use of this device will ensure an increase in the effectiveness of countering small-sized UAVs with short-range air defense systems, and will make it possible to create a targeted countermeasures system, including both an “active” fire component (defeating UAVs with fire from anti-aircraft guided missiles (SAM)), and “passive” radio-electronic (non-fire ) component.

The simplicity of the design (executed in the form of a separate module mounted in the overall size of the transport and launch container of the missile defense system) of the proposed device allows it to be installed during mass production, as well as during the modernization of the BM of the air defense system and will not require significant material costs.

Information sources

1. Samoilov P.V., Ivanov K.A. Threats of using small UAVs and determining the most effective way to combat them // Young scientist. 2017. No. 45. pp. 59-65. - URL https://moluch.ru/archive/179/46398/ (access date: 07/3/2023).

2. Eremin G.V., Gavrilov A.D., Nazarchuk I.I. Organization of a system for combating small-sized UAVs // Arsenal of the Fatherland. 2014. No. 6 (14). - URL: http://arsenal-otechestva.ru/new/389-antidrone (access date 07/3/2023).

3. Eremin G.V., Gavrilov A.D., Nazarchuk I.I. Small-sized drones - a new problem for air defense // Courage [Electronic resource]. 01/29/2015. No. 6(14). - URL: http://otvaga2004.ru/armiya-i-vpk/armiya-i-vpk-vzglyad/malorazmernye-bespilotniki/ (accessed 07/3/2023).

Claims (1)

A device for electronic suppression of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for joint operation with a short-range anti-aircraft missile system, containing a housing made in the form factor of a transport and launch container of an anti-aircraft guided missile with a hinged cover, an input amplifier, a digital signal analysis unit based on fast conversion Fourier, control and command generation unit, interference generator, power amplifier, multi-channel microwave switch, waveguide antenna system and director antennas for suppressing unmanned aerial vehicles with disk elements made of electrically conductive material for the formation of directional electromagnetic fields that ensure the creation of interference in the UAV control channels.