A deployment and positioning system for maritime decoys that reduces the impact of sea conditions and weather on Electronic Warfare effectors to extend capability and better protect targeted vessels from anti-ship missile attack.
In service, maritime decoy systems launch effectors to a position relative to the platform and an incoming Anti-ship Missile (ASM) threat. Decoys are either mortar launched or rocket launched followed by freefall or parachute decent to its deployment position where it becomes operational. This method of decoy deployment is susceptible to wind and tide that can result in inaccurate placement relative to its launch platform and planned location. The impact of environmental factors on decoy positioning means that the window in which the decoy is effective is reduced, and this is a risk to maritime vessels needing ASM protection.
The airborne decoy system meets this challenge by attaching the effector needed to protect the platform to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) using an extendable tether. The decoy can be deployed and then lowered from the UAV once it is on station. The effector could be maintained in this position or re-located using the UAV. Once the ASM attack is over the effector can be released by the UAV and the UAV can return unencumbered by the effector to the platform for refueling and replenishment. This innovation provides a solution for meteorologically affected decoy deployment and placement which gives operators more confidence in this solution.
Description:
An airborne passive decoy system for use in the microwave waveband. The system contains an aerial propulsion unit, such as a UAV, and one or more decoys that can be carried to the required position by the aerial propulsion unit and deployed from the aerial propulsion unit once in position. Once in the required position the aerial propulsion unit can fully release the decoy or maintain connection via a tether. The aerial propulsion unit can relocate the decoy position once deployed if still connected via a tether.
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