BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a weapons system comprising at least two high-energy laser (HEL) effectors (HEL=High Energy Laser). The invention concerns the system structure of a weapons system with a plurality of, but at least two, HEL effectors on an object, in particular with regard to the aspects of system weight, volume, integration concept and installation effort.

Description of the Background Art

Inter alia, HEL effectors are used to protect movable or stationary objects. A HEL effector is used to combat different targets. Multiple HEL effectors can be targeted at one target or multiple targets at the same time. This can include static targets such as mines, IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices), etc., but also dynamic targets, such as rockets, artillery shells or RAM projectiles, etc. These targets are then demolished and/or destroyed as part of the defense against the threat. Small targets (Low, Slow & Small=LSS targets) in particular can be more easily demolished or destroyed by such a weapons system. LSS targets also include so-called UAVs (Unmanned Air Vehicles), such as drones, which are often used improperly for transporting explosives.

Key components of a HEL effector include a laser source and a beam guidance system. The beam guidance system can house the sub-assemblies fine imaging system (FIS), fine tracking system (FTS), telescope and, if necessary, at least one adaptive optical system (AO). Well-known laser sources are gas lasers, such as CO2 lasers, as well as solid state lasers, such as diode lasers, fiber lasers, etc.

Currently, fiber lasers, a special form of diode-pumped solid state laser, are preferred as laser sources for HEL effectors because of their advantages. The high-performance fiber laser includes one or more pump sources, such as one or more pump diodes. In the fiber laser, the pumping light is coupled into an active fiber and converted into laser light of very good beam quality. High-performance fiber lasers are either constructed as pure oscillators (an active fiber with a resonator) or as multi-stage oscillator-amplifier systems so-called MOPA (Master Oscillator and Power Amplifier). In a MOPA structure, the power of an oscillator is coupled into subsequent amplifier levels (active fibers) and boosted to higher power. The laser light is then emitted via the beam guidance system to a target etc. to attack the target. All optical components are usually connected to optical fibers (passive transport fibers). In addition, there are the power supply and cooling system, which supply and cool the pump source and the master oscillator power amplifier of the individual laser sources. The power supply and cooling system can be part of the laser source.

Due to non-linear processes that can occur in fibers at high power levels, the lengths of the ready-made fibers must be limited, for example between the MOPA or oscillator and the beam guidance system at high power levels in the multi-kW range. Depending on the power, fiber parameters, fiber structure, wavelength, etc., a maximum possible fiber length of a few meters can result.

The M2 beam quality is also a decisive factor for the effect of HEL effectors. The beam quality value M2 should be as low as possible, preferably less than 2.

HEL effectors, like other weapons systems, can be lafetted on a fixed or movable platform. Weapons stations are also referred to as a platform. Said platforms, for their part, can be attached to stationary objects (e.g. houses, bunkers, containers, etc.) or moving objects (e.g. vehicles on land, in the air and at sea, containers, etc.). For larger objects, multiple platforms are often used. On a vehicle, especially on a maritime object, such as a ship, the platforms are often disposed on the starboard and/or port side. Other platforms may additionally or alternatively be mounted on the bow and/or on the stern.

The advantage of a HEL effector over conventional effectors (conventional weapons) is, among other things, a high hit accuracy and a delay-free effect. There is no need to take any prediction into account. There are also no muzzle flashes and almost no firing signatures. Similarly, there is no limit on the operational capability of the HEL effector due to a magazine capacity.

In order to achieve the required radiation quality of a HEL effector, the aim is also to accommodate the MOPA or the oscillator very close to the weapon station or platform.

The components of the HEL effector are housed in practice in a compartment (chamber). This leads to the restriction of deployment locations and the feasible maximum laser power. Such a restriction has a negative effect on maritime objects in particular.

A laser system for generating high or compact power densities on the object is known from DE 10 2010 051 097 A1. The power is divided between several lasers or laser weapons and geometrically superimposed on the target, so that a total power density of all the individual power densities is achieved in total. As a weapon, the single lasers or laser weapons form a weapons system to combat an attacking object. Said laser weapons are aimed at the object by means of coarse tracking and fine tracking. The laser weapons can be mounted on a moving or stationary platform. According to the document, such lasers can also be used as processing lasers for material processing, for example at greater distances.

WO 2006/103655 A2, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 8,272,157, describes a laser or laser weapon in which a laser generation unit is positionally separated from a telescope that is to be directed at the target. While the telescope, together with a target detection or tracking arrangement, is located on a mobile platform of a mobile vehicle, the laser generation unit is fixedly integrated within the mobile vehicle or a separate unit. The functional connection between the telescope and the laser generation unit is made by means of an optical fiber.

DE 33 18 686 A1, which correspond to U.S. Pat. No. 4,655,591, discloses a device for aiming a laser beam. This device is designed to be able to pivot a high-energy laser beam in a fixed parallel orientation with the orientation of other devices on a platform. The laser source is disposed away from the platform. The laser beam is transmitted to optical elements via deflection mirrors.

DE 10 2012 015 074 B3, which corresponds to U.S. Pat. No. 8,941,910, discloses a beam directing unit for a laser weapons system, wherein the beam directing unit comprises a stationary/partly movable component and a fully movable component. A target acquisition or target tracking device as well as a telescope and an output stage element are attached to the fully movable part. The beam directing unit includes at least one laser generation unit, which comprises at least one seed laser unit and at least one pump laser unit. The seed laser unit as well as the pump laser unit are connected to the output stage element (e.g. an amplifier) using an optical fiber. In the case of several pump laser units, the individual laser powers are merged in a beam coupler and also fed to the output stage element via an optical fiber. This ensures that the mass on the fully movable part can be reduced. The total weight on the object, on the other hand, does not change.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to optimize the system design in terms of the required mass, space requirements and integration effort when using two or more HEL effectors.

The invention is based on the idea of not assigning all the key components of a HEL effector to every HEL effector. For example, not every HEL effector should have its own complete laser source, or parts thereof. Rather, it is envisaged that this key component, or parts thereof, will be jointly usable by several HEL effectors. This key component, or parts thereof, is/are defined as a shared component. In an optimal implementation, a HEL effector only needs its own key component, namely at least one beam guidance system as an individual component. The individual beam guidance systems may house the sub-assemblies of fine imaging systems (FIS), fine tracking systems (FTS), telescopes and, if necessary, at least one adaptive optical system (AO). The jointly usable key component, or parts thereof, is/are in turn connected to the individual key component(s) of the HEL effector in such a way that the operation of at least one HEL effector is guaranteed.

The present invention therefore proposes to use only one laser source or pump source for at least two HEL effectors in a weapons system with at least two HEL effectors, which have at least one beam guidance system. The beam guidance systems of the HEL effectors access the common laser source or pump source. An optical connection of the common laser source or pumped source to the beam guides, directly or indirectly, is made by at least one optical switching unit, so that at least one functional, complete HEL effector is provided in the threat response weapons system.

As a consequence of this idea, individual key components, or parts thereof, can be saved in the case of a plurality of HEL effectors on an object. By saving individual key components, or parts thereof, the total weight, space requirement and integration effort of the HEL effectors on the object can be reduced.

This idea is based on the knowledge that the accuracy, precision and fast alignment of today's HEL effectors make it possible to combat a target or even multiple targets by a single HEL effector. There is no need for all the HEL effectors attached to the object to be functional at the same time.

In an exemplary embodiment, a plurality of HEL effectors, at least two, formed of a jointly usable key component, the laser source, and an individual key component, the dedicated beam guidance system. The laser source includes at least one pump source with at least one pump diode, preferably a plurality of pump diodes, as well as at least one MOPA, alternatively at least one oscillator. A power supply and cooling system can also be assigned to the laser source.

The central laser source is the key component of all HEL effectors. The optical connections are realized using optical fibers or free space. The laser source, which can be used by several HEL effectors, can in turn be placed centrally on the object. It should be noted that a necessary beam quality is maintained during beam transport.

An optical connection of the central laser source to the individual beam guidance systems is carried out via at least one optical switching unit. The optical switching unit can be an optical switch or an optical switching point. An optical switching point is characterized in that it switches quickly, with angular precision and always reliably. The optical switching unit should also be designed to be able to divide the laser light between at least two outputs of the optical switching unit, even at the same time. The distribution should be achievable continuously or in several stages. There are at least two stages to be provided, for example via end stops. The laser light should be able to be divided from 0 to 100%.

The single HEL effector thus includes in a first embodiment of a jointly usable laser source and at least one dedicated beam guidance system. This creates the possibility that only the individual beam guidance system of the respective HEL effector needs to be lafetted on a platform as already defined. This possible implementation is not favored, but it is technically feasible.

In continuation of the invention, in a further, preferred implementation the entire laser source, i.e. with all components, such as pump source, MOPA or oscillator, is disposed centrally. It can be sufficient if only the pump source(s) of the laser source is/are centralized. In addition to the dedicated beam guidance system, a dedicated master oscillator+amplifier (MOPA) or oscillator is assigned to each HEL effector. Said MOPA or oscillator can then be disposed in the vicinity of, even in close proximity to, the respective platform, but can even be mounted on the respective platform. Each amplifier of the MOPA or oscillator can be optically connected to the pump source. The master oscillator (MO) can be accommodated in the vicinity of the pump source or the amplifier depending on the length of the fiber. Other amplifiers may also be integrated upstream of the individual beam guidance systems of the HEL effectors.

The optical switching unit, for its part, serves to apportion the pumping power of the pump source to at least two outputs of the optical switching unit. For a plurality of pump sources, these can also be distributed via the optical switching unit to at least two outputs of the optical switching unit. The outputs of the optical switching unit(s) for pumping power are in turn associated with at least one input of the amplifiers (PA) of the HEL effectors, preferably by means of optical fibers. The division of pumping power should be carried out continuously or in multiple stages. In this case, at least two stages are to be provided, for example via end stops. The pump power should be able to be split from 0 to 100%. It is also provided that the division is possible at the same time for a plurality of outputs of the optical switching unit. A simultaneous division of pump power between the amplifiers (PA) of the HEL effectors allows several HEL effectors to be able to function at the same time.

Alternatively, each pump source can be fed to the dedicated optical switching unit thereof and apportioned thereby to at least two outputs. Furthermore, a cascaded arrangement of2noutputs can be realized with the help of a plurality of optical switching units comprising at least two outputs.

In this second implementation, the individual HEL effector are formed of a jointly usable central pump source, as well as at least one dedicated MOPA or at least one dedicated oscillator and at least one dedicated beam guidance system. The respective MOPA or oscillator of the HEL effectors can be accommodated near the beam guidance system of the HEL effector. A direct connection to the platform together with the beam guidance system is also conceivable.

The optical connection between the pump source and the amplifiers of the MOPA or the oscillators is preferably established via optical fibers. A free space version is also possible.

The optical connection of the central pump source to the oscillators or the amplifiers of the MOPA is established here too via at least one optical switching unit. The optical switching unit can also be an optical switch or an optical switching point. By means of the optical switching unit, a working line can result in this embodiment: pumping unit—fiber (optical path)—optical switching unit—fiber (optical path)—oscillator or amplifier. When using a plurality of oscillators, the outputs of the optical switching point(s) are connected to a pump input (active medium) of the oscillator, preferably by means of optical fibers. Even with a low beam quality of the pump diodes, despite the high power, an optical connection (fiber, free space) with a significantly greater distance than a few meters can be established between the at least one optical switch and the amplifiers or oscillators. However, variations that lack an optical path are also conceivable in this embodiment.

Another option is to provide a commonly usable master oscillator (MO) separately from the pump source instead of the many individual master oscillators. The optical connections between the pump source and the amplifiers of the HEL effectors are implemented according to the second embodiment. The central master oscillator provided can be located near the pump source, which simplifies the power supply and cooling of the master oscillator. The output of the master oscillator can be switched to at least one input of the amplifiers (PA) of the HEL effectors by means of at least one further optical switching unit.

Due to the low weight of the individual amplifier, it can be lafetted directly on the platform with the beam guidance system. This allows the good beam quality of the amplifier to be coupled into the beam guidance system at high power. Depending on the output power of the master oscillator, different permissible fiber lengths result for the optical connection, e.g. optical fiber, between the master oscillator and the amplifiers.

The individual HEL effector formed in this third, also favored version of a jointly usable central pump source, a shared master oscillator (MO), dedicated amplifiers (PA) as well as dedicated beam guidance systems.

An additional controller can also be used to determine which of the MOPA, amplifier (PA) or oscillator(s) to be added should be supplied with what percentage of laser or pumping power. Thus, for each HEL effector, the beam power of the laser or pump source can be adjusted and/or varied. Said percentage portion can be controlled by means of the optical switching unit(s).

The optical switching units, for their part, can be spaced apart from the central laser source or the central pump source and, if necessary, from the central master oscillator (MO). Due to the low beam quality of the pump diodes, an optical connection (fiber, free space) with a significantly longer distance than a few meters can be implemented here, especially between the optical switching units and the amplifiers or oscillators. With poorer beam quality, the beam transport takes place in fibers with a larger core diameter at a reduced intensity, so that non-linear processes are used to a reduced extent.

The optical switching unit also allows the laser source or pump source to be separated from the other components of the HEL effectors. The HEL effectors can be changed to a safety state by means of the optical switching unit(s).

Of course, other central laser sources, pump sources and other central master oscillators, etc. can also be provided as jointly usable key components. This makes it possible to create a redundant system. Also, multiple HEL effectors can be grouped together into groups that can then be operated in parallel.

The use of a laser source, alternatively a pump source, etc., for a plurality of HEL effectors allows the total weight on the object to be reduced. The decentralized arrangement of the common central laser source or pump source etc. for the plurality of HEL effectors also creates the possibility of placing them on or in the object and protected from environmental influences.

In addition to the weight saving, the present invention gives a further advantage. The laser source, pump source, possibly the central master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) or the central master oscillator (MO) or central oscillator can now preferably be accommodated within the object, e.g. in the hull of a ship or vehicle. These components are no longer subject to the environmental requirements on the object. A positional separation also gives another advantage. In this way, the individual components can be installed in smaller spaces on the object, for example in recesses.

Especially on a ship, saving components is a huge win. Such scaling down of components makes the use of HEL effectors on such objects possible and also financially practicable. The HEL effectors can be offered more cost-effectively. Existing platforms, such as conventional effectors, can also be used. For example, the platform of a naval light gun, etc., can be used to accommodate individual components of the HEL effectors. However, these advantages also arise for other vehicles on land, sea and in the air and can be transferred to other objects.

The mode of operation is generalized as follows:

If a target or threat is detected, for example by means of a weapon delivery system, it is determined which of the beam guidance system(s) of the HEL effectors on the object can provide the best possible defense against or neutralization of the threat as quickly as possible. Such procedures are known to the person skilled in the art. The weapon delivery system then decides which beam guidance system(s) to use. Alternatively, this can be carried out by an operator. As a result of this decision, an optical linking of the selected beam guidance system(s) is carried out as described above. The switching of the optical switching unit(s) can be carried out pneumatically, hydraulically as well as electrically or electro-optically, although other possibilities are not excluded. The switching is controlled by the central control unit.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes, combinations, and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

