Airborne Missile Launcher

The present invention relates to missile systems and pertains particularly to a system for launching man-portable missiles from aircraft.

Military aircraft typically provide close support for infantry and other troops. Such military aircraft are normally equipped with launchers for firing missiles and other types of weapons.

Helicopter aircraft frequently provide much closer support than other aircraft and are frequently stationed in close proximity to ground troop camps and the like. Ground troops typically handle a wide arsenal of weapons available to them, including anti-aircraft rocket missiles. Many of these rocket missiles are self-guided "fire-and-forget" types designed for man-portable tube-launched shoulder firing. These weapons are capable of destroying aircraft in flight and destroying or disabling armored ground equipment such as tanks and the like. A prime example of such weapons is the man-portable, tube-launched anti-aircraft weapon called Stinger.

Because of the capabilities of such missiles, it is desirable that aircraft launchers be available for these weapons. In particular, it is desirable that launchers capable of launching these weapons with no modification or minimal modification be available.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an aero launcher for man-portable rocket missiles.

In accordance with the primary aspect of the present invention, an airborne launcher is provided which includes quick release clamps and auto connect electronic means and which is capable of readily receiving unmodified or minimally modified launch tubes of man-portable rocket missiles for quick and easy loading of such launcher.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the complete launcher unit.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a typical helicopter, showing alternative mounting positions for the launcher unit.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the launcher unit with portions of the casing cutaway.

FIG. 4 is an underside view of the unit with the lower casing shell removed.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view similar to a portion of FIG. 3 showing a missile launching tube partially inserted.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 7--7 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 3, with one clamp shown open.

Turning to FIG. 1 of the drawing, a missile launcher in accordance with the invention is designated by the numeral 10 and as shown has a somewhat aerodynamically configured casing or shell, having an upper fixed half-shell portion 12 that is secured to the framework of the unit and a lower releasable half-shell portion 14 that is detachably clamped or secured to the fixed or stationary upper shell 12 by means of a plurality of quick releasable clamps 16 (on each side) of the type known as suitcase or trunk clamps. These permit the quick release of the undershell to allow it to fall or pivot away and provide quick access to the missile tubes 18 and 20, which are releasably secured within the unit. Each shell includes semi-circular cutouts at each end that mate and encircle the launch tubes enabling the ends thereof to protrude beyond the shell.

The launcher includes an attachment plate 22 which adapts it to fit mounting pylons of an aircraft or other suitable launch vehicle. Preferably, the mounting plate or assembly 22 may fit bomb release pylons or supports on the aircraft to permit release of the spent rocket launcher assembly. Additionally, the assembly may be adapted to mount plural units, one below the other, or beside the other to permit mounting of multiple units on a particular aircraft.

Turning to FIG. 2, a typical launch platform such as a helicopter 24 includes, for illustrative purposes, a mounting pylon 26 on one side on which a missile launcher 28 is mounted and an alternate mounting assembly is shown on the opposite side of the aircraft showing a launcher 30 oriented at a 90.degree. angle to that of the launcher 28 on the one side of the aircraft. These launchers are adapted to accommodate and receive the unmodified launch tubes of the man-portable type missile rockets such as that known as the Stinger and similar rockets. Some of the rockets are primarily designed as anti-aircraft weapons for infantry use by shoulder launch, for example. However, the present invention permits ready use of the available stockpile of such self-guided missiles such as the Redeye and Stinger without modification thereof. The Stinger is a "fire-and-forget" weapon with a passive-homing IR seeker guidance system. The missile is packaged in a throw away launch tube and is delivered ready for launching by means of a reusable gripstock.

Turning to FIG. 9, launcher includes a central frame assembly comprising a generally U-shaped elongated beam or channel member 32 extending substantially the length of the housing and including a pair of outwardly extending flanges 34 and 36 extending the length thereof and connected to an elongated generally rectangular reenforcing plate 38 at the top of the housing. This framework is connected through the housing shell 12 to the mounting bracket 22 (FIG. 8) and forms the basic support structure for the assembly. The channel 32, as will be explained, includes cutout sections for accommodating a cryogenic bottle and other units such as the electronics power supply and control assembly.

The rocket tubes 18 and 20 (FIG. 8) are positioned to each side of the central channel member and are cradled within fore and aft clamping brackets. Each missile tube mounting assembly includes a fore and aft clamp as best seen in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 9. Turning more specifically to FIG. 7, each forward clamp assembly includes a fixed base cradle member 40 and 42 with pivoting cap members 44 and 46 each respectively held in position by a screw and thumbnut assembly 48 and 50. The caps pivot to the fixed or cradle members on the inside and open to the outside permitting side access to the launch tubes.

A similar aft or rear clamp assembly as best seen in FIG. 9, similarly include base cradle members 52 and 54 with pivoting cap members 56 and 58 held in place by pivotally mounted thumbscrew assemblies 60 and 62. The pivoting cap members, as can be appreciated from FIG. 9, pivot away and permit each rocket launch tube to be pulled downward and to the side removing it from the launcher. This permits side loading (i.e. from the side) of the launch tubes which permits the loader to avoid getting either in front or behind the missile launch tube.

Turning to FIG. 8, an alignment and positioning guide bracket for each launch tube includes base members 64 and 66 in which is reciprocally mounted a floating pin assembly 68 and 70, each of which is mounted on plungers 72 and 74 biased to the extended position. The pins on the pin assembly engage or are engaged by slotted openings in brackets 19 for missile tube 18 and brackets 21 for missile tube 20. These brackets are existing structure on the launch tubes for engaging and connecting to the gunners grip stock and shoulder launch assemblies. These positioning and alignment brackets serve to axially align the tube and position it axially along the housing in a position to pivotally move upward into clamping position and to simultaneously automatically connect with a gas socket assembly and an electrical socket assembly for connecting the rocket respectively to the cooling gas of the system and to the electronic control system.

Each rocket is also provided with a latch as shown in FIG. 7, including a latch hook 80 pivotally mounted in a bracket 82 and including a lever 84 for releasing the latch. A similar latch assembly for the other rocket includes a latch hook 86 pivotally mounted on a bracket 88 with a latch releasing arm 90 connected thereto. The latch hooks 80 and 86 engage existing brackets 81 and 87 on the forward ends of launch tubes 18 and 20, respectively.

The rocket launcher is completely self-contained and contains the necessary electronics control and actuation means for controlling the launch of the respective rocket missiles. However, each launcher is connected by a umbilical control cord to the cockpit of the aircraft to permit the pilot or other control person to fire the rockets.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, a coolant system for the infrared seeker of each rocket includes a source of coolant gas which in this instance comprises a removable 2.0 liter tank or bottle 92 of highly compressed (6000 psi) argon gas which is mounted within a cutout in the channel assembly in a bracket including a gas connector or coupling socket 94 at the forward end thereof and a releasable mounting bracket 96 engaging the rear end of the gas bottle. The coupling socket 94 couples the gas tank into a gas system including a manifold 98 for distributing the coolant gas by way of separate lines 100 and 102 as shown in FIG. 8 and through individual solenoid controlled valves, one of which is shown in FIG. 3 at 104, to a coupling socket 106 which registers with a valve actuating pin and plug 108 on the respective launcher tube as shown in FIG. 6. Control means within the electronics system as will be described, serves to time and activate the coolant gas for maintaining the infrared seeker detector cool during the operation thereof. The above described supply provides sufficient coolant for 40 cooling cycles of 40 seconds each.

As best seen in FIG. 5, disposed within a cutout in the main or central channel is the electronic control system for the launcher. This electronic control system includes a power pack assembly 110 which in turn is connected to the electronics control pack or assembly 112. The electronics control system, the details of which are not shown herein, includes the necessary control electronics for controlling the rockets for activating and controlling the seeking head thereof and for activating the guidance system herein. This control pack is designed to be modified by means of plug-in cards in a wellknown manner for updating and adaptation for alternate versions of the rockets. The control pack 112 is connected through a plug and socket arrangement, the socket of which is shown at 114 in FIG. 6 with the plug shown at 116.

The previously described alignment and positioning bracket assembly as shown in FIG. 8 serves to position and guide the rocket launch tube such that, as shown in FIG. 6, movement of the rocket launch tube upward (when properly positioned) automatically plugs the gas valve connector 168 and the electrical socket connector 116 in their respective connective sockets. This automatically connects the coolant gas supply and the electronics to the rocket launch tube.

The electronic controls are connected to the aircraft 24 by means of an umbilical cord (not shown) connected to a socket 118 as shown in FIG. 5. This permits control of the launch of the rockets from the aircraft. A safety firing pin 120 inserts into a switch unit 122 for deactivation of the launch controls until the launcher is fully loaded and ready for arming. When it is desired to arm the launcher, the pin 120 is removed by pulling it directly out of the bore which activates and arms the launcher.

The rocket launch tubes are each sealed on both ends by plastic caps prior to shipment. These caps remain in place and are automatically ejected by the rocket upon launch.

Thus, it is seen from the above description, we have provided an improved launcher for adapting and accommodating unmodified or minimally modified man-portable rockets for air transport and launching.

While we have illustrated and described our invention by means of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that numerous changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.