Lockheed Martin Corporation

Benjamin D Skurdal

Randy L Gaigler

Leszek Stanislaw Basak

George Raymond Root, Jr

George Henry Goetz

Jennifer L Houston-Manchester

Jonathan B MacNeil

Thomas G Sullivan

Ralph W Edwards

Christine A Ballard

The present invention enables the passive initiation of a deployment sequence for a countermeasure payload. The invention comprises an initiator coil that is positioned inside an electromagnetic countermeasure launcher. When the electromagnetic countermeasure launcher electromagnetically generates propulsive force to propel a payload to its deployment position, inductive coupling between one or more propulsion coils of the launcher and the initiator coil induces current to flow in the initiator coil, which thereby initiates the deployment sequence.

Electromagnetic initiator coil

A scalable and distributable software architecture for use in conjunction with various different weapons control system and launch systems is disclosed. The architecture discards the proprietary and non-open protocols and services that characterize in favor of open source adaptive and middleware components. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the inventive architecture is implemented as a Launch Control Module that separates different layers of responsibility within a launch controller (e.g., LCU) and exposes its variation points.

Architecture for a launch controller

A system for launching a countermeasure device is disclosed. In the illustrative embodiment, the system uses an electromagnetic catapult to throw a countermeasure payload, wherein the azimuth, elevation, and propulsive force of the electromagnetic catapult are controllable.

Electro magnetic countermeasure launcher

Growing community of inventors

Bel Air, MD, United States of America

Benjamin D Skurdal