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Raytheon Company

Charles Emil Frey

William C Choate

Anthony K Tyree

James Anthony Jungmann

A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the range between two planes, ownship () and target (). Model data () estimating the velocity and position of target () is compared to actual flight path data of the target () passively received by ownship (). The model data () and actual data is compared, and an error measurement is calculated. The model data is also subject to position and velocity constraints (and) which penalize unrealistic estimates. The error measurement and penalties are used to create a perturbation model () which is added to the model data to generate new model data. When the model data () conforms closely to the actual data, a range is computed from the model data ().

Method and apparatus for air-to-air aircraft ranging

A method and system for covertly determining and predicting air-to-air target data relative to a predetermined position passively senses the target (84) to produce a passive target data set. Next, the method and system transform (14) the passive target data set to produce a transformed passive data set. Then, the system compares (22) the transformed passive data set to a predicted data set (20) to generate a measurement error. By actively sensing (38 and 40) the target for a minimally detectable period (42) of time to produce an active target data set (28), the system applies constraints (28) and therefrom computes penalties (26) that relate to the measurement error (22) to produce a system error. Then, in response to the system error (24) the method and system compute the direction (30) and magnitude (32) for a perturbation or a response (44) to the predicted target data (18). These steps are repeated to covertly determine target data relative to the predetermined position (16) for improved covert air-to-air ranging.

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Colony, TX, United States of America

Charles Emil Frey