Lockheed Martin Corporation

George Henry Goetz

Benjamin D Skurdal

Jennifer L Houston-Manchester

Christine A Ballard

Timothy John Preston

Ralph W Edwards

Robert Leon Ivy

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 launch system for plural missiles of different types includes plural launch locations, each adapted for receiving a canisterized missile having a standardized connector, which is coded to indicate the missile type contained within the canister. The system includes an individual fire control unit for each launch location or cell, and power supplies which are available to groups of such cells. An local-area network (LAN), such as Ethernet, interconnects the power supplies, the fire control units, and a central launch control system. Each fire control unit includes a processor for determining the missile type with which it is associated, and an interface card for each different missile type which may be used. The fire control units respond to commands from the central launch control system by interpreting the commands into a parallel form understandable by the missile interface cards. The missile interface cards transform the parallel data into serial data in a format suitable to the missile type being handled in the cell. Ancillary commands, such as launch hatch position and power-supply ON-OFF commands, are carried over the LAN.

System for controlling and independently firing multiple missiles of

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Joppa, MD, United States of America

George Henry Goetz