Oerlikon Contraves Ag

Pierre Fischer

A method of tracking a target ( ) moving in an airspace and a target tracking system ( ) for performing the method are described. A search sensor ( ) searches a search space at a first clock rate (2&pgr;/&Dgr;T ) and establishes target information in regard to a track ( ) flown through by the target ( ). Calculation means ( ) extrapolate an expected flight path ( ) from the target information established and provide flight path data, which describes the expected flight path ( ), to a tracking sensor ( ), which covers a tracking space ( ), and provides this data at a second clock rate (2&pgr;/&Dgr;T ), which is higher than the first clock rate (2&pgr;/&Dgr;T ). When the target ( ) reaches the tracking space ( ), the tracking sensor ( ) is aimed at the expected flight path ( ) on the basis of the flight path data provided, the target ( ) is detected as soon as it is detectable by the tracking sensor ( ), and the tracking sensor ( ) is tracked on the target autonomously.

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Genève, Switzerland

Pierre Fischer