Laser guided munition impact offset

Abstract

The present invention includes, in various aspects and embodiments, a method and apparatus for guiding a laser guided munition to an offset aim point relative to the laser spot. In one aspect, the laser guided munition comprises a propelled explosive ordnance; an optical sensor; means for indicating an offset from a laser designation; and a flight control system. The flight control system is responsive to an output from the optical sensor to: home on the laser designation during the descent of an arcing trajectory for the propelled explosive ordnance; determine that the propelled explosive ordnance traversed a predetermined point in the descending trajectory; and upon traversing the predetermined point, guide the propelled explosive ordnance to the position defined by the offset indicator. In a second aspect, the laser guided munition is deployed as part of a system that also includes a laser designator. The laser designator includes: a laser capable of generating a laser signal; a lens though which a generated laser signal is transmitted; and a diffraction grating capable of diffracting the transmitted laser signal into a laser designation and an optical marker separated from the laser designation. In a third aspect, the invention includes a method for guiding a laser guided munition. The method, comprises: homing on a laser designation during the descent of an arcing trajectory for the laser guided munition; traversing a predetermined point in the descending trajectory; and upon traversing the predetermined point, guiding the laser guided munition to a position offset from the laser designation.