(57) A device for seeking and tracking targets from airborne missiles, which comprises
one or two optical sensing units, each comprising a sensor barrel covered by a dome,
a detector, drive means for rotating the sensor barrel about two perpendicular axis,
and a processor for processing the signals produced by the detector and guiding the
missile accordingly. The drive means comprise two motors for imparting to the barrel
a pitching and a rolling motion. To eliminate aerodynamic drag, each sensing unit
may be displaceable between a position retracted within the missile envelope and an
extended position, in which part of its dome extends from the missile envelope. When
two sensing units are provided, a target is tracked by operating only one of them,
and when the target moves out of its field-of-regard, deactivating it and activating
the other unit to continue tracking the target. When the sensing units are displaceable,
they are in retracted position when the missile is launched, and, when the intended
target is at close enough range, the unit on the side of the target is extended outside
the missile envelope.
|
|
