Seeker Window Ejection System

One of the key BMD system approaches is the use of hit-to-kill vehicles (KV). Optical windows are used to protect the KV's IR seekers after shroud ejection. To enhance final target acquisition, these protective windows need to be tightly held to the KVduring pursuit and then upon command, quickly released to expose the seeker. The windows have to be released with sufficient energy to prevent them from recontacting the KV. No conventional release/ejection system is known to exist. Typically approacheswould rely on pyrotechnic devices. The pyrotechnic shocks imparted to the seeker by the window ejection system can damage/misalign the relatively fragile seeker head of the KV and/or cause problems with the KV's IMU sensors. Efforts to make the seekerand IMU strong enough to withstand these shocks add KV weight and complexity while reducing KV performance. Innovative Business Solutions, Inc. (IBSI) is proposing a window ejection system that would greatly increase the seekers performance during finalacquisition. The window ejection separation technology proposed by IBSi is applicable to a wide range of military and commercial missiles deploying seekers. This effort has been coordinated with LockMart and has the support of the THAAD program.Operation of current technology, window ejection systems induce large shocks into the kill-vehicles. These shocks create design and operational problems for the kill-vehicle's seeker and IMUs. These shocks can damage or misalign the seeker creatingtargeting problems. Similarly, these shocks can overwhelm IMU sensors (accelerometers, rate sensors, etc.) creating control problems and requiring more robust (and accordingly less sensitive) sensors. Efforts to minimize the problems caused by the shroudseparation shocks increase kill vehicle weight, increase system complexity, reduces system performance and can reduce targeting and control accuracies. The Low Shock, Shroud Separation System (LSSS) reduces/eliminates these issues by greatly reducingshroud separation shocks imparted to the kill vehicle. The LSSS system is also applicable to protective shrouds of commercial missile launch vehicles. Induced pyroshocks associated with shroud removal are key design drivers for both commercial launchvehicles and their payloads. The LSSS shroud separator reduces launch system parasitic weights (i.e., allows larger/heavier payloads to be carried) and reduces launch stresses (increased payload reliability).