Feb 24, 2026

US12560407 - Target lead estimation based on launcher slew

A portable launcher to launch a guided projectile at an aerial target, wherein the guided projectile has a projectile guidance kit and a target leading guidance kit that is provided with the guided projectile and the portable launcher. The target leading guidance kit includes a target lead estimation protocol stored on a computer readable media and accessible by a processor of the target leading guidance kit. When the processor executes the target lead estimation protocol, the processor is instructed to dynamically lead a reticle of an electronic sight of the target leading guidance kit from the initial target position to the lead target position in response to the projectile guidance kit detecting a speed of the aerial target and an inertial measurement unit of the target leading guidance kit that measures the slew of the guided projectile from the initial position to the translated position.

Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
Inventors: Jason H. Batchelder, Matthew F. Chrobak, Tyler Nickerson, Samuel C. Blauvelt
Filing date: 2023-09-01

launcherguided projectiletarget estimationmilitaryaerial target

The patent describes a portable launcher designed to fire guided projectiles at aerial targets, incorporating a target lead estimation protocol to enhance accuracy. This system utilizes an inertial measurement unit and a processor to dynamically adjust the reticle of an electronic sight based on the target’s speed and the projectile’s movement.

Claim 1

1 . A portable launcher to launch a guided projectile at an aerial target, wherein the guided projectile has a projectile guidance kit and a target leading guidance kit that is provided with the guided projectile and the portable launcher, the target leading guidance kit comprising: an inertial measurement unit operably engaged with the guided projectile for tracking slew of the guided projectile inside of the portable launcher from an initial position to a translated position; a processor in electrical communication with the inertial measurement unit; an electronic sight operably engaging with the portable launcher and in electrical communication with the inertial measurement unit and the processor; and a target lead estimation protocol stored on a computer readable media and accessible by the processor; wherein when the processor executes the target lead estimation protocol, the processor is instructed to dynamically lead a reticle of the electronic sight of the target leading guidance kit from an initial target position to a lead target position in response to the projectile guidance kit detecting a speed of the aerial target and the inertial measurement unit measuring the slew of the guided projectile from the initial position to the translated position. an inertial measurement unit operably engaged with the guided projectile for tracking slew of the guided projectile inside of the portable launcher from an initial position to a translated position; a processor in electrical communication with the inertial measurement unit; an electronic sight operably engaging with the portable launcher and in electrical communication with the inertial measurement unit and the processor; and a target lead estimation protocol stored on a computer readable media and accessible by the processor; wherein when the processor executes the target lead estimation protocol, the processor is instructed to dynamically lead a reticle of the electronic sight of the target leading guidance kit from an initial target position to a lead target position in response to the projectile guidance kit detecting a speed of the aerial target and the inertial measurement unit measuring the slew of the guided projectile from the initial position to the translated position.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12560407

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12560407