Inventors:
Dzung V. Phan - Moorpark CA
Assignee:
Hughes Aircraft Company - Los Angeles CA
International Classification:
F41G 732
Abstract:
A tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire guided (TOW) portable guided missile system (10) includes a launch tube (16) mounted on a tripod (18) or vehicle, and an optical/thermal sighting and tracking assembly (22) mounted on and aligned with the launch tube (16). The system operator (20) mechanically trains the assembly (22) to maintain a target (38) visually centered in a reticle, thereby establishing a line-of-sight (40) to the target (38). The assembly (22) tracks the target (38) optically or thermally, and feeds guidance signals to the missile (14) through a wire (46) to maintain the missile flight path coincident with the line-of-sight (40). An improved missile guidance electronics unit (44) is environmentally sealed in a small housing (60) which removably fits into a compartment (52) in the sighting and tracking assembly (22), thereby enabling the optical/thermal sighting and tracking elements (26,28) and guidance electronics (88) to be integrated into a compact, unitary assembly (22).
