(12) INTERNATIONALAPPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (19) World Intellectual Property Organization International Bureau (10) International Publication Number (43) International Publication Date 27 August 2009 (27.08.2009) WO 2009/104015 A3

(51) International Patent Classification: (81) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every F41G 7/34 (2006.01) kind of national protection available): AE, AG, AL, AM, AO, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BH, BR, BW, BY, BZ, (21) International Application Number: CA, CH, CN, CO, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, DO, DZ, PCT/GB2009/050160 EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, GT, HN, (22) International Filing Date: HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KM, KN, KP, KR, 19 February 2009 (19.02.2009) KZ, LA, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LY, MA, MD, ME, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, MY, MZ, NA, NG, NI, NO, (25) Filing Language: English NZ, OM, PG, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, RU, SC, SD, SE, SG, (26) Publication Language: English SK, SL, SM, ST, SV, SY, TJ, TM, TN, TR, TT, TZ, UA, UG, US, UZ, VC, VN, ZA, ZM, ZW. (30) Priority Data: 0803 175.9 2 1 February 2008 (21 .02.2008) GB (84) Designated States (unless otherwise indicated, for every 08200007.6 2 1 February 2008 (21 .02.2008) EP kind of regional protection available): ARIPO (BW, GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, MZ, NA, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZM, (71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): MBDA ZW), Eurasian (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, UK Limited [GB/GB]; 6 Hills Way, Hertford TM), European (AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, shire SGl 2DA (GB). ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, SE, SI, SK, TR), (72) Inventor; and OAPI (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GQ, GW, ML, (75) Inventor/Applicant (for US only): GAZARD, Philip, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG). Neil [GB/GB]; MBDA UK Limited, PO Box 5, Filton, Avon BS34 7QW (GB). Published: (74) Agent: BAE SYSTEMS PLC, GROUP IP DEPT; PO — with international search report (Art. 21(3)) Box 87, Farnborough Aerospace Centre, Farnborough — before the expiration of the time limit for amending the (GB). Hampshire GU14 6YU claims and to be republished in the event of receipt of amendments (Rule 48.2(h))

[Continued on next page]

(54) Title: MISSILE TRAINING SYSTEM

(57) Abstract: The present invention is directed to missile training systems, especially to those relating to the provision of a mechanism that allows missiles and similar devices to be fired at a target in a realistic, but safe, manner. The use of live fire exer cises, in which army or other armed forces personnel use fully functioning weapons systems is well established. Live fire exercises can be used to provide realistic training scenarios, but also present obvious dangers. Live fire exercises present opportunities for checking that weapons systems function correctly and allow users, such as soldiers, to practice using real weapons in situations that are more realistic than firing ranges. It is known to use live missiles and torpedoes in naval training exercises and trials. For example, missiles can be fired at a ship to check the effectiveness of mechanisms for tracking and destroying such missiles. Clear ly, there are substantial safety and costs issues to address before such a live firing regime is likely to be approved. A first approach for firing live missiles at a ship involves the use of a dummy ship, but crucially requires no personnel to be on board, thereby eliminating the risk to human life. This approach has clear disadvantages. A second approach involves firing a missile or other projectile at a target, such as a ship, so that the missile or projectile passes over the ship and lands on the other side. This approach enables personnel to be on board the ship and enables the on-board systems to be used in a realistic manner to attempt to destroy the incoming missile. However,there is a lack of realism. A third approach is to direct a missile towards a ship but to program its route so that it moves away from the ship immediately prior to any impact. This system also lacks realism. Other approaches exist. The present invention provides a module for attachment to an object (such as a missile), the object being adapted to be directed to wards a target (such as a ship), the module comprising a control system providing an output signal indicative of whether or not said object is to be destroyed. (88) Date of publication of the international search report: 22 October 2009 International application No PCT/GB2009/050160

A. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER INV . F41G7/34

According to International Patent Classification (IPC) or to both national classification and IPC

B. FIELDS SEARCHED Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) F41G F41A F42C

Documentation searched other than minimum documentation to the extent that such documents are included in the fields searched

Electronic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practical, search terms used) EPO-Internal , WPI Data

C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT

Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No.

WO 00/03193 A (RAYTHEON CO [US]) 1,14,22 20 January 2000 (2000-01-20) abstract page 4 , line 13 - page 7 , line 18; figures 2-13, 1-3 15-21, 23-27

US 6 896 220 B2 (MCKENDREE THOMAS L [US] 1,14,22 ET AL) 24 May 2005 (2005-05-24) abstract column 4 , line 14 - column 13, line 8 ; 2-13, figures 1-7 15-21, 23-27

-/--

Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box C. See patent family annex.

* Special categories of cited documents : 'T* later document published after the international filing date or priority date and not in conflict with the application but 'A' document defining the general state of the art which is not cited to understand the principle or theory underlying the considered to be of particular relevance invention 'E' earlier document but published on or after the international "X" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention filing date cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to ■L1 document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) or involve an inventive step when the document is taken alone which is cited to establish the publication date of another 'Y' document of particular relevance, the claimed invention citation or other special reason (as specified) cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the 'O' document referring to an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or document is combined with one or more other such docu¬ other means ments, such combination being obvious to a person skilled 'P' document published prior to the international filing date but in the art. later than the priority date claimed '&' document member of the same patent family

Date of the actual completion of the international search Date of mailing of the international search report

26 August 2009 04/09/2009

Name and mailing address of the ISA/ Authorized officer European Patent Office, P.B. 5818 Patentlaan 2 NL - 2280 HV Rijswijk TeI. (+31-70) 340-2040, ς Fax: (+31-70) 340-3016 Bl ondel , Fran oi s

Form PCT/ISA/210 (second sheet) (April 2005) International application No PCT/GB2009/050160

C(Continuatlon). DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT

Category* Citation of document, with indication, where appropriate, of the relevant passages Relevant to claim No.

US 6 952 001 B2 (MCKENDREE THOMAS L [US] 1, 14,22 ET AL) 4 October 2005 (2005-10-04) abstract column 5 , line 34 - column 10, line 44; 2-13, figures 1-6 15-21 , 23-37

JP 2004 347195 A (MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC 1, 14 ,22 CORP) 9 December 2004 (2004-12-09) abstract; figure 2-13, 15-21 , 23-27

GB 2 211 371 A ( PLC [GB]) 1, 14,22 28 June 1989 (1989-06-28) abstract page 4 , line 21 - page 20, line 19; 2-13, figures 1-8 15-21 , 23-27

US 7 021 187 Bl (GRASSI JAMES [US]) 1, 14,22 4 April 2006 (2006-04-04) abstract; figure 1

Form PCT/ISA/210 (continuation of second sheet) (April 2005) International application No Information on patent family members PCT/GB2009/050160

Patent document Publication Patent family Publication cited in search report date member(s) date

WO 0003193 20-01-2000 AU 740261 B2 01-11-2001 AU 8478598 A 01-02-2000 DK 1012525 T3 15-12-2003 ES 2206960 T3 16-05-2004 NO 990942 A 20-01-2000 TR 9900669 Tl 21-04-2003

US 6896220 B2 24-05-2005 EP 1631784 A2 08-03-2006 US 2006108468 A l 25-05-2006 US 2006038056 A l 23-02-2006 US 2004245369 A l 09-12-2004 UO 2005052491 A2 09-06-2005

US 6952001 B2 04-10-2005 EP 1649236 A2 26-04-2006 US 2004233097 A l 25-11-2004 O 2005022070 A2 10-03-2005

JP 2004347195 A 09-12-2004 NONE

GB 2211371 A 28-06-1989 NONE

US 7021187 B l 04-04-2006 NONE

Form PCTVISA/210 (patent family annex} (Apπl 2005)