Missile Based Rapid Response Maritime Emergency Delivery System

From PDI

Preface

Whether due to international treaties on armament reductions, or in the process of periodical rotation of equipment, a certain number of missiles (intercontinental ballistic, cruise, short and medium range, and other types) is decommissioned every year, which are no longer deemed battle worthy, yet still are operational and in sufficiently good condition. Attempts to put these decommissioned missiles to peaceful use are made, including re-purposing them for satellite launches, however such use is not feasible of all of them, especially not for short- and mid-range ones.

Claims

This invention describes:

1. a cargo module of sufficient carrying capacity, capable of being attached to an existing type of cruise or ballistic missile;
2. a network of coastal shore launch sites equipped with missiles retrofitted with cargo carrying modules as claimed in claim 1 carrying a sufficient load of emergency supplies, such as inflatable boats, personal heaters, ropes, high power emergency beacons, and so on;
3. a network of coastal launch sites as claimed in claim 2, connected to a global or local maritime emergency system, such as Cospas-Sarsat, capable of automatically receiving the coordinates of emergency buoy transmission, transferring these coordinates into the missile homing device, and initiating the launch of the missile;
4. a control module for the cargo module as claimed in claim 1, capable of jettisoning such module from the main body of the missile and safely landing the cargo module into the water, whether by parachute or some other means, and allowing the main body of the missile to ditch at a safe distance from the distress area, or return to the launch site for recovery and reuse.
5. a program for the control module of the missile providing it with the loitering capabilities after it reaches the distress site, as to serve as a distress signal relay, surveillance drone, or perform some other useful function while airborne.

Variants:

Control authority

1. The system as described in claims 1 and 2 under the launch authority of local maritime emergency response coordination centers, which launch the system in response to distress calls received or based upon requests from other responding units.

Platforms

Surface vessel

1. The system of Claim 1, attached to missiles deployed on maritime patrol and rescue vessels (coast guard vessels etc.). this can be of utility even using short range missiles.
2. upon receiving a distress call, if the patrol vessel is unable to respond immediately (is handling multiple calls for help, or the distance implies long ETA), the vessel can launch a rapid response missile to deliver immediate assistance in the interim.

Aircraft

1. The system of Claim 1, attached to air-to-surface missiles carried by maritime patrol and rescue aircraft

In layman's terms

Missiles are known for their rapid response capability and long range. The proposed system constantly listens to the maritime distress system frequency, and as it detects a distress signal, it immediately launches one of cargo-carrying missiles that homes on the emergency beacon signal, and makes a cargo drop of emergency supplies at the distress site, or provides some other useful emergency functions.