Set defence means

Abstract

A defence system for a land area, intended as an alternative to land mines. The system includes sensors for detecting intrusions in the area, a weapon having multiple barrels and multiple projectiles ready for firing, and a controller that receives signals from the sensors to fire the weapon. The controller preferably requires intervention of an operator in order to trigger the weapon. The weapon may contain a range of projectiles for different purposes.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
     
     
         9 . A defence system for a predetermined land area, comprising: 
 a sensor system for detecting an intrusion in any of a plurality of zones within the predetermined area,    at least one weapon having multiple barrels that are trained on the area, each barrel being loaded with multiple projectiles that are sequentially selected and fired, and    a firing controller that receives signals from the sensor system and triggers the weapon so that projectiles are fired into one or more of the zones in which the intrusion is detected.    
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the firing controller requires intervention of an operator in response to the signals from the sensor system in order to trigger the weapon.  
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the firing controller triggers firing of one or more projectiles from a barrel into a respective zone on detection of an intrusion in the zone.  
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the firing controller triggers firing of a projectile from each of the barrels on detection of an intrusion.  
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the weapon is located remote from the land area and the barrels have fixed or variable orientations that target respective zones.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the barrels are trained to fire projectiles directly or indirectly into the zones.  
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the sensor system includes one or more individual sensors in or near the land area.  
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15 , wherein the sensors are initially located by being fired into the area from one or more of the barrels.  
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the sensor system includes one or more individual sensors remote from the land area.  
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein one or more of the barrels contain a range of projectiles for different purposes.  
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the weapon is a grenade box or barrel block adapted to be concealed in the ground.  
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the weapon is carried by a land vehicle or an aircraft.  
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 9 , wherein the weapon is fired electronically without ammunition feed or ejection systems.  
     
     
         22 . A method of targeting intrusions on a predetermined land area, comprising: 
 locating at least one weapon having multiple barrels trained on zones in the area, each barrel containing multiple projectiles that are sequentially selected and fired,    locating a sensor system for detecting an intrusion on the land area,    detecting an intrusion in one or more of the zones via the sensor system, and    triggering the weapon to fire one or more projectiles into each of the zones in which the intrusion is detected.    
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising triggering the weapon to fire only after involvement of an operator.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising fixing the orientation of the barrels when locating the weapon so that each barrel targets a zone.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising varying the orientation of the barrels when firing the weapon so that each barrel targets a zone.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising locating one or more sensors of the sensor system in or near the area by firing the sensors from one or more of the barrels.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising triggering the weapon to fire a range of different special purpose projectiles into or over the area from one or more of the barrels.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising firing the projectiles directly or indirectly into the zones.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising locating the weapon at least partly underground.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising locating the weapon on a land vehicle or an aircraft.  
     
     
         31 . A defence system for a predetermined land area, comprising: 
 a sensor system for detecting an intrusion within an area,    at least one weapon having a barrel that is concealed in the area and oriented to fire generally upwards, the barrel being loaded with multiple projectiles that are sequentially selected and fired, and    a firing controller that receives signals from the sensor system and triggers the weapon on detecting an intrusion so that projectiles are fired into air above the area.    
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 31 , wherein the weapon is located substantially underground.  
     
     
         33 . A system according to  claim 31 , further comprising multiple barrels containing different types of projectiles.  
     
     
         34 . A system according to  claim 31 , wherein the barrel contains a removable insert that holds the projectiles in a stack.  
     
     
         35 . A system according to  claim 31 , having multiple concealed weapons, each with a single barrel, that are distributed throughout the area.