A comparative analysis of guidance laws for boost-phase ballistic missile intercept using exo-atmospheric kill vehicles
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Authors
Pace, Phillip E.
Hutchins, Robert G.
Michael, James Bret
Jang, Sang-Keun
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2008-05
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
Boost-phase intercept of a threat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is the first layer of a multilayer missile defense strategy. Space-based interceptors possess certain kinematic advantages over ground-based interceptors in defeating an ICBM threat during boost phase. This paper explores the performance of various guidance laws that might be used by an exo-atmospheric kill vehicle (EKV) launched from a space platform to defeat a hostile, ground-launched ICBM during boost phase. Proportional navigation guidance, bang-bang guidance and predictive guidance are all investigated using simulated missile and EKV trajectories. Performance results are presented with respect to miss distance, intercept time, launch envelope, and total control effort. The total control effort is directly related to fuel consumption, and smaller values translate to less weight in fuel or longer potential intercept ranges. Large launch envelopes mean fewer required EKV carriers. In general, the predictive guidance algorithm outperformed the other guidance algorithms in these simulations, but it did prove to be sensitive to timeto- go errors.
Type
Technical Report
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Computer Science
Organization
Missile Defense Agency (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
NPS-CS-08-009
Sponsors
Funder
Format
vii, 50 p.: ill. (some col.);28 cm.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.