Techniques for Real-time Hypervelocity Projectile fly-out Generation and Optimization

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) faces the challenge of countering increasingly advanced missile threats. Hypervelocity projectiles (HVPs) offer the potential for highly effective and low-cost point defense against advanced missile threats. Efficient algorithms for HVP fly-out trajectory generation are needed, to provide real-time guidance from launch to intercept. These algorithms must react quickly to in-flight target updates, due to the high velocities of both the incoming threat and the HVP interceptor. The application demands an advanced solution which is robust to potentially unexpected target trajectories. Numerica’s solution consists of a completely automated real-time fly-out trajectory optimization algorithm that will allow fire control specialists to quickly and efficiently intercept enemy threats. The approach maximizes the probability of intercept through a robust optimization procedure to solve variants of the pursuit-evasion game. The solution produces real-time estimates of intercept probability, with the potential for dispatch of multiple HVPs for cooperative engagement strategies. Approved for Public Release | 18-MDA-9710 (6 Jul 18)