Adaptive, Efficient, and Agile Guidance for Ascent Phase Intercept

The proposed effort will further refine the adaptive model-based estimation and control guidance law developed during the Phase 1 effort to work in a two-tier algorithm with an agile, game-theoretic guidance law that is immune to the acceleration of the target. The two-tier approach is used to bring the intercept vehicle close to the target while conserving fuel but still obtains good minimal miss-distance performance. The first tier guidance uses a model-based estimation filter to anticipate where the ascending missile will be and rapidly detect staging. Using a model allows the interceptor to guide itself with some sense of fuel conservation. It also allows for an accurate time-to-go estimate. The terminal guidance law makes use of an estimation filter which blocks the target acceleration. This guidance is highly sensitive to target maneuvers, but makes no effort to conserve fuel. The criterion to switch between the two tiers will be investigated in this proposal.