Strategies for Intercepting Multiple Missiles Exercising Evasive Maneuvers

A simulation tool will be developed to study multiple pursuit/evasion problems. The approach will be hier-archical, with a central command element that communicates with sensor components to process surveil-lance modes, implement target tracking, direct interceptor assignments, and command launch se-quences. Once airborne, the interceptors will continually communicate with the central command for direction and possible changes in their assigned targets. Studies will focus on scenarios in which there are a greater number of incoming threat missiles than interceptors. Under this situation, the objective of the missile defense system will be to minimize damage, protecting the most important assets while as-signing engagements with the greatest probability of kill. A two-phase guidance approach will be devel-oped. First, the interceptor will home in on an estimated/predicted “mean” path of its assigned adversary, based on past position/velocity observations and the most likely ground target of the attacking missile. This reduces unnecessary control effort far from the target. The interceptor will not needlessly expend propellant to track the actual random and spiraling evasive maneuvers of the target missile. Once close enough, the interceptor will then switch to a terminal guidance phase where it will home in on the target missile’s actual maneuvering path.