Robust Alignment Concepts for Precision Guided Weapons

New missile systems, including the Joint Common Missile (JCM) and the Army’s Non Line of Sight Launch System (NLOS-LS) will use low cost MEMS based Guidance and Navigation Units (DIGNU) for midcourse guidance before handover to imaging seekers for precision homing in the endgame. Both of these systems will have provisions for autonomous launch and the embedded guidance systems need to be initialized and aligned for proper operation. Though similar in size and appearance, the launch conditions are very different. The NLOS PAM and LAM exit vertically from a moving or stationary launcher, while JCM is launched from a wing pylon or internal carriage. CCD will investigating both algorithmic dynamic transfer alignment techniques and low cost precision magnetometers to aid the alignment and midcourse navigation. This work is especially important in GPS jammed conditions with still unproven MEMS based navigators and when there is insufficient time and base motion to use more conventional transfer alignment techniques.