CURRENT AND FUTURE DEFENSIVE MISSILE SYSTEMS HAVE TO COUNTER THREATS THAT OPERATE AT GREAT SPEEDS AT HIGH ALTITUDES AND THAT EMPLOY INCREASINGLY MORE SOPHISTICATED SELF-SCREENING COUNTER MEASURES.

CURRENT AND FUTURE DEFENSIVE MISSILE SYSTEMS HAVE TO COUNTER THREATS THAT OPERATE AT GREAT SPEEDS AT HIGH ALTITUDES AND THAT EMPLOY INCREASINGLY MORE SOPHISTICATED SELF-SCREENING COUNTER MEASURES. TO COUNTER SUCH A THREAT IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE UNITED STATES EXPLOIT BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE MISSILE SYSTEMS TO THEIR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL, BY DEVELOPING OPTIMUM MIDCOURSE AND TERMINAL GUIDANCE LAWS THAT WILL MINIMIZE TERMINAL MISS DISTANCE AND REQUIRE A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF ENERGY. THE OPTIMUM NAVIGATION STUDY PRESENTED IN THIS PROPOSAL WILL DEVELOP THE OPTIMUM NAVIGATION LAWS FOR RV'S EQUIPPED WITH A TERMINAL HOMING CAPABILITY AND WILL DEMONSTRATE THE PERFORMANCE OF SUCH AN RV IN TERMS OF ACTUAL MISS DISTANCE.