Guidance, Navigation, and Control for Small Boost-Phase Interceptors

"This Phase I study proposes to address the objective of configuring a Guidance, Navigation and Control (GN&C) system suitable for missile defense interceptors which realizes order-of-magnitude reductions in mass, volume and cost relative to current GN&Csystems. These improvements will be sought through a combination of conceptual advances and use of components which benefit from cost reductions due to their application to high volume commercial markets. A new concept is proposed for a guidance lawtailored specifically to the interception of ballistic missiles in their boost phase. This concept incorporates a booster classification function which provides access to a priori information about the fly-out characteristics of the booster types whichare likely to be used in a given theater of operations. This system is to be implemented with COTS components to perform the functions of target sensing and inertial navigation aided by GPS and magnetometer data. The system also is dependent on highcapacity, low cost digital data processing. There is a clear national need for an affordable approach to defense against ballistic missile attack. This program will study an innovative concept for guiding hit-to-kill interceptors against missiles in boostphase. The system will be implemented using COTS components resulting in order-of-magnitude reductions in mass, volume and cost relative to existing GN&C systems."