Transfer alignment design and evaluation

Abstract

The design of a rapid and robust transfer alignment system for advanced kinetic energy missiles (ADKEMs) is presented in this paper. Owing to the high acceleration level and the reduced engagement time of ADKEMs, the transfer alignment which aligns the salve (missile) inertial measurement unit (IMU) with the master (ground launch vehicle) IMU must be accomplished in a short time with high accuracy. The scope of transfer alignment system design presented in this paper includes the assessment of inertial guidance accuracy, transfer alignment formulation, simulation environment development, maneuver scenario evaluation, system error analysis, tradeoff study, and filter robustness and sensitivity analysis.