Instructed by Dr. Wiley Larson and Mrs. Pam Magee
Instructed by Dr. Russell Cummings, Professor of Aeronautics and Managing Director of the DoD HPCMP Hypersonic Vehicle Simulation Institute at the US Air Force Academy
This short course provides the fundamentals of missile design, development, and system engineering. A system-level, integrated method is provided for missile configuration design and analysis. It addresses the broad range of alternatives in satisfying missile performance, cost, and risk requirements. Methods are generally simple closed-form analytical expressions that are physics-based, to provide insight into the primary driving parameters. Configuration sizing examples are presented for rocket, turbojet, and ramjet-powered missiles. Systems engineering considerations include launch platform integration constraints. Typical values of missile parameters and the characteristics of current operational missiles are discussed as well as the enabling subsystems and technologies for missiles. Sixty six videos illustrate missile development activities and performance. Attendees will vote on the relative emphasis of types of targets, types of launch platforms, technical topics, and round table discussion.
This course treats in a consistent manner the various key factors that must be taken into account when deciding on the form of missile defense for any nation. It first takes the technical factors of performance, cost, schedule and risk and determines which system out of a set of candidate systems provides the best solution based on a given set of easily understood criteria. These technical solutions are then modified, in a controlled and transparent manner, by such modifiers as political factors, national requirements and other less tangible factors. All factors are presented with both historical background trends for contextual appreciation and with known values that can be either statistical State-of-Art values or user input values as needed. Engineering formulation of equations and data is provided sparingly where necessary for technical background and for sensitivity analyses. The course provides a methodology that can be used after the course for further use.
Synopsis
Missiles provide the essential accuracy and standoff range capabilities that are of paramount importance in modern warfare. Technologies for missile guidance are rapidly emerging, resulting in the frequent introduction of new missile guidance systems. The capability to meet essential requirements is often driven by missile guidance.
This course provides a system-level, integrated method for missile guidance design, development, and system engineering. It addresses requirements such as performance, cost, risk, and launch platform integration. The prediction methods presented are generally simple closed-form analytical expressions that are physics-based, to provide better insight into the primary driving parameters. Typical values of missile guidance parameters and the characteristics of current operational missiles are discussed as well as the enabling subsystems and technologies and the current/projected state-of-the-art. Seeker/sensor/data link alternatives include radar, infrared, and laser. Seeker robustness considerations include performance with adverse weather, clutter, automatic target recognition, and countermeasures. Navigation alternatives include Global Positioning System (GPS) and inertial reference. Flight control alternatives include tail, canard, wing, thrust vector, and reaction jet control. Carriage and fire control interfaces are presented for aircraft, ground vehicle, and ship launch platforms. Discussion of guidance simulation includes conceptual design modeling, preliminary design modeling, and hardware-in-loop modeling. The missile guidance development process, test facilities, and development tests are presented. Videos illustrate missile guidance activities and performance.
The instructor’s textbook, Missile Design and System Engineering (Fleeman, AIAA, 2012), will be provided as part of the course registration.