| NAVAL ORDNANCE AND GUNNERY VOLUME 2, FIRE CONTROL CHAPTER 29 MISSILE CONTROL AND GUIDANCE SYSTEMS |
| HOME INDEX Chapter 29 Missile control and guidance systems A. Introduction B. Control systems C. Basic guidance systems |
| MISSILE CONTROL AND GUIDANCE SYSTEMS A. Introduction 29A1. General The principal parts of a guided missile, aside from its airframe, are its propulsion system, its war head and fuze, and the systems that control and guide it during flight. Chapter 11 of this text includes a discussion of guided missiles in general, and goes into some detail about missile propulsion systems, war heads, and fuzes. The present chapter deals with missile control and guidance systems. A guided missile is capable of controlling its flight path in accordance with information received from an outside source. Depending on the guidance system used, this information may be pre-set in the missile before launching, or it may be received in flight. Information received in flight is usually in the form’ of electromagnetic radiation: radio waves, radiant heat, or light. The missile may receive this information from the target, or from guidance devices near the launcher. A single missile may use a combination of two or more forms of guidance. The control systems compare the present position and attitude of the missile with the flight path determined by the guidance system, and effect any necessary changes in missile trajectory. |