Ballistic Trajectory Modeling for Missile with Deflectable Nose

Abstract

With the development of science and technology, significant changes have taken place in the mode of modern wars. Application of military operating concepts such as ‘surgical precision strike' and ‘decapitation strike' make higher demands on precision-strike weapons. Ballistic trajectory correction ammunition is being rapidly developed due to its lucrative combination of low cost, high cost-effectiveness ratio, high damage rate, and applicability of existing inventory ammunition. Ballistic control technology has distinct advantages both in cost saving and improvement of the ammunition operational performance. Nose deflection is a feasible, effective, and fast-response flight control mode. The nose part of a projectile can be deflected at a certain angle relative to the projectile body axis, including a pressure difference between the windward and leeward sides of the warhead and generating the respective aerodynamic control force. In this study, a two-rigid-body trajectory model is established based on the multiple rigid body system theory. The proposed model is used to predict the flight trajectory of a projectile with the deflectable nose. Finally, the nose deflection effect on the ballistic trajectory variation is analyzed. The research results obtained provide the theoretical basis for the development of adaptive control smart ammunition and its engineering applications.