Investigation on Spin-Stabilized Projectile Trajectory Observability Based on Flight Stability

Abstract

To accurately estimate the projectile ballistic trajectory, where the real impact point can not be identified in case of indirect firing, a 3D tracking radar with Doppler is used during the first portion of projectile trajectory to estimate the projectile attitude and angular motion during flight, and hence; compute the impact point using a nonlinear six-degree-of-freedom 6-DOF trajectory model. A numerical study is done to investigate the effect of the flight stability of a 105mm artillery projectile on the length of Doppler radar data needed to accurately estimate the projectile impact point. A discrete time transfer matrix method DTTM-4DOF is used to estimate the in-flight projectile angular motion using Doppler radar measurements. Simulated Doppler radar data are generated using the 6-DOF model including the projectile initial disturbance problem.