Using a Multiple-Model Adaptive Estimator in a Random Evasion Missile/Aircraft Encounter

Abstract

The terminal phase (end game)of an encounter between an air-to-air missileequipped with an activemonopulse radar seeker and an evading e ghter aircraft, possibly employing electronic countermeasures in the form of electronic jinking, is addressed. The missile uses a guidance law derived from linear differential game theory, which is implemented by using a multiple-model adaptiveestimator (MMAE). TheMMAE identie es theevasion strategy of theaircraft, which consists of thecombination of evasion maneuverand electronic jinking. An extensivenumerical study is used to demonstrate the viability of the concept. In comparison with a previously proposed mixed strategy guidance methodology, the new MMAE-based approach leads to a substantial improvement in the guaranteed single-shot kill probability for the missile. ODERN air-to-air missiles, designed to intercept highly maneuverable aircraft equipped with electronic countermeasures (ECM), have to operate in a highly uncertain environment. This paper is concerned with the terminal phase (end game) of an encounter between a missile equipped with an active monopulse radar seeker and an evading e ghter aircraft having the option to use ECM. The terminal homing phase of the interception starts when the active seeker of the missile locks on its target, generating also a warning signal (including some threat identie cation ) in the aircraft. This warning is the only information the pilot has. At the moment when the warning is received, the pilot starts to execute a sequence ofperiodicalevasivemaneuvers.Simultaneously,toenhanceitssur