Vector Guidance Approach to Three-Player Conflict in Exoatmospheric Interception

Abstract

This paper discusses a three-player conflict in which a missile intercepts a target while avoiding a defender launched by the target, all having bounded controls. Unlike linearized kinematics, the present approach adopts full three-dimensional vector kinematics suitable for an exoatmospheric engagement. In particular, time to go is calculated using a recently developed, game theoretic nonlinear feedback equation, leading to a guaranteed miss strategy and to simple sufficient conditions for the missile to intercept the target while avoiding the defender.