Title: The prediction of missile trajectories using a Kalman filter: a simulation study

Authors: Byung Rae Cho; Jaywan Kim

Addresses: Department of Industrial Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA ' California University of Management and Sciences, Virginia Branch Campus, Falls Church, VA 22046, USA

Abstract: The three-dimensional radar measurements, consisting of range, azimuth, and elevation angle of a flying TBM, help us estimate the theatre ballistic missile (TBM) parameters used in real navy theatre missile defence (NTMD) actions, such as active defence, passive defence, and attack operations. The main purpose of this paper is to optimise the estimation of TBM parameters using the Kalman filter techniques on noise corrupted three-dimensional radar measurement outputs. In this paper, we propose Kalman Filter models to optimally locate TBM positions in a three-dimensional space. More specifically, our proposed models and simulation studies show that we may be able to obtain optimal TBM parameters, such as TBM position, heading, speed, launch position, and destination point and arrival time at the target. The ideas expressed in this paper are those of the authors, and the paper does not represent the views of any agency. Finally, all the references cited in this paper are unclassified documents.

Keywords: missile trajectories; Kalman filter; simulation; 3D coordinates; trajectory prediction; radar measurements; theatre ballistic missiles; TBMs; navy theatre missile defence; NTMD; modelling; simulation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEDPO.2014.064241

International Journal of Experimental Design and Process Optimisation, 2014 Vol.4 No.1, pp.27 - 51

Received: 24 May 2014
Accepted: 03 Jun 2014

Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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