Title: Uncertainties and dispersion assessment: some challenges associated with missile aerodynamics

Authors: Didier Pagan, Nigel Taylor, Roland Hold, Enrico Toffi

Addresses: MBDA, 1 Avenue Reaumur 92 350 Le Plessis Robinson, France. ' MBDA, 1 Avenue Reaumur 92 350 Le Plessis Robinson, France. ' MBDA, 1 Avenue Reaumur 92 350 Le Plessis Robinson, France. ' MBDA, 1 Avenue Reaumur 92 350 Le Plessis Robinson, France

Abstract: Missile aerodynamics addresses a speed range extending from low subsonic to high supersonic and the full range of vehicle incidence and body roll angles. Furthermore, airframe design is constrained by many operational aspects. This paper presents an overview of specific challenges associated with data uncertainty and dispersion assessment for missile aerodynamics and gives several examples for autopilot design, thrust-drag assessment in the different flight conditions and clearance from aircraft. Some of these challenges are at the leading edge of the present knowledge as the prediction of the thrust-drag balance of a hypersonic air-breathing vehicle of the accurate evaluation of the risk probability of a missile separation.

Keywords: missile aerodynamics; data uncertainty; dispersion assessment; subsonic; supersonic; hypersonic; boundary layer transition; performance; thrust-minus-drag prediction; clearance from aircraft; vehicle incidence angle; body roll angle; autopilot design; thrust-drag assessment; flight conditions; risk probability; missile separation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESMS.2010.031875

International Journal of Engineering Systems Modelling and Simulation, 2010 Vol.2 No.1/2, pp.99 - 108

Published online: 27 Feb 2010 *

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