10.1016/j.ifacol.2025.12.210">
 

Enhancing Legacy Interceptors: An Advanced Technique to Emulate Modern Guidance Laws on Classical Guidance Systems

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-22-2025

Abstract

A novel technique is introduced herein intended to enhance legacy interceptors by augmenting the capabilities of antiquated defense systems and thus, extending the operational lifespans of conventional missiles. In the solution proposed, an emulator connects a modern guidance law to a classical guidance system by inserting a virtual target into an engagement between an attacker and real target. By strategically computing the velocity and turn rate commands of the virtual target, a conventional missile, despite being guided solely by proportional navigation, is able to follow a trajectory generated by any guidance law and intercept the real target, as the attacker pursues the virtual target. Introducing a virtual target into an engagement then shifts the modernization of weapons systems from manufacturing hardware to redeveloping software. The feasibility of this method is demonstrated through the simulation of a modern cooperative attack strategy. This approach is in alignment with the Department of Defense's ongoing initiatives towards advancing the nation's weapons systems while managing resources.

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This is an Open Access article published by Elsevier and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License, which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 

Source Publication

IFAC-PapersOnLine (ISSN 2405-8963)

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