Critical Role of a GPS and Radar Aided Inertial Navigation System to a Successful Exo-Atmospheric Intercept of a Ballistic Missile

James L. Anders, Carl Johnson, Alfred M. Luckau, Todd A. Moore, and Renato S. Ornedo

Abstract:	On January 25, 2002, a Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) flight test was conducted off the coast of Kauai to evaluate the SM-3 kinetic weapon’s guidance, navigation, and control capabilities as it engaged a ballistic target missile. It was the fourth in a planned series of nine test flights to demonstrate an exo-atmospheric hit-to-intercept of a ballistic missile target using a ship-based interceptor. The flight test met all its objectives and exceeded it when SM- 3 successfully hit its target. The multi-stage SM-3 was launched from an AEGIS cruiser upon detection of a target missile. The SM-3 third stage was equipped with an inertial navigation system that was aided by an on-board GPS and radar-measured position data uplinked from the ship. The successful intercept depended on the accuracy of the aforementioned navigation system since it was used to align the kinetic weapon prior to its ejection. The operational performance of the inertial navigation system based on the analysis of the January flight test telemetry data is provided. A top level design description of the GPS and radar aided inertial navigation system as well as its navigation accuracy requirements is also provided. Data comparing the differences between the GPS, radar, and inertial navigation solution is presented.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2002) September 24 - 27, 2002 Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR
Pages:	2451 - 2456
Cite this article:	Anders, James L., Johnson, Carl, Luckau, Alfred M., Moore, Todd A., Ornedo, Renato S., "Critical Role of a GPS and Radar Aided Inertial Navigation System to a Successful Exo-Atmospheric Intercept of a Ballistic Missile," Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Meeting of the Satellite Division of The Institute of Navigation (ION GPS 2002), Portland, OR, September 2002, pp. 2451-2456.
Full Paper:	ION Members/Non-Members: 1 Download Credit Sign In