Analysis of WADGPS Postflight Navigation Solutions for Vandal and Hera Missile Tests

James P. Cunningham, Alan G. Evans, Benjamin W. Remondi, Bruce R. Hermann, John H. Merts

Abstract:	Wide Area Differential GPS (WADGPS) techniques have been used in a multitude of low-dynamic applications. This paper demonstrates the potential for WADGPS to navigate the flight of high-dynamic vehicles. Using the data collected during the flight tests of two supersonic missiles, WADGPS navigation solutions were computed and compared to test-range tracking results. The two tests involved the Vandal sea-skimming missile homing on a target at sea, and a high-altitude Hera Modified Ballistic Reentry Vehicle-3 impacting on land. Coarse Acquisition (C/A) code civilian receivers were adapted for each of the tests. In the case of the Vandal test, the modified receiver successfully tracked through 15 g and 450 g/sec dynamics. Data from five reference stations were used to generate the WADGPS correctors, which were applied postflight. Meter-level accuracy of the WADGPS positions was corroborated by comparison between the “real-time” WADGPS positions and postflight carrier phase kinematic positions. Further comparisons were made between the miss distance computed by WADGPS and that of a Doppler radar on the target boat. In the case of the ballistic Hera vehicle, meter-level agreement between the postflight WADGPS navigation solutions and an inertially-aided radar Best Estimate of Trajectory were obtained. With the addition of communication links and computer resources, this technique could be extended to provide positioning real-time. Figures showing both missile flight paths and the accuracy of the WADGPS positions are presented.
Published in:	Proceedings of the 1999 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation January 25 - 27, 1999 Catamaran Resort Hotel San Diego, CA
Pages:	231 - 240
Cite this article:	Cunningham, James P., Evans, Alan G., Remondi, Benjamin W., Hermann, Bruce R., Merts, John H., "Analysis of WADGPS Postflight Navigation Solutions for Vandal and Hera Missile Tests," Proceedings of the 1999 National Technical Meeting of The Institute of Navigation, San Diego, CA, January 1999, pp. 231-240.
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