Prospective research and development areas for U.S. cruise and ballistic missile guidance updating systems

U.S. strategic missile forces require high guidance accuracies and reliability for mission effectiveness. A key component in achieving high accuracies is guidance updating. Guidance updating systems based on map-matching techniques are particularly useful in removing uncertainties or maneuvering errors in midcourse and terminal guidance. Map-matching systems compare a real-time sensor image with the prestored reference scene in the missile's computer to determine the along- and cross-track vehicle position error at the update location. This paper discusses potential areas of R&D funding that could improve the effectiveness of map-matching guidance updating systems, and estimates their potential payoff, technical risk, and required funding level. The R&D areas addressed are missile sensors, missile processing algorithms, scene modeling and simulation, system integration, fix quality evaluation, application of space assets, and advanced applications. Potential payoffs include increased vehicle survivability, operational coverage, update reliability, and force effectiveness.