Target-Interception Feasibility Assessment Methodology for Air-Launched Weapon Systems

Air-launched weapon systems have a specific requirement of identification of an optimal release point for a better interception of the target. The weapon will have a maximum and minimum range of reachability based on the factors viz. the altitude of release, velocity of release, relative azimuth between the target and the weapon at the time of release, and the available propellant etc. The range coverage of the weapon continuously keeps changing as the aircraft keeps maneuvering and moving at higher velocities. Computation of the maximum and minimum reachable range of the weapon from the current location and checking whether the target is within the reachable zone of the weapon or not is a crucial aspect in the pre-launch activity of the weapon employment. The weapon integration scheme has to ensure that the weapon will be released at an optimal point and in an optimal orientation so that the mission objectives can be met. There are various algorithms involved in achieving this objective. Here, we present one among them; the target interception feasibility assessment. The algorithm is tested with a set of simulated geographic input data of the aircraft and target and the results are accurate.