The objective of this thesis is to conduct a study to evaluate the feasibility of the hit-to-kill trajectory-shaping (TS) guidance of an air-launched missile from a UCAV against enemy ballistic missiles via computer simulation, using a TS-guidance algorithm developed by LT Lukacs and Prof Yakimenko based on the direct method of calculus of variations that maximizes the kinetic energy transfer of an air-launched missile against an aerial target. The computer simulation code will generate the air-launched missile's entire flight path in order to minimize the distance travelled by the air-launched missile, minimize the time to intercept, and maximize kinetic energy transfer to the target (a simulated enemy missile) by controlling the interception geometry while providing near-optimal flight path to interception. This will be done by utilizing the direct method of calculus of variations combined with inverse dynamics theory to generate, in real time, an optimal flight path using the missile's onboard sensors and computers. The results have confirmed the feasibility of hit-to-kill trajectory-shaping (TS) guidance of an air-launched anti-ballistic missile from a UCAV.

Subjects: Mechanical engineering.; Ballistic Missile Interception; UCAV; Trajectory-Shaping; Guidance Algorithm; Direct Method of Calculus