Cruise-missile-carrier navigation requirements

This paper addresses the modeling, simulation, and performance predictions used in determining aircraft avionics and transfer-alignment requirements for a generic aircraft that would launch cruise missiles over water, a considerable distance from a first TERCOM (terrain comparison) update area. Such would be the case for an undefended wide-body aircraft that must remain far away from an opponent's air defense system. This long standoff range presents some unique requirements that are not present in a mission where cruise missiles are launched "close" to the first fix point, as from a penetrating bomber. The methodology used and the system requirements' results are described. I. Introduction T HIS paper describes the methodology and results of a parametric study conducted to determine the navigation requirements for cruise missile (CM) carrier aircraft (CMCA) candidates.1 Section II of this paper describes the methodology used in allocating the allowable navigation errors between the CM guidance system and the CMCA avionics system. From this baseline error allocation, avionics and transfer-alignment tradeoff studies were conducted. These tradeoff studies are described in Sees. Ill and IV, respectively. In Sec. V, a total weapon-system evaluation from aircraft takeoff to CM impact is presented which validates the error allocation of Sec. II for the models assumed in the study.