Bank-to-turn missile guidance with radar imaging constraints

The problem of optimizing the trajectory for an air-to-surface missile using bank-to-turn steering is addressed. The missile uses a radar imaging seeker to detect targets. A cruise missile scenario is considered that is characterized by low-level flight, followed by a climb and dive onto the target (a "bunt" trajectory). The use of a radar imaging seeker imposes constraints on the missile's trajectory, and these constraints must be made an integral part of any optimization problem. Examples are presented that show that the launch crossrange offset, terminal angle constraints, and the constraints associated with Doppler beam sharpening radars all have a strong influence on the optimal controls. These results provide useful insight into the flight trajectories of these missiles and the way in which they might be implemented.