Missile tracking system - detects axial rotation from data derived from polarised reflections, used to make course corrections

Abstract

Abstract The missile to be controlled by the system is steered by rotation, so that assymetrical fins alter the line of flight. The rear end of the missile has a reflective plate, with a number of parallel grooves across its width. The grooves, which are of square section, have a depth of one quarter of the wavelength of the pulsed polarised radiation, e.g. 8 mm radar or 0.1 mm laser light, which is directed at it. The reflection from the grooves will be 90 deg. out of phase with that from the rest of the surface. The intensity of the reflection from the grooves will vary with the angle between the grooves and vertical. The output from the reflection tracking unit (9) is fed via a phase-lock loop (12) and course correction circuit (17) to a computer (19). Position data from another tracking unit (20) is also fed to the computer, which sends (21) roll correction data to the missile.

Inventors

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