Abstract: There is provided a rocket trajectory estimating method comprising the steps of: measuring a GLOS angle of a flying rocket a tracking system; passing the GLOS angle data through a batch filter to reduce noises; estimating a rocket trajectory on the basis of the GLOS angle data, the noises of which have been reduced; passing the resulting rocket trajectory data through a Kalman filter to reduce biases; and estimating the rocket trajectory again on the basis of the corrected GLOS angle data and the positional information of the tracking system. Thus, there is provide a rocket trajectory estimating method capable of reducing observation errors (noises and biases) of a tracking system of a passive ranging system, which does not have need of any laser range finders, to enhance the accuracy of rocket trajectory estimation.

Abstract: An imaging self-referencing target tracker (10) for a laser weapon (12). The weapon generates a first beam of radiation (14) that engages a target (16) to form a beam hit spot (20) thereon. In a first embodiment, a target illuminator (22) (variant 1) illuminates the target with a second beam of radiation (23a). An optics subsystem (30) receives and separately images the first and second beams (23b, 24) of radiation. In a second embodiment, a blocking filter (40) is implemented rather than an illumination laser to pass only radiation at the target wavelength, thereby ensuring that the first and second beams of radiation are separately imaged. A controller (32) is programmed to steer the first and second beams of radiation to the desired target aim point (18) in response to information from the imaged first and second beams of radiation.

Abstract: A method for assigning a target within a cluster of targets to a specific one of a plurality N of weapons launched from M airplanes is provided. The method includes providing the specific weapon with an index (m,n) based on the weapon bay n and the airplane m from which it is to be launched, receiving the central location and determining the shape of the cluster; dividing the cluster shape into N sub-clusters wherein each sub-cluster n has M sectors m, determining the center of gravity of each sector; associating the specific weapon with the sector having index (m,n); and assigning a target from among the targets in the associated sector to the specific weapon.

Abstract: In an aiming or sighting device and an aiming method for determining the impact point of a ballistic flying body such as a rocket or a tube weapon projectile, specific characteristic values of the ballistic flying body are stored in a memory and an evaluating stage produces control signals in response to the specific characteristic values and in response to actual supplied system parameters. The control signals are transmitted to a display and to an adjustment drive. A model of the trajectory of the ballistic flying body is produced on the basis of all respective possible actual system parameters in an evaluating stage, whereby the trajectory is subdivided into at least two phases, each with a respective submodel. The submodel of the first phase is thereby a model with three or six degrees of freedom and the submodel of the second phase is a model with three degrees of freedom. An input unit permits adjusting the mode of operation and the correction of the impact location.

Abstract: A mobile space lift range system using a ground control station and an unmanned airborne vehicle that relayed data to and from a space lift vehicle to control it. The unmanned airborne vehicle may selectively include one or more sensor systems, a radar system, a command and telemetry system, and a user test system. The unmanned airborne vehicle is a high attitude, long endurance vehicle that provides a flexible, mobile range to support launch-anywhere space lift scenarios.