Abstract: A supersonic guided weapon has radiation sensitive apparatus carried behind a radiation transparent window the window being formed within an open recess in the weapon nose, the recess being such that at supersonic speeds it forms shock waves which trap air within the recess to provide a measure of kinetic heat insulation for the window and also a minimum of supersonic drag. An elongate nose region can be provided ahead of the recess to house further radiation sensitive or radiation emitting apparatus.

Abstract: In an aerial or space missile guidance system, the direction of the resultant applied force vector relative to the line of sight from the missile to the target is controlled by measuring the rate of turn of the line of sight and turning the missile frame appropriately until the resultant force vector points in a direction to reduce any error in the missile flight path. A signal representing rate of turn of the line of sight is derived, amplified by a predetermined multiplication factor, and then algebraically summed with a second signal representing the angle between the resultant force vector and the longitudinal axis of the missile. The result of this first summation is then algebraically summed with a third signal representing the angle between the missile longitudinal axis and the target line of sight to obtain an error signal for application to the missile control actuation system.

Abstract: An auxiliary aerodynamic or hydrodynamic control assembly is provided for a vehicle, such as a guided missile, travelling in a fluid medium, which assembly comprises a number of, say three, control surfaces each carried at the inner end of an arm that is mounted at its outer end on a pivot situated at or near the periphery of a housing of circular cross section, the arm pivots being spaced equidistantly around said periphery. In its neutral or undeflected position each arm extends radially inward from the respective pivot and the control surface it carries, which is generally in the form of a circular arc centered on the pivot, lies retracted wholly within the housing. Angular movement of each arm about its pivot in one direction or the other causes one or the other half of the respective control surface to project from the housing. Different combinations of movement of the several control surfaces give rise to moments in roll, pitch or yaw.