The Assessment of Smoke Interference with the Visibility of Missile Tracking Beacons. Part 1. General Observations on the Smoke Problems and Trials of Rapier Missile Components
Abstract
A major problem with guided missiles which rely on visual or instrumental detection of light sources on the missile, in order to obtain information on the missile position relative to a target, is attenuation of the radiation emitted from such a source by missile smoke. Additionally smoke may obscure the target. A technique has been devised for measurement of the radiation attenuating properties of the smoke emitted by missile components, either separately or in combination, under simulated flight conditions. The values so obtained for a particular missile (Rapier) have been found comparable with the limited data available from free flight firings, establishing reasonable confidence in the ability to use data obtained under these controlled conditions to predict effects in operational use. An important finding was that smoke measurements made under static conditions (no relative air flow) do not correlate with results obtained from dynamic firings (relative air flow - free flight or wind tunnel conditions).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0520062
Entities
People
- Miriam Budgen
- N. R. Williams