Game space decomposition study of differential game guidance law for endoatmospheric interceptor missiles

Endoatmospheric interceptor missiles are often steered by dual control systems of aerodynamic-fins and reaction-jets. The maximum operation time of the reaction-jet control system (RCS) is limited by such missile configuration factors as weight and size. A linear game model is formulated in this article with these characteristics. Then, the differential game theory is employed to study the influence of the dual control system on three potential game space structures. Since game space decomposition varies when the RCS is initiated at different times, the initiating timing of the RCS is determined based on game space structures. Finally, a guidance strategy, which can determine the optimal distribution between aerodynamic lift and divert thrust, is provided. The effectiveness of the guidance law is demonstrated by a realistic scenario where zero miss distance cannot be achieved by aerodynamic control alone. It is shown that there is a significant improvement in the homing accuracy.