CLOS+IRTH composite guidance

A composite guidance scheme based on the command to line-of-sight (CLOS)+infrared terminal homing (IRTH) for a short-range surface-to-air missile system is proposed in an attempt to complement drawbacks of a single guidance law. Launch boundaries for a successful guidance handover are analyzed according to missile maneuverability and seeker gimbal angle limits. This paper also concentrates on developing practical guidance laws for the IRTH phase in the presence of inherent missile heading errors at the time of guidance handover and missile deceleration due to aerodynamic drag.