Variable-Structured Interacting Multiple Model Algorithm for the Ballistic Coefficient Estimation of a Re-entry Ballistic Target

This paper presents the ballistic coefficient beta-model based Variable-Structured Interacting Multiple Model (beta-VSIMM) algorithm for real-time tracking of an unknown reentry ballistic target (RBT). Recently, RBT tracking has been a quite challenging subject due to the increase of air attacks in the modem battlefield environments. The RBT dynamics show highly nonlinear characteristics due to a sudden change of the ballistic coefficient of the BET. Thus the ballistic coefficient should be estimated accurately in order to achieve a reliable tracking performance. Various algorithms for RBT tracking have been proposed over several decades, however, the existing algorithms to estimate target states have performance limitations. A comparative assessment of several RBT tracking algorithms is carried out for verifying the tracking performance of the proposed algorithm.This work was supported from Agency for Defense Development (ADD), Korea under the contract UD110030CD