Comparison of Boost Phase Prediction Methods For Missile Defense

This paper addresses the issue of predicting where a boosting threat missile will be several minutes in the future. The prediction issue is important for missile defense because it can be a key factor in determining how heavy an exoatmospheric interceptor has to be. Simplified examples are presented comparing the effectiveness of two prediction methods in terms of accuracy and robustness. Finally the prediction methods are evaluated in an end-to-end engagement simulation to see how they influence the lateral divert requirements of a kill vehicle.