Development and Evaluation of an Active Radio Frequency Seeker Model for a Missile with Data-Link Capability

Abstract: To develop and maintain a modern combat aircraft it is important to have simple, yet accurate, threat models to support early stages of functional development. Therefore this thesis develops and evaluates a model of an active radio frequency (RF) seeker for a missile with data-link capability. The highly parametrized MATLAB-model consists of a pulse level radar model, a tracker using either interacting multiple models (IMM) or particle filters, and a guidance law. Monte Carlo simulations with the missile model indicate that, under the given conditions, the missile performs well (hit rate>99%) with both filter types, and the model is relatively insensitive to lost data-link transmissions. It is therefore under normal conditions not worthwhile to use the more computer intense particle filter today, however when the data-link degrades the particle filter performs considerably better than the IMM filter. Analysis also indicate that the measurements generated by the radar model are neither independent, white nor Gaussian. This contradicts the assumptions made in this, and many other radar applications. However, the performance of the model suggests that the assumptions are acceptable approximations of actual conditions, but further studies within this are recommended to verify this.