Detect to Engage/The Fire

Control Solution
Naval Weapons Systems
 We will learn:
How the target is detected,
How the target is tracked,
How the weapon is launched,
How the weapon is propelled,
How the weapon finds the target,
How the weapon knows when to detonate,
How the weapon detonates.
What is missing is the Fire Control Solution
This is normally a topic for the end of this course but I
put it here at the beginning so you can see the “big
picture”. Then as we go over the parts, you will be able
to see where they fit.
 Learning Objectives:
1. Comprehend the basic geometry of the fire control
problem.
2. Apply the basic fire control problem.
3. Know the basic factors of the fire control problem.
4. Comprehend the factors effecting the solution of the fire
control problem.
5. Comprehend the basic concepts of relative target motion,
bearing rate, and speed across line-of-sight.
6. Comprehend the following exterior ballistic effects upon
the trajectory of the weapon: gravity, drag, wind, drift
and Coriolis force.
7. Know the basic concepts of the detect-to-engage
sequence.
 Detect-to-engage sequence:
1. Target is detected by one or more sensors.
2. Additional sensors are used to gain better
information on the target.
3. Target information sent to other units through the
NTDS or other means.
4. Target is identified.
5. Original unit or other unit completes a threat
analysis.
6. Operational commander evaluates the threat and the
ability to counter the threat.
7. Operational commander assigns a launch platform, if
necessary, based on threat evaluation.
8. Launch platform completes the fire control solution,
assigns a weapon, and attacks the target.
 Detection, with Radar
 Detection is normally achieved by a radar
optimized for long range detection of
targets.
 The compromises in radar design in order to
achieve detection at long range often results in
radar characteristics that require another radar
optimized to provide the accuracy required for a
Fire Control Solution.
 Examples of Detection radars (often
called Early Warning Radars) are the
SPS-49, SPS-48, AN/SPS-145 (E-2C)
 The Fire Control Problem

Fire control problem can be divided into

two components:

1. Effects of relative motion during flight

2. Effects of physical phenomena on the

weapon or exterior ballistics
 Relative Motion and Target
Motion Analysis (TMA)
 Present target position
 Relative velocity
 Own ship motion
 Target motion
 Bearing rate
 Speed across line-of-sight
 Future target position
 Relative Motion
The apparent motion of an object
when viewed from a point.
 Affects of Target Relative Motion
on Range and Bearing

Present Future
Position Position

Ship’s Bearing
Heading Change Range Change
 Solving the Relative Motion
Problem
INPUT
Launch Platform Sensors
Navigation Systems (location) Output
Gyrocompass (course)
Electromagnetic Log (speed)
Dead reckoning Analyzer
Target Course
Depth indicator Target Speed
Target Range
Target Position Target Bearing
Radar (search and fire control)
Sonar
Electronic warfare equipment
Data Systems (NTDS)
 Exterior Ballistics
 Gravity
 Drag
 Wind
 Drift
 Coriolis force
Effects of Gravity
Line of Fire

Line of Sight

Gravity tends to accelerate

objects downward. (The longer
the flight time the more the curve)
 Effects of Drag

Drag is loss of energy of a projectile during flight.

Energy is lost through:

a. Creation of air waves (function of projectile shape)
b. Creation of suction and eddy currents (shape)
c. Formation of heat (friction)

Drag will change the aim point by changing the speed of the
projectile, increasing flight time, increasing curve caused by
gravity.
 Effects of Drift
Drift is caused by the rotation of a projectile (rifling).
Drift results in a lateral displacement in flight path.

Vertical Plane
Drift

Horizontal Plane
 Effects of Wind
Line of Fire
Line of Fire

Wind Wind
Wind

Wind

Horizontal Effects Vertical Effects

 Coriolis Effect
Caused by the earth’s rotation. Results in an apparent
right curve in the northern hemisphere, left in southern.

10 mph

20 mph
 Fire Control Problem
 Input
 Target data
 Own ship data
 Computations
 Relative motion procedure
 Exterior ballistics procedure
 Fire Control Problem Con’t.
 Solutions
 Weapons time of flight
 Bearing rate
 Line of Sight(LOS): The course the weapon must
follow to intercept the target
 Speed across LOS
 Future target position
 Launch angles
 Launch azimuth
 Launch elevation

 Weapon positioning orders

 The Iterative Process to the
Fire Control Solution
a. The bearing
error is used to
The aim point is
change the
where the target
bearing of the aim
is at the time of point.
Step 1 fire. At impact b. Note: If only
the target will Step 2 used bearing
move down its error, the weapon
track. would always fall
short so the range
error is also used

Step 3 Last Step

The iterative process continues until the weapon and the target’s solution
intersect at the flight time of the weapon.
 A 3-Dimensional Problem

Line of Sight

Target
Elevation
Gun
Elevation
Horizontal Reference Plane
What Information does the computer need to solve this problem?
1. Target position
2. Target data over a period of time to determine target course speed and range.
3. Weapons speed to compute time of flight
NOTE: it is actually a lot more complicated.
 Solving the Fire Control
Problem

Continuously Measure Stabilize Measured Compute Relative

Present Target Position Quantities Target Velocity

Environmental Inputs
Weapons Positioning orders
Ballistic
Calculations
Unstabilized Future Time of
Launch Launch Angles Target Flight
Angles (Stabilized)
Position Relative
Motion
Calculations

Prediction Procedure
Questions?