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.
C
ph
m
0
2

ph
10 m

ph
m
0
1

Affects of Target Relative Motion

on Range and Bearing
Future
Position

Ra

nge

Present
Position

Pre
sen
t

Ships
Heading
Present
Bearing

Bearing
Change

e
ang
R
ure
t
u
F

Range Change

Solving the Relative Motion

Problem
INPUT
Launch Platform Sensors
Navigation Systems (location)
Gyrocompass (course)
Electromagnetic Log (speed)
Dead reckoning Analyzer
Depth indicator

Target Position
Radar (search and fire control)
Sonar
Electronic warfare equipment
Data Systems (NTDS)

Output
Target Course
Target Speed
Target Range
Target Bearing

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

e
Lin

ire
F
f

Horizontal Plane

Effects of Wind
Line of Fire

Line of Fire

Wind

Wind
Wind
Wind

Horizontal Effects

Vertical Effects

Coriolis Effect
Caused by the earths 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 Cont.

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
The aim point is
where the target
is at the time of
Step 1 fire. At impact
the target will
move down its
track.

Step 3

a. The bearing
error is used to
change the
bearing of the aim
point.
b. Note: If only
Step 2 used bearing
error, the weapon
would always fall
short so the range
error is also used

Last Step

The iterative process continues until the weapon and the targets solution
intersect at the flight time of the weapon.

A 3-Dimensional Problem

ese
r
P

R
nt

e
ng

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
Present Target Position

Stabilize Measured
Quantities

Weapons Positioning orders

Unstabilized
Launch
Angles

Compute Relative
Target Velocity

Environmental Inputs
Ballistic
Calculations

Launch Angles
(Stabilized)

Future
Target
Position

Time of
Flight
Relative
Motion
Calculations

Prediction Procedure

Questions?