Please go to the 'Upgrade to a professional qualification' section for more information.
The aim of this course is to provide a general overview of guided weapon systems and technology.
At a glance
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- Dates
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- 20 - 24 Jan 2025
- 19 - 23 May 2025
- Duration5 days
- LocationÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ at Shrivenham
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Cost£2,350 - Short Course for Credit fee
£2,100 - Standalone Short Course fee Concessions available
What you will learn
On successful completion of the course you will be able to:
- Describe in technical detail the elements that make up a guided weapon system,
- Critically discuss the principles involved and the design constraints on guided weapon airframe, propulsion, warhead, control and guidance systems and radar, EO/IR and mmW technologies and how these subsystems interact with one another from a multi-disciplinary optimisation perspective,
- Develop and refine an appropriate conceptual/preliminary guided weapon system design based upon a given set of technical requirements,
- Critically assess the airworthiness impact and integration challenges of guided weapon deployment on an aerial platform.
Core content
Introduction
Introduction to the ‘missile’ and the system; constituent parts of the missile and how they integrate into the complete system; the threat and how it can be countered; overview of subsystem operating principles, requirements and trade-offs.
GW Propulsion – Rockets & Air-Breathers
General principles of reaction thrust and jet propulsion; overview of propulsion system selection criteria; rocket principles of operation; propulsion performance parameter definitions; solid propellant design considerations; air-breather (turbojet, turbofan, ramjet and scramjet) characteristics; component design; propellants; flight mechanics.
Aerodynamics
Airframe materials and structures; subsonic, transonic, supersonic and hypersonic flows; factors affecting aerodynamic lift and drag and means of enhancing lift/drag ratios.
Control
Polar, Cartesian and roll control; aerodynamic and thrust vector control; actuation systems; instrumentation; accelerometers; rate and position gyroscopes; acceleration and velocity control; roll rate and position, lateral acceleration and altitude autopilots.
Guidance
The need for guidance; types of trajectory; system characteristics and classification; command, homing and navigational guidance principles and coverage diagrams.
Radar Surveillance and Target Acquisition
Basic principles of radar systems; antenna beam widths and patterns; antenna sizing; radar range equation; waveforms; range resolution; surveillance requirements; clutter; target acquisition and classification; modes of radar operation; real beam scanning; Doppler and velocity; micro-Doppler; imaging radar systems; synthetic aperture radar; example radar systems.
mmW radar seekers
Attenuation versus frequency; MMW pros and cons; beamwidth versus frequency; antenna considerations; range resolution; Doppler frequency; schematic diagram; range limitations; transmitter power limits; weather attenuation; applications; target recognition; range profiling; waveforms; GW examples.
Electro-optic systems and countermeasures
Homing systems; spin-scan and con-scan techniques; proportional navigation method; pulse modulation without reticle; pseudo imaging systems; pulse width discrimination; imaging and staring systems; advanced seeker examples; flares; counter-countermeasures; jammers; missile approach warners; DIRCM/ATIRCM; retro-reflection.
Laser Principles & Applications
EM spectrum; photon energy, emissions and effects; stimulated emissions and lasers; amplification issues; population inversion; excitation methods; laser materials; pulsed and continuous wave methods; cavities; level laser action; energy levels; Gaussian beam and divergence; laser mode and techniques; laser types; uses (rangefinders, designators, pointers, beam riding, fusing, Directed Energy Weapons).
Warheads
Overview of warheads for guided weapons for attack of armour, airborne targets and ground installations; safety and arming; types of fuse, matching and countermeasures.
Structures & Materials
Loads analysis; stress and structural analysis principles; materials selection considerations; aeroelasticity effects.
Aircraft Integration
Internal and external carriage, store separation and jettison considerations, aerodynamic changes with missile carriage, weapon bay flow types, missile modifications for internal and external carriage, loading and unloading, data transfer and fidelity requirements.
Airworthiness Issues
Factors affecting aircraft airworthiness, and the certification process.
Upgrade to a professional qualification
When taken as a Short Course for Credit, 10 credit points can be put towards either the Gun Systems Design MSc, Military Aerospace and Airworthiness MSc orMilitary Vehicle Technology MSc.
Find out more about short course credit points.
Who should attend
This course is suitable for those individuals who require a general overview of guided weapon technology and design.Speakers
- Dr Derek Bray - (Module Leader)
- Dr Alessio Balleri (Radar STA)
- Dr Stephen Champion (SC and EFP Warheads)
- Dr Christopher Couldrick (Blast/Fragmentation Warheads)
- Mr David Diskett (Guidance)
- Dr John Economou (Control)
- Professor Mark Richardson (EO/IR Systems and Countermeasures)
Concessions
A limited number of MOD sponsored places are available and must complete the course for credits only.
Location and travel
How to apply
To apply for this course please use the online application form.
Read our Professional development (CPD) booking conditions.