Overview of Missile Flight Control Systems

the guidance system. The types of steering commands vary depending on the phase of flight and the type of interceptor. For example, in the boost phase the flight control system may be designed to force the missile to track a desired flight-path angle or attitude. In the midcourse and terminal phases the system may be designed to track acceleration commands to effect an intercept of the target. This article explores several aspects of the missile flight control system, including its role in the overall missile system, its subsystems, types of flight control systems, design objectives, and design challenges. Also discussed are some of APL’s contributions to the field, which have come primarily through our role as Technical Direction Agent on a variety of Navy missile programs. he flight control system is a key element that allows the missile to meet its system performance requirements. The objective of the flight control system is to force the missile to achieve the steering commands developed by