LAUNCHER/GUN POSITIONING.—The
third operation that must be performed is the
positioning of the gun/launcher, based on the
calculated line of fire to the future target position. This
amounts to using the gun/launcher drive mechanism to
offset the gun/launcher axis from the LOS by the
amount of the predicted lead angle. In some cases, the
missile is positioned (guided) in flight by the fire
control system.
GUIDANCE (MISSILES).—For the Guided
Missile Fire Control System (GMFCS), additional
functions must be performed during the time the
missile is in flight. Prior to launching, the fire control
computer performs certain computations to provide
the missile with information about the target and its
own flight path. If the target maneuvers during the
missile’s flight, the computer can send course
correction data to the missile via the fire control radar
or the missile can correct itself.
EVALUATION.—The fire control radar displays
are used to evaluate the weapon’s destruction of the
target. If the missile misses the target or causes only
minor damage, additional weapons can be used. In
missile fire control, another missile is fired. In gun fire
control, corrections are made to bring the fall of shot
onto a target using the radar indicators, optical
devices, or spotter corrections. Normally, a target
will be fired at until it is evaluated as either destroyed
or damaged to the point it is no longer a threat.
1-20
DETECTION
ACQUISITION
AND
TRACKING
PREDICTION
GUN OR
LAUNCHER
POSITIONING
GUIDANCE
EVALUATION
FCRf0123
Figure 1-23.—Fire-control problem sequence.
