Hard and Deeply Buried Target Defeat Concept

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Hard and Deeply Buried Target Defeat Concept

N. F. Swinford / D. A. Kudlick

A Mission Need Statement (MNS) written by the United States Strategic Command and the Air Force's Air Combat Command has generated the current study of a Hard and Deeply Buried Target Defeat Capability, which combines target construction and purpose with weapon technologies and capabilities to determine cost effective solutions for hardened target defeat. A promising solution consists of a conventional Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) that delivers a modified, existing reentry body (RB) aeroshell encasing a unitary penetrator. The accuracy is controlled by a tightly coupled Global Positioning Satellite receiver and Inertial Measurement Unit (GPS/IMU) system. This paper examines the benefits and challenges of the SLBM-delivered RB. The selected control system is discussed relative to the performance requirements imposed by the aeroshell size and packaging constraints. One of the major challenges for an SLBM system is slowing down to meet the penetrator constraints. Current RB aerodynamic performance capabilities, trajectory shaping required to meet the penetrator impact conditions, and the control system concept are reviewed. Finally, future areas to be investigated are discussed.