METEOR AIR TO AIR TECHNOLOGY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

摘要

The Meteor missile system concept and associated technologies have evolved over the past 7 years based on a top down systems design approach driven by the customer requirements and other ongoing innovations within industry. This paper considers the approach taken in the selection of appropriate technologies for each of the component parts of the Meteor missile. Particular attention is given to the Electronics and Power Unit (EPU) and the Propulsion System. The EPU is the missile 'brain' which incorporates the flight control autopilot as part of the system guidance and control function. This item is critical to the satisfactory operation of Meteor due to the asymmetry of the missile airframe, and the normal operating regime of the propulsion system. The propulsion system is considered in depth as it is the only physical item within the missile which can be considered to contain technology which has not previously been applied to air to air weapons. The combat advantages of some of the selected technologies are also briefly explored. The paper concludes that the top down system design approach for Meteor has established a blend of existing and new technologies incorporated together in order to achieve a level of performance unobtainable in other ways, but also ensures that the new technology areas are feasible based on extensive research and risk reduction activities. Significant confidence in the missile design solution has therefore been provided before entering the development programme.