PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A DUAL-PULSE ROCKET MOTOR IN BEYOND-VISUAL-RANGE AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE ENGAGEMENTS
International Aviation Technologies and Applications Conference 2025, İzmir, Türkiye, 20 - 22 Kasım 2025, ss.38, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: İzmir
- Basıldığı Ülke: Türkiye
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.38
- Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Modern air combat is increasingly characterized by Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagements, where missile performance across different speed, altitude, and engagement geometries plays a decisive role. The purpose of this study is to investigate the tactical and kinematic benefits of dual-pulse solid rocket motors compared to conventional single-pulse designs, without requiring additional volume — as observed in the similar evolution from AIM-120C to AIM-120D. A literature review was conducted on the algorithms used for double-pulse air-to-air missile motors and their ignition timings, which were then utilized in this article. Single-pulse motors provide limited flexibility, particularly in terminal phases against maneuvering, approaching or retreating targets. The central hypothesis of this research is that dual-pulse propulsion can significantly enhance engagement flexibility by extending maximum range in long-distance intercepts while also delivering higher endgame velocities for shorter intercept ranges. A six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) missile model was developed to simulate diverse operational conditions, including headon and tail-chase engagements under varying speed and altitude profiles. The tactical timing of the second pulse is investigated with respect to the terminal phase and extending range . Furthermore, the improvements achieved under different engagement scenarios with single-pulse and dual-pulse motors will be comparatively evaluated. In this study, analyses conducted demonstrated that the double-pulse rocket motor offers an advantage to the air-to-air missile in terms of both engagement speed and duration. The missile's ability to reach the target at a higher velocity significantly increases the probability of a hit. It was observed that the ignition time of the second stage can significantly affect the missile's performance. It has been established that the double-pulse rocket motor can significantly enhance the air-to-air missile's capabilities in terms of both engagement velocity and range. However, the necessity for functions capable of predicting the appropriate ignition timing has been identified. The findings of this study will enable the acquisition of data for developing a machine learning function that determines optimal ignition timings across varying engagement conditions.