How is GPS or inertial navigation used in THAAD interceptor guidance?

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Multiple Choice

How is GPS or inertial navigation used in THAAD interceptor guidance?

The key idea is that the THAAD interceptor uses an onboard navigation system that continuously tracks its own position and velocity, and this navigation is improved with external updates. The missile relies on its inertial navigation system to guide its flight, while the ground-based fire-control radar tracks the target and provides trajectory updates to steer the interceptor toward the predicted intercept point. GPS signals, when available, help keep the onboard navigation accurate by correcting drift. This combination lets the interceptor fly autonomously toward the intercept while the ground system refines the path, with the final kill achieved by the interceptor’s terminal infrared seeker. A purely ground-based guidance scheme isn’t how THAAD operates, and star-tracking or no-navigation aren’t used in this system.

The key idea is that the THAAD interceptor uses an onboard navigation system that continuously tracks its own position and velocity, and this navigation is improved with external updates. The missile relies on its inertial navigation system to guide its flight, while the ground-based fire-control radar tracks the target and provides trajectory updates to steer the interceptor toward the predicted intercept point. GPS signals, when available, help keep the onboard navigation accurate by correcting drift. This combination lets the interceptor fly autonomously toward the intercept while the ground system refines the path, with the final kill achieved by the interceptor’s terminal infrared seeker. A purely ground-based guidance scheme isn’t how THAAD operates, and star-tracking or no-navigation aren’t used in this system.

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