VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL

UNIVERSITY
JNANA SANGAMA , BELGAVI-
590018.
AMC ENGINEERING. COLLEGE.

TECHNICAL SEMINAR ON
“LASER GUIDED MISSILES”

PRESENTED BY
B GANESH SHANKAR
1AM17ME016.

Under the guidance of

Prof. SANTHOSH KUMAR B.K
Department of Mechanical Engineering.
 INTRODUCTION

–Laser guidance is a technique of guiding a missile or other projectile or vehicle to a target by means of
a laser beam. Some laser guided systems utilize beam riding guidance, but most operate more similarly
to semi-active radar homing (SARH). This technique is sometimes called SALH, for Semi-Active Laser
Homing. With this technique, a laser is kept pointed at the target and the laser radiation bounces off the
target and is scattered in all directions (this is known as “painting the target”, or “laser painting”). The
missile, bomb, etc. is launched or dropped somewhere near the target. When it is close enough that
some of the reflected laser energy from the target reaches it, a laser seeker detects which direction this
energy is coming from and adjusts the projectile trajectory towards the source. As long as the projectile
is in the general area and the laser is kept aimed at the target, the projectile should be guided accurately
to the target.
–Note that laser guidance is not useful against targets that do not reflect much laser energy, including
those coated in special paint which absorbs laser energy. This is likely to be widely used by advanced
military vehicles in order to make it harder to use laser rangefinders against them and harder to hit
them with laser- guided missiles. An obvious circumvention would be to aim the laser merely close to
the target.
BACKGROUND –Missiles differ from rockets by virtue of a guidance system that
steers them towards a pre-selected target. Unguided, or free-flight,
rockets proved to be useful yet frequently inaccurate weapons
when fired from aircraft during the World War II. This inaccuracy,
often resulting in the need to fire many rockets to hit a single target,
led to the search for a means to guide the rocket towards its target.
The concurrent explosion of radio-wave technology (such as radar
and radio detection devices) provided the first solution to this
problem. Several warring nations, including the United States,
Germany and Great Britain mated existing rocket technology with
new radio- or radar-based guidance systems to create the world's
first guided missiles. Although these missiles were not deployed in
large enough numbers to radically divert the course of the World
War II, the successes that were recorded with them pointed out
techniques that would change the course of future wars. Thus
dawned the era of high-technology warfare, an era that would
quickly demonstrate its problems as well as its promise.
MISSILE COMPONENTS
• Guided missiles are made up of a series of subassemblies. The various subassemblies form a major section of
the overall missile to operate a missile system, such as guidance, control, armament (warhead and fuzing), and
propulsion. The major sections are carefully joined and connected to each other. They form the complete missile
assembly. The arrangement of major sections in the missile assembly varies, depending on the missile type.

•  

• The guidance section is the brain of the missile. It directs its maneuvers and causes the maneuvers to be
executed by the control section. The armament section carries the explosive charge of the missile, and the fuzing and
firing system by which the charge is exploded. The propulsion section provides the force that propels the missile.
• Guidance and Control Section

•The complete missile guidance

system includes the electronic sensing
systems that initiate the guidance
orders and the control system that
carries them out. The elements for
missile guidance and missile control
can be housed in the same section of
the missile, or they can be in separate
sections.
• ACTIVE

•In the active homing system, target illumination is

supplied by a component carried in the missile, such as a radar
transmitter. The radar signals transmitted from the missile are
reflected off the target back to the receiver in the missile. These
reflected signals give the missile information such as the target's
distance and speed. This information lets the guidance section
compute the correct angle of attack to intercept the target. The
control section that receives electronic commands from the
guidance section controls the missile’s angle of attack.
Mechanically manipulated wings, fins, or canard control surfaces
are mounted externally on the body of the weapon. They are
actuated by hydraulic, electric, or gas generator power, or
combinations of these to alter the missile's course.
• PASSIVE

•In the passive homing system, the directing

intelligence is received from the target. Examples of
passive homing include homing on a source of infrared
rays (such as the hot exhaust of jet aircraft) or radar
signals (such as those transmitted by ground radar
installations). Like active homing, passive homing is
completely independent of the launching aircraft. The
missile receiver receives signals generated by the target
and then the missile control section functions in the same
manner as previously discussed.
MISSILE CONTROL
SYSTEM
The heart of a missile is the body, equivalent to
the fuselage of an aircraft. The missile body
contains the guidance and control system,
warhead, and propulsion system. Some missiles
may consist of only the body alone, but most
have additional surfaces to generate lift and
provide maneuverability. Depending on what
source you look at, these surfaces can go by
many names. In particular, many use the generic
term "fin" to refer to any aerodynamic surface
on a missile. Missile designers, however, are
more precise in their naming methodology and
generally consider these surfaces to fall into
three major categories: canards, wings, and tail
fins.
 • The example shown above illustrates a generic missile configuration equipped with all three surfaces. Often times, the terms canard, wing, and fin are used
interchangeably, which can get rather confusing. These surfaces behave in fundamentally different ways, however, based upon where they are located with
respect to the missile center of gravity. In general, a wing is a relatively large surface that is located near the center of gravity while a canard is a surface near the
missile nose and a tail fin is a surface near the aft end of the missile.

• Most missiles are equipped with at least one set of aerodynamic surfaces, especially tail fins since these surfaces provide stability in flight. The majority of
missiles are also equipped with a second set of surfaces to provide additional lift or improved control. Very few designs are equipped with all three sets of
surfaces. Most aircraft have fixed horizontal and vertical tails with smaller movable rudder and elevator surfaces, missiles typically use all-moving surfaces, like
those illustrated below, to accomplish the same purpose.

•  

• In order to turn the missile during flight, at least one set of aerodynamic surfaces is designed to rotate about a center pivot point. In so doing, the
angle of attack of the fin is changed so that the lift force acting on it changes. The changes in the direction and magnitude of the forces acting on the missile cause
it to move in a different direction and allow the vehicle to maneuver along its path and guide itself towards its intended target.
MANUFACTURING
PROCESS
•A laser guided missile consists of four important components, each
of which contains different raw materials. These four components are the
missile body, the guidance system (also called the laser and electronics
suite), the propellant, and the warhead. The missile body is made from steel
alloys or high-strength aluminum alloys that are often coated with
chromium along the cavity of the body in order to protect against the
excessive pressures and heat that accompany a missile launch. The guidance
system contains various types of materials—some basic, others high-tech—
that are designed to give maximum guidance capabilities.

•These materials include a photo detecting sensor and optical filters,

with which the missile can interpret laser wavelengths sent from a parent
aircraft. The photo detecting sensor's most important part is its sensing
dome, which can be made of glass, quartz, and/or silicon. A missile's
electronics suite can contain gallium-arsenide semiconductors, but some
suites still rely exclusively on copper or silver wiring. Guided missiles use
nitrogen-based solid propellants as their fuel source. Certain additives (such
as graphite or nitroglycerine) can be included to alter the performance of the
propellant. The missile's warhead can contain highly explosive nitrogen-
based mixtures, fuel-air explosives (FAE), or phosphorous compounds. The
warhead is typically encased in steel, but aluminum alloys are sometimes
used as a substitute.
• Assembling the guidance system

•The principal laser components—the photo detecting sensor and optical

filters—are assembled in a series of operations that are separate from the rest of the
missile's construction. Circuits that support the laser system are then soldered onto
pre-printed boards; extra attention is given to optical materials at this time to protect
them from excessive heat, as this can alter the wavelength of light that the missile
will be able to detect. The assembled laser subsystem is now set aside pending final
assembly. The circuit boards for the electronics suite are also assembled
independently from the rest of the missile. If called for by the design, microchips are
added to the boards at this time.

• The guidance system (laser components plus the electronics suite) can now
be integrated by linking the requisite circuit boards and inserting the entire assembly
into the missile body through an access panel. The missile's control surfaces are then
linked with the guidance system by a series of relay wires, also entered into the
missile body via access panels. The photo detecting sensor and its housing, however,
are added at this point only for beam riding missiles, in which case the housing is
carefully bolted to the exterior diameter of the missile near its rear, facing backward
to interpret the laser signals from the parent aircraft.

•  

• 6.5. Final assembly

• Insertion of the warhead constitutes the final assembly phase of guided missile
construction. Great care must be exercised during this process, as mistakes can lead
to catastrophic accidents.
Byproducts/Waste

• Propellants and explosives used in warheads are toxic if introduced into water supplies. Residual amounts of
these materials must be collected and taken to a designated disposal site for burning. Each state maintains its
own policy pertaining to the disposal of explosives, and Federal regulations require that disposal sites be
inspected periodically. Effluents (liquid byproducts) from the chromium coating process can also be
hazardous. This problem is best dealt with by storing the effluents in leak-proof containers. As an additional
safety precaution, all personnel involved in handling any hazardous wastes should be given protective
clothing that includes breathing devices, gloves, boots and overalls.
 ADVANTAGES OF LASER GUIDED MISSILES

• Laser guided weapons, such as the Lockheed Martin Hellfire, and Lahat and Nimrod, developed by
IAI/MBT offer many advantages for heliborne and airborne use. The SAL seeker is relatively low cost,
offering high precision operational flexibility, despite its adverse weather limitations.

• This concept of operation places high priority on target designation capabilities, deployed close to the
target by unmanned platforms and Special Forces. Not every laser seeker will be suitable for the task. Only
the more sophisticated missiles offer the flexibility and field of regard ('side looking') capability adequate for
effective lock-on after launch targeting. Such capability seldom requires their seeker to be mounted on a
gimbal, to achieve adequate field of regard, something that simple, low-cost stiff-necked or static seeker
assemblies may not support.
 •The LAHAT laser guided missile is lightweight
weapon can be employed by light helicopters. It can be fired
at targets over distances between 8 to 13 kilometers, with
devastating effects against armor as well as softer targets.
Besides its potential helicopter application, LAHAT is
considered by several armies for its original role as gun-fired
laser-homing munition for tanks. Nimrod, a much larger
missile, has also been evaluated as a helicopter borne weapon.
Utilizing its extended range (over 22 km), this missile is often
used in 'lock on after launch' mode, combining inertial
guidance and semi- active laser homing to strike targets at
long ranges.

•With the availability of such 'net centric' precision

attack missiles, the role of attack helicopters is also re-
examined, and several air forces and manufacturers are
already considering using assault helicopters for some attack
roles, employed either as a 'sky truck' or in direct support,
when they are fitted with target acquisition systems.
DISADVANTAGES
• Laser guided weapons are no good in the rain or in
weather condition where there is sufficient cloud
cover.
• Laser guidance is not useful against targets that do
not reflect much much laser energy, including those
coated in special paint which absorbs laser energy.
• Most criminal limitation of an LGB is that the
detector needs to be able to see the laser spot at
the most of the times and definitely short of hitting
the target.
 THE FUTURE LASER GUIDED MISSILES

• Future laser guided missile systems will carry their own miniaturized laser on board,
doing away with the need for target designator lasers on aircraft. These missiles,
currently under development in several countries, are called "fire-and-forget"
because a pilot can fire one of these missiles and forget about it, relying on the
missile's internal laser and detecting sensor to guide it towards its target. A further
development of this trend will result in missiles that can select and attack targets on
their own. Once their potential has been realized, the battlefields of the world will
feel the deadly venom of these "brilliant missiles" for years to come. An even more
advanced concept envisions a battle rifle for infantry that also fires small, laser
guided missiles. Operation Desert Storm clearly showed the need for laser guided
accuracy, and, as a result, military establishments dedicated to their missions will
undoubtedly invent and deploy ever more lethal versions of laser guided missiles.
CONCLUSION

•In World War II it could take 9,000

bombs to hit a target the size of an aircraft
shelter. In Vietnam, 300. Today we can do it
with one laser-guided missile. Laser guided
missile can be fired at targets ranging 8 to 13
kilometers and some like LAHAT laser guided
missile up to 22 kilometers. Though many
missiles are developed, they don’t find accuracy
as in the reaching the target. Laser guided
missile has be one of dangerous missile in war
field in past and will be the future.
GENERAL
KNOWLEDGE
• An indigenously developed laser-guided anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) was
successfully test fired on Thursday in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar,  defeating a target
located at longer range. It was the second such successful test firing of the missile,
having a range of up to 5 km, in the last 10 days, officials said.
• The weapon was test fired from an MBT Arjun Tank at KK Ranges in Armoured Corps
Centre and School (ACC&S) in Ahmednagar, in continuation of successful trial done on
September 22.
• The ATGM employs a tandem heat warhead to defeat Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA)
protected armoured vehicles in ranges from 1.5 to 5 km, the Defence Ministry said in a
statement. It said the ATGM has been developed with a capability to launch from
multiple platforms and is currently undergoing technical evaluation trials from 120 mm
rifled gun of MBT Arjun.
• The Arjun is a third generation main battle tank developed by the DRDO.