US Patent 7473876 Boost phase intercept missile fire control system architecture

A fire control system for a boost phase threat missile includes sensors for generating target-missile representative signals, and a multi-hypothesis track filter, which estimates the states of various target hypotheses. The estimated states are typed to generate hypotheses and their likelihoods. The states, hypotheses and likelihoods are applied to a multihypothesis track filter, and the resulting propagated states are applied to an engagement planner, together with the hypotheses and likelihoods. The engagement planner initializes the interceptor(s). Interceptor guidance uses the initialization and the propagated states and typing information to command the interceptor.