Thesis - Leigh Moody.pdf - Bad Request - Cranfield University

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Chapter 1 / Introduction
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Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Politics and Markets
The Persian Gulf and Bosnia crises highlighted the importance of high
precision stand-off weapon systems for “surgical” strikes against heavily
defended, high value targets where collateral damage was politically
unacceptable. The result has been mounting pressure from military leaders
on research establishments for highly accurate munitions and standoff
delivery systems.
Stealthy delivery and high kill probabilities, without endangering the launch
platform, will be key factors in future strategic planning. The demand for a
single-shot capability has also promoted the importance of high reliability,
and the emergence of reversionary mode capabilities.
These pressures are influencing research into new missile systems with
more emphasis on reliable designs and minimising collateral damage in
limited military engagements. Weapon procurement agencies are now
placing contracts that demand unprecedented levels of performance:
• Expansion of operating envelopes with higher kill probability
• All weather capability
• Increased stealth
• Resistance to sophisticated and multiple countermeasures
• Ability to cope with highly manoeuvrable targets in a cluttered, multiple
target environment
These requirements are being met by new and emerging technologies
combined with an unprecedented increase in computing power leading to
the production of the most expensive and sophisticated weapon systems
ever built. These are the so called “smart” weapons, integrated onto equally
expensive launchers such as the EF2000 and Type 45 destroyer, in some
cases at a cost beyond the capacity of any one country to produce.
The proportion of the missile market by theatre of application is reproduced
in Table 1-1 [P.1] . Over the last decade aerospace companies have merged,
1-1