Examines the control engineering aspects of guided weapon systems with a treatment of the use of multi-loop closed loop control theory. Includes an account of the design of optimal servos, autopilots, target trackers, & control instrumentation.

Over the past half century, guided weapons have developed faster than any other form of weapon system, and they now exert a major influence on international politics, strategy, and tactics. Guided Weapons explains the technology and development of such systems and their use on the battlefield against armored vehicles, ground targets, and aircraft. This new edition has been fully revised and updated to include all recent advances in the field, with particular emphasis on fiber-optic guidance.

From the Back Cover: In US Guided Missiles renowned aviation historian Bill Yenne has produced, for the first time, a comprehensive guide to the widely varied United States guided missile systems that have been designated with the "M" prefix. Beginning with the 1950s MGM-1 Matador-a jet-propelled cruise missile inspired by Germany's wartime V-1 "Flying Bomb" -and the MGM-5 Corporal, evolved from the German V2 ballistic missile, US Guided Missiles charts the evolution of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) such as the Atlas, Titan, Minuteman and Peacekeeper. The Atlas and Titan later became famous as the basis for the launch vehicles that carried the first American astronauts into space. Meanwhile the Rim-2 and MIM-3 Nike Ajax had their roots in anti-aircraft missiles of World War II. Having begun with the earliest Cold War guided missiles, this book progresses through Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) such as the UGM-73 Poseidon and UGM-96 Trident, to the later cruise missiles such as the BGM-109 Tomahawk. The roster of systems includes the hugely successful air-to-air 'Sidewinder', as well as little-known and obscure missiles, and modern systems in use today including the AIM-120 AMRAAM and RIM-162 Standard Missiles. From the earliest post-war rockets, through the Cold War to modern weapons, US Guided Missiles shows how guided missile systems have changed the face of warfare, illustrated throughout with rare and previously unseen images, and with extensive appendices, this book is an essential reference for any aviation, aerospace or military historian and enthusiast.

First Published in 1993. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Guided missiles have been used by militaries around the world since World War II. Readers explore the history behind the developments in guided missile technology from the earliest uses of these weapons to the most advanced guided missiles used today. Detailed text, photographs, and fact boxes provide readers with a comprehensive look at the impact guided missiles have had on modern warfare. Readers also learn the countermeasures put in place to protect against the use of these weapons. What guides these weapons? The answers to this question and many more are found with each turn of the page.

A revised and updated edition including all advances in the field of guided weapons, with particular emphasis on fibre-optic guidance. It explains the technology and development of weapon systems and their use on the battlefield against armoured vehicles, ground targets and aircraft.