REACHABLE DOMAIN FOR INTERCEPTION AT HYPERBOLIC SPEEDS

The interception of an ICBM at low altitude and in a short time requir es hyperbolic speeds. At the acquisition time t0, if updated informati on about the trajectory of the target dictates a velocity correction f or the interception, then it is of interest to assess the potential fo r interception. The reachable surface is defined as the boundary of th e set of all attainable points at a given time t, for a fuel potential , conveniently expressed in terms of the DELTAv available. Properties of this surface are derived and its mathematical characterization is o btained. As an application of the concept, a necessary condition for a successful interception of a target given in terms of a capture funct ion is explicitly derived.