Distributed group cooperative guidance for multiple missiles with fixed and switching directed communication topologies

Distributed group cooperative guidance (DGCG) problems for multiple missiles with fixed and switching directed communication topologies are dealt with. In contrast to traditional cooperative guidance utilized to intercept one single target, the group cooperative guidance is applicable to multiple targets. In the group cooperative attack, multi-missile system is classified into multiple subgroups, and each subgroup attacks its respective target. Missiles in the same subgroup are required to reach the target simultaneously, while different subgroups may cooperate successively in terms of the impact time. To realize the group cooperative attack, a two-step guidance strategy is developed. The first step adopts a DGCG law based on local neighboring information for multiple missiles to realize group consensus on range-to-go and leading angle. The second step begins when the group consensus of missiles is achieved. During this step, each missile attacks the target under the proportional navigation guidance law. Derived from feedback linearization and convergence analysis, sufficient conditions for multiple missiles to realize the group cooperative attack with fixed and switching directed communication topologies are proposed, respectively. Finally, numerical examples with two subgroups are given to show the effectiveness of the two-step guidance strategy.