I want to brainstorm something with you guys;
Regarding our concentrated development of laser seeker missiles/free-fall bombs, it is from my understanding that this type of terminal guidance although very cost-effective can also be dependant ideal weather and ranging conditions - as to dissipation of the concentrated light energy that designator emits in coded pulses.
What would be the ideal method of terminal guidance that would truly be all-weather, have a range beyond 25km (laser designators effective cut-off range is around 25km) and be close to the cost of a laser seeker?
Using fiber-optic cables (tiny micro-nanoscale ones,placed-wrapped in the munition). via two-way communication, sensing exact location of the munition from the drone and correcting its path (assuming all advanced sensors are located on the drone). It would heavily rely on machine learning stuff and would have lower PK ratio.
I know, it is quite old school. But establishing two-way communication with a supposed to be cheap munition is not easy as well.
However, it requires low cost-micro scale-ultra flexible fiber technology (if it exists or possible) and sensitive sensors on the munition to presume exact location. The latter one can be achieved via other way around- by placing a micro-SAR on the drone to track the munition and estimate its location (feeding through distance-heading data).
The fiber can be replaced with any kind of two-way communication linkless or linked.
Considering the latter case, with micro-SAR on drone to track the munition, the link is sufficient to be one-way, from drone to the munition. It heavily relies on image processing, machine learning and motion tracking. I assume simple-imaging sensors would be enough for the munition in the very last stage for achieving some accuracy.
Additional thoughts:
Munition can have radar reflector on the rear-side to be tracked easier.
Another question, does SAR has an ability to sense depth of the field?
Does it makes sense? I am an alien on this subject.
domestic.
