Study for a 122 mm Artillery Rocket Steered with Lateral Thrusters

The article analyses how lateral correction thrusters can reduce impact point dispersion for a 122 mm artillery rocket. The rocket is assumed to be equipped with a control unit consisting of 36 solid propellant lateral thrusters. A six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) mathematical model of the rocket’s external ballistics was employed to study the effects of various parameters on accuracy across different launch elevation angles. The findings indicate that implementing control algorithms significantly improves the rocket’s accuracy by decreasing the dispersion of the impact points. A key observation from the initial qualitative evaluation is the importance of timing in the activation of the thrusters. Specifically, the results suggest that the lateral thrusters should be triggered shortly after the solid rocket motor finishes its burn phase. This early activation appears crucial to maximizing the effectiveness of the trajectory corrections. Overall, the study demonstrates the potential of integrated control systems to enhance the precision of unguided artillery rockets through real-time trajectory adjustments.