Program Overview

Guided Weapons Course

The Guided Weapons course provides a general overview of guided weapon systems and technology.

At a Glance

• Dates: 18 - 22 May 2026
• Duration: 5 days
• Location: Cranfield University at Shrivenham
• Cost: £2,250 - Standalone Short Course fee, concessions available

What You Will Learn

On successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Describe in technical detail the elements that make up a guided weapon system
• Critically discuss the principles involved and the design constraints on guided weapon airframe, propulsion, warhead, control and guidance systems and radar, EO/IR and mmW technologies and how these subsystems interact with one another from a multi-disciplinary optimisation perspective
• Develop and refine an appropriate conceptual/preliminary guided weapon system design based upon a given set of technical requirements
• Critically assess the airworthiness impact and integration challenges of guided weapon deployment on an aerial platform

Core Content

Introduction

Introduction to the 'missile' and the system; constituent parts of the missile and how they integrate into the complete system; the threat and how it can be countered; overview of subsystem operating principles, requirements and trade-offs.

GW Propulsion – Rockets & Air-Breathers

General principles of reaction thrust and jet propulsion; overview of propulsion system selection criteria; rocket principles of operation; propulsion performance parameter definitions; solid propellant design considerations; air-breather (turbojet, turbofan, ramjet and scramjet) characteristics; component design; propellants; flight mechanics.

Aerodynamics

Airframe materials and structures; subsonic, transonic, supersonic and hypersonic flows; factors affecting aerodynamic lift and drag and means of enhancing lift/drag ratios.

Control

Polar, Cartesian and roll control; aerodynamic and thrust vector control; actuation systems; instrumentation; accelerometers; rate and position gyroscopes; acceleration and velocity control; roll rate and position, lateral acceleration and altitude autopilots.

Guidance

The need for guidance; types of trajectory; system characteristics and classification; command, homing and navigational guidance principles and coverage diagrams.

Radar Surveillance and Target Acquisition

Basic principles of radar systems; antenna beam widths and patterns; antenna sizing; radar range equation; waveforms; range resolution; surveillance requirements; clutter; target acquisition and classification; modes of radar operation; real beam scanning; Doppler and velocity; micro-Doppler; imaging radar systems; synthetic aperture radar; example radar systems.

mmW Radar Seekers

Attenuation versus frequency; MMW pros and cons; beamwidth versus frequency; antenna considerations; range resolution; Doppler frequency; schematic diagram; range limitations; transmitter power limits; weather attenuation; applications; target recognition; range profiling; waveforms; GW examples.

Electro-Optic Systems and Countermeasures

Homing systems; spin-scan and con-scan techniques; proportional navigation method; pulse modulation without reticle; pseudo imaging systems; pulse width discrimination; imaging and staring systems; advanced seeker examples; flares; counter-countermeasures; jammers; missile approach warners; DIRCM/ATIRCM; retro-reflection.

Laser Principles & Applications

EM spectrum; photon energy, emissions and effects; stimulated emissions and lasers; amplification issues; population inversion; excitation methods; laser materials; pulsed and continuous wave methods; cavities; level laser action; energy levels; Gaussian beam and divergence; laser mode and techniques; laser types; uses (rangefinders, designators, pointers, beam riding, fusing, Directed Energy Weapons).

Warheads

Overview of warheads for guided weapons for attack of armour, airborne targets and ground installations; safety and arming; types of fuse, matching and countermeasures.

Structures & Materials

Loads analysis; stress and structural analysis principles; materials selection considerations; aeroelasticity effects.

Aircraft Integration

Internal and external carriage, store separation and jettison considerations, aerodynamic changes with missile carriage, weapon bay flow types, missile modifications for internal and external carriage, loading and unloading, data transfer and fidelity requirements.

Airworthiness Issues

Factors affecting aircraft airworthiness, and the certification process.

Upgrade to a Professional Qualification

When taken as a Short Course for Credit, 10 credit points can be put towards Military Aerospace and Airworthiness MSc.

Who Should Attend

This course is suitable for those individuals who require a general overview of guided weapon technology and design.

Speakers

• Dr Derek Bray - (Module Leader)
• Dr Alessio Balleri (Radar STA)
• Dr Stephen Champion (SC and EFP Warheads)
• Dr Christopher Couldrick (Blast/Fragmentation Warheads)
• Mr David Diskett (Guidance)
• Dr John Economou (Control)
• Professor Mark Richardson (EO/IR Systems and Countermeasures)

Concessions

A limited number of MOD sponsored places are available and must complete the course for credits only.