Missile

Note

The trajectory math is based on work from MIT to model the Soviet Union’s R-7 that launched Sputnik. This is designed for educational purposes only.

The Missile Plugin is a sophisticated component of the KeepTrack application that enables users to simulate and visualize complex missile launch scenarios. This plugin offers a range of features for both educational purposes and strategic analysis, allowing users to explore various aspects of ballistic missile trajectories and global strike capabilities.

Features

• Create custom missile attacks with user-defined parameters
• Utilize pre-defined scenarios for quick simulations
• Simulate launches from multiple countries and specific locations
• Visualize detailed missile trajectories on the main view
• Conduct mass raid simulations for large-scale scenarios
• Integration with KeepTrack’s UI and core functionality
• Real-time orbit updates for accurate missile path representation
• Support for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs)
• Multiple warhead simulation capabilities

User Interface

The Missile Plugin significantly enhances the KeepTrack user interface with the following elements:

1. A “Missile” icon in the bottom menu for quick access to missile-related functions
2. A comprehensive side menu with options to create and customize missile attacks
3. A detailed form for inputting launch and target locations
4. Dropdown menus for selecting pre-defined launch sites and targets from various countries
5. Custom input fields for precise latitude and longitude coordinates
6. A “Launch Missile Attack” button to initiate the simulation
7. A “Show All Missiles” button to filter and display active missile objects
8. An error display area for user feedback on invalid inputs or simulation issues

Tip

The side menu is resizable using a click-and-drag functionality, allowing users to adjust the view based on their preferences or screen size.

Missile Information and Simulation Details

The Missile Plugin provides extensive information and simulation capabilities:

• Launch location (latitude and longitude)
• Target location (latitude and longitude)
• Missile type and country of origin
• Detailed trajectory information including:
  • Altitude profile
  • Ground track (latitude and longitude at each time step)
  • Time of flight
• Simulated physical characteristics:
  • Number of warheads
  • Missile dimensions (length and diameter)
  • Fuel properties and burn rates
• Country-specific missile capabilities and limitations

Note

The plugin uses sophisticated mathematical models to simulate missile trajectories, taking into account factors such as Earth’s curvature, atmospheric effects, and gravitational forces.

Usage

Creating a Custom Missile Attack

1. Click the “Missile” icon in the bottom menu to open the side menu
2. From the “Type of Attack” dropdown, select “Custom Missile”
3. Choose a launch location from the “Launch Location” dropdown or select a submarine option for SLBM scenarios
4. If a submarine launch is selected, enter custom latitude and longitude for the launch position
5. Select a target from the “Target Location” dropdown or choose “Custom Impact” for a user-defined target
6. If “Custom Impact” is selected, enter the target latitude and longitude
7. Review all inputs for accuracy
8. Click “Launch Missile Attack” to initiate the simulation

Tip

For submarine-launched missiles, you can enter custom launch coordinates to simulate different positions in the ocean, adding realism to SLBM scenarios.

Running a Pre-defined Attack Scenario

1. Click the “Missile” icon in the bottom menu
2. From the “Type of Attack” dropdown, select a pre-defined scenario:
   • Russia to USA
   • Russia to USA w/ Subs
   • China to USA
   • North Korea to USA
   • USA to Russia
   • USA to China
   • USA to North Korea
3. Click “Launch Missile Attack” to start the simulation

Caution

Pre-defined scenarios may simulate large numbers of missiles simultaneously, which can be computationally intensive. Ensure your system can handle the load before running these simulations.

Viewing Active Missiles

1. Open the Missile side menu
2. Click the “Show All Missiles” button at the bottom of the menu

This action will filter the main view to show only active missile objects, making it easier to focus on the ongoing simulations.

Integration with KeepTrack

The Missile Plugin deeply integrates with several core KeepTrack components:

• TimeManager: Retrieves the current simulation time for synchronizing missile launches
• UiManager: Handles all UI updates related to missile functions
• CatalogManager: Integrates missile objects into the main object catalog
• OrbitManager: Updates missile orbits in real-time for accurate trajectory representation
• SettingsManager: Checks for mobile mode settings to adjust the UI accordingly

Note

The tight integration with these components allows the Missile Plugin to provide a seamless and realistic simulation experience within the broader KeepTrack environment.

Development and Extensibility

When extending or modifying the Missile Plugin, developers should consider the following:

• The plugin adheres to the KeepTrackPlugin architecture for consistency and modularity
• It registers multiple event handlers for various KeepTrack events, including:
  • uiManagerInit: For setting up the UI elements
  • uiManagerFinal: For finalizing UI setup and adding event listeners
  • bottomMenuClick: For handling the missile icon click in the bottom menu
  • hideSideMenus: For properly hiding the missile menu when required
  • updateLoop: For continuous updates of missile orbits
  • onHelpMenuClick: For displaying missile-specific help information
• The core missile calculations and data management are handled by the separate missileManager module
• Developers can extend the plugin by:
  • Adding new missile types or countries
  • Implementing more sophisticated trajectory calculations
  • Creating additional pre-defined scenarios
  • Enhancing the UI for more detailed missile information display

Performance Considerations

The Missile Plugin can be computationally intensive, especially when simulating multiple missiles or mass raid scenarios:

• Each missile’s trajectory is recalculated every frame for accuracy
• Large numbers of simultaneous missiles can impact overall application performance
• Users should be cautious when creating many missiles on less powerful devices

Caution

When developing new features or modifying existing ones, always consider the performance implications, especially for mobile or low-power devices.

Code Configuration and Customization

The plugin offers several areas for configuration and customization:

• isMobileModeEnabled: A flag to adjust UI behavior for mobile devices
• Missile characteristics (e.g., dimensions, fuel properties) can be adjusted in the code for different simulation requirements
• Pre-defined launch sites and targets are stored in separate data structures (e.g., UsaICBM, RussianICBM) which can be extended or modified
• The calculateAngle_ function can be adjusted to modify the missile’s flight characteristics

Tip

When adding new missile types or scenarios, remember to update both the UI dropdowns in the HTML and the corresponding logic in the missileSubmit function to ensure consistency.

Troubleshooting and Best Practices

To ensure optimal use of the Missile Plugin, consider the following:

• Regularly check the browser console for error messages related to missile simulations
• Ensure all required KeepTrack components (TimeManager, UiManager, etc.) are properly initialized before using missile features
• For performance issues:
  • Reduce the number of simultaneous missile launches
  • Simplify trajectories by adjusting calculation parameters
  • Consider using pre-calculated trajectories for complex scenarios
• Regularly test the plugin with various scenarios to ensure accuracy and performance across different use cases