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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 July 2016
The design of a homing missile normally involves the incorporation of a dielectric window to form the nose region of the flight vehicle. Immediately this creates a situation in which a compromise is required between the conflicting needs of
(a) The aerodynamicist who requires a fairing of minimum drag, within the length limitations imposed, and which at the same time possesses a reasonably predictable shape. The shape must often satisfy rain erosion requirements.
(b) The heat transfer engineer who requires that the thermal load be spread as uniformly as possible over the fairing surface.
(c) The materials/structures technologist who requires the fairing to be manufactured from readily available material at reasonable cost.
(d) The microwave engineer who requires no fairing at all.