Patent ID: 8288697

Claim:
A method for adjusting the track or path of a boosting missile to maintain the quality of a communication link between said missile and a communication device in the presence of at least one other boosting missile, said method comprising the steps of: precalculating a communication link budget including an attenuation factor, said attenuation factor including a table of attenuation characteristics of a communication path extending to a single missile which, when operating, generates a plasma plume; providing a first missile, said first missile including a motor which, when operating, generates a plasma plume, and which also includes an antenna for transducing signals with a communication device; initializing and launching said first missile; determining a number of additional boosting missile or missiles traveling along paths lying in or immediately adjacent to a line of sight between said communication device and said first missile; determining a quality of said communication link in the presence of said additional boosting missile or missiles; and if (a) said communication link quality falls below a predetermined standard and (b) the link quality is deemed to be attributable to the plumes of said first and additional missile or missiles, adjusting a missile track to improve said link quality.