eli5 how can jet pilots hit targets at insanely high speeds

Question

Do they have lock on systems or what

In: 0

Answer 1

Yes. If you’ve seen Top Gun, it works like this. There is either a ground team or another plane that tags or “paints* a target with a Laser sight, which then communicates with the missile or other plane. Unless the target is being continuously painted, it doesn’t make the missile automatically seek it, but rather identifies it to make it easier for the second and to lock on. Especially useful when it needs to be precise.