eli5 how can jet pilots hit targets at insanely high speeds

Question

Do they have lock on systems or what

In: 0

Answer 1

Most (modern) air-to-air combat is done with missiles, which have built-in guidance and control systems, yes. They don’t need to “hit” targets themselves; if they’re using a radar-guided missile, they just have to be roughly pointing at the target to “paint” it with their radar system and the missile will do the rest. If the missile is an infrared or “heat-seeking” missile, then it will do its own guidance and the pilot doesn’t even have to do anything after firing.