How do aircraft/fighter jets know that they are being locked on by an anti aircraft system or by another fighter jet?
In: 2036
We’re chasing each other in the forest at night. You have eyes, I have a flashlight.
If I leave the flashlight off, we’ll have to spot each other naturally, using motion or sound – visual, motion tracking, thermal, passive sonar, etc.
If I turn the flashlight on, I can use it to pinpoint you easily; however, if Im broadcasting without discipline, youll spot me easily as well. Radar, and radar recievers.
So say you had a super powerful lamp; blinds everyone near it, sure, but there’ll be no doubt that you’re *there*, somewhere. That would be Electronic Counter Measures.
Now, its time for the kill. But guns are passe, we’re using special spears. These spears need to be guided but are able to course correct and hit their target easily.
Maybe the spear has to rely on my flashlight to home in on you, and so after I find you, I have to keep my beam on you until the spear hits; you can dodge the beam, or break line of sight, or even use your lamp to confuse it. All the while, ill be illuminating my position. That would be a semi-active homing missile.
Or, maybe the spear has its own light attached; after I throw it, its light pops on and if I had mine on, i can turn it off. The light from the spear will be harder to dodge since it can turn and track you, and Im invisible again since my light is off. That would be an active homing missile.
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