How do missiles locate their target? How do they identify that they got the correct target?
In: Technology
It depends.
Heat/IR-seeking – there’s a device that tracks a thermal source – can be confused by a stronger thermal source like a flare. Very early versions could be confused by the sun.
Wild Weasel – Targets strong EM sources like radar and microwave transmissions – typically used to take out radar and communication systems
GPS/Satnav – there is no guidance other than the ability to take input of the target coordinate, and a nav system to fly by the gps system. Fairly accurate up to a few feet. Requires a GPS or like receiver.
Programmed Course – If you know where you are, and know where the target is, and know the variables of the missile such as fuel, weight, and external variables such as weather and orbital rotation you can program in a course that puts the missile in motion to reach its target. Very much like rockets and artillery.
Networked with a target device like a range-finder – More convoluted. Requires at least communication between the targeting device and missile, the ability to know its location(gps) in regards to where its launched from and where the targeting device is.
Visual/camera – Found in a lot of fly by wire. If there’s an onboard computer/AI it can identify a target but this relies on pre-programmed libraries or advanced identification techniques which can be fooled and are only as good as they’re programmed.
As for identifying if it struck correctly or not, that’s up to the people who fired the missile. Missiles are rarely anything other than a single use item. In a dogfight, the pilot would have to make the call whether or not a second missile is needed and this happens in a split second. Other missile use is typically followed up minutes or hours later for observation depending on the importance or ability to find out. Methods of follow up could be aerial recon by a second plane, sat observation, soldiers or inspectors on the ground, and drone flyovers.
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