How does the SAM (surface to air missile) not fire on friendly aircraft and only on enemy aircraft?
In: Technology
The Launcher is part of a system –
* The radar or IR sensor find the target
* the IFF module “interrogates” the target (sends a signal & listens for a response to tel friend from foe)
* the crew manning the system has procedues to make a “shoot/don’t shoot” decision. E.g. bogeys (unidentified aircraft) flying outside of certain altitudes or locations get looked at, if they don’t respond they get shot at.
* Depending on the system there is a way to “lock out” bogeys that are confirmed friendlies. The PATRIOT radar has “ENGAGE HOLD” to stop the system from shooting at a friendly.
The missile doesn’t “tell” friend from foe – that’s the job of the shooter.
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