If modern missiles can track targets from beyond visual range, how do their operators verify that they’ve acquired the targets they’re looking for?
In: Technology
Military intelligence. Warplanes are expensive and deadly and so are sent out on specific missions. For example, say an enemy helicopter in in an area and an infantry commander requests air support to destroy that helicopter, they will send the location and specs of the target. The fighter jet will be sent to the area with its active radar sensors sweeping for that target. To avoid accidentally striking friendly aircraft they can exchange radio messages called IFF, Identification Friend or Foe. If the fighter jet identifies the expected target radar signature and does not receive a friend code, they can launch their weapons. Basically instead of seeing with their eyes they are seeing over the horizon with their radar systems.
It is not that different than an infantry soldier being sent to an area and told to shoot some enemy soldiers. They are likely given intelligence on the target location, numbers, appearance, and capabilities of the target. Most infantry combat takes place at hundreds of meters, so they can barely see each other anyway.
So yeah, the most dangerous thing in a fight is not just being able to strike the enemy, it is knowing where the enemy is.
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