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
It depends on what kind of missile and what kind of target.
An air-to-air missile shot from a fighter jet at another plane can use one of several types of seekers, with infrared (heat seeking) missiles primarily used in Short Range Air-To-Air-Missile (SRAAMs) situations that fall within 10-20 miles, or what is considered “within visual range”.
These are dogfighting missiles that maximize agility and are basically pointed at the enemy and allowed to track the heat of their exhaust.
Medium/Long Range Air-To-Air-Missiles are generally radar guided, either from the plane (or something like a command-and-control plane) or by providing targeting info and then using the missiles internal tracking systems.
In SRAAMs, the pilot can (theoretically at least) see what they’re shooting at.
For LRAAMs, the pilot bases targeting on what their/the control aircrafts long range radar is telling them, comparing it to known enemy radar signatures, and making decisions on when and with what to shoot at them.
Latest Answers