Weapons and guidance

Question 1

Weapon types

Answer 1

Small arms, AA Guns, RPGs
ManPADS, land and lavas based SAMs
Air to air

Question 2

Anatomy of a missle

Answer 2

Motor
1st stage booster or ejector *
Sensor/seeker head*
Datalink*
Guidance and control
Warhead
* = optional

Question 3

Missile guidance loop

Answer 3

Sensor - error - guidance computer - steering command

Question 4

Phases of guidance

Answer 4

Launch
Mid course
Homing
Terminal

Question 5

Two types of command guidance

Answer 5

Command to line of sight (CLOS)
Command off the line of sight (COLOS)

Question 6

What is command missile guidance?

Answer 6

Target and missile is tracked by radar.

Tracking data from both is used to calculate missile and target paths.

Command signal sent to missile which activates control surfaces to steer to target.

Question 7

Adv / disadv of command guidance

Answer 7

Not fire and forget
Overt system
Susceptible to counter measures

Question 8

What is beam riding guidance?

Answer 8

A sensor in the rear of the missile detects and steers onto the beam and ‘rides’ it to the target.

Question 9

Adv / disadv of beam riding

Answer 9

Not fire and forget
Overt
Susceptible to counter measures

Question 10

What is passive homing guidance

Answer 10

Missile seeker locks into EM energy from the target.

Question 11

Adv / disadv of Passive homing

Answer 11

Fire and forget
Covert
Susceptible to counter measures

Question 12

What is semi-active homing?

Answer 12

Radar illuminates target, energy reflected is detected by receiver in missile

Question 13

Adv / disadv of Semi active homing

Answer 13

Not fire and forget
Overt
Susceptible to counter measures

Question 14

What’s is active homing?

Answer 14

Tracking energy is transmitted and received by missile alone.
‘Missile has its own radar.’

Question 15

Adv / disadv of active homing

Answer 15

Expensive
Fire and forget*
Susceptible to counter measures
(* some active missiles use the Aircraft radar initially then switch)

Question 16

Track via missile

Answer 16

Target is tracked by launch platform.

Missile has a sensor and downlinks this picture for processing.

Guidance commands are uplinked to missile.

Blend of command, semi-active and active. Missile works like a relay for information.

Question 17

Adv / disadv of Track via missile

Answer 17

Not fire and forget
Overt
Susceptible to counter measures
Cheaper than active

Question 18

What is a MEZ

Answer 18

Missile engagement zone

Question 19

TRESPASS call

Answer 19

Call sign - TRESPASS - threat - BULLSEYE - bearing and range to bullseye

Question 20

What is BULLSEYE

Answer 20

reference point on a chart for disseminating location information of enemy or friendly units