AIM-120 missiles use what for target acquisition?

AIM-120 missiles use what for target acquisition?

• A. Passive infrared target detection
• B. Active radar target detection
• C. Laser designation
• D. Infrared homing

Answer: (B)

AIM-120 uses an onboard active radar seeker to acquire and track targets in the terminal phase, giving it fire-and-forget capability. After launch, it can receive midcourse updates, but when it’s close enough to the target, its own radar transmitter and receiver illuminate the target, detect the reflections, lock on, and guide the missile to intercept. This active radar targeting lets it work without relying on the launching aircraft’s radar illumination. The other methods aren’t used by this missile: passive infrared would depend on heat signatures and isn’t how AIM-120 locates targets; laser designation requires a laser spot on the target and a laser-seeking system; infrared homing would be a passive IR seeker, which AIM-120 does not employ.

AIM-120 uses an onboard active radar seeker to acquire and track targets in the terminal phase, giving it fire-and-forget capability. After launch, it can receive midcourse updates, but when it’s close enough to the target, its own radar transmitter and receiver illuminate the target, detect the reflections, lock on, and guide the missile to intercept. This active radar targeting lets it work without relying on the launching aircraft’s radar illumination.

The other methods aren’t used by this missile: passive infrared would depend on heat signatures and isn’t how AIM-120 locates targets; laser designation requires a laser spot on the target and a laser-seeking system; infrared homing would be a passive IR seeker, which AIM-120 does not employ.