Passive guidance is defined by what?

Passive guidance is defined by what?

• A. The system detects and homes in on natural target emissions such as infrared or RF.
• B. The ground system illuminates the target with an external energy source.
• C. The missile uses onboard active radar to locate the target.
• D. Guidance relies on external laser energy only.

Answer: (A)

Passive guidance relies on signals that originate from the target itself or from natural background energy, and the seeker does not emit its own energy to find the target. In practice this means the system detects things like the target’s infrared heat or radar emissions and then homes in on that source. That’s why the description of guiding by detecting natural target emissions such as infrared or RF best captures passive guidance: the missile is not radiating energy to locate the target, it’s listening to what the target already emits. The other scenarios involve energy from outside being used to locate the target. Ground illumination provides external energy to the target, which the seeker uses indirectly. An onboard active radar emits energy and then tracks reflections, which is active guidance. Relying on external laser energy means the system is using a laser source from somewhere else to illuminate the target and the seeker tracks the reflected energy, which is semi-active rather than passive.

Passive guidance relies on signals that originate from the target itself or from natural background energy, and the seeker does not emit its own energy to find the target. In practice this means the system detects things like the target’s infrared heat or radar emissions and then homes in on that source. That’s why the description of guiding by detecting natural target emissions such as infrared or RF best captures passive guidance: the missile is not radiating energy to locate the target, it’s listening to what the target already emits.

The other scenarios involve energy from outside being used to locate the target. Ground illumination provides external energy to the target, which the seeker uses indirectly. An onboard active radar emits energy and then tracks reflections, which is active guidance. Relying on external laser energy means the system is using a laser source from somewhere else to illuminate the target and the seeker tracks the reflected energy, which is semi-active rather than passive.