Which missile uses semi-active radar for homing and guidance?

Study for the EAWS Phase III Boeing EA-18G Growler Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready to ace your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which missile uses semi-active radar for homing and guidance?

Explanation:
Semi-active radar homing works by the launch aircraft illuminating the target with its radar, and the missile’s seeker tracking the radar energy reflected off the target. The AIM-7 Sparrow was built around this approach: the launch radar provides the illumination, and the Sparrow’s radar seeker homes in on the reflected energy to guide the missile to the target. In contrast, the infrared-guided missiles (AIM-9M and AIM-9X) track the target’s heat signature rather than radar reflections, so they do not use semi-active radar homing. The AGM-84 Harpoon uses a different guidance approach (active radar guidance in many variants), not semi-active, so it isn’t the semi-active SARH example either. So, the missile that uses semi-active radar for homing and guidance is the AIM-7 Sparrow.

Semi-active radar homing works by the launch aircraft illuminating the target with its radar, and the missile’s seeker tracking the radar energy reflected off the target. The AIM-7 Sparrow was built around this approach: the launch radar provides the illumination, and the Sparrow’s radar seeker homes in on the reflected energy to guide the missile to the target.

In contrast, the infrared-guided missiles (AIM-9M and AIM-9X) track the target’s heat signature rather than radar reflections, so they do not use semi-active radar homing. The AGM-84 Harpoon uses a different guidance approach (active radar guidance in many variants), not semi-active, so it isn’t the semi-active SARH example either.

So, the missile that uses semi-active radar for homing and guidance is the AIM-7 Sparrow.

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