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radar-guided missile
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radar-guided missile

weapon
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Quick Summary

A radar-guided missile is a weapon whose course can be adjusted during flight, often by using a target-seeking radar device. These missiles are a product of post-World War II advancements in electronics and guidance systems. Unlike ballistic weapons, guided missiles can make corrections to seek or "home" onto a target.12

Radar guidance systems allow missiles to track targets by detecting energy emitted or reflected from them. For example, the AIM-7 Sparrow is a semi-active radar missile, and the AIM-54 Phoenix uses both semi-active radar guidance and active radar terminal homing. These systems are crucial for the accuracy and effectiveness of modern weaponry.32

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
7 Britannica Sources
  1. guided missile
  2. rocket and missile system - Air-to-air
  3. rocket and missile system - Air-to-surface
  4. rocket and missile system - Inertial
  5. rocket and missile system - Command
  6. radar - Ballistic missile defense and satellite-surveillance radars
  7. missile

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