Active radar homing
Encyclopedia
Active radar homing is a missile guidance
method in which a guided missile
contains a radar
transceiver
and the electronics necessary for it to find and track its target autonomously. NATO brevity code
for an active radar homing missile launch is Fox Three.
, they can in effect turn into an anti-radiation missile
and home in on the target's radiation passively. This makes such missiles practically immune to ECM, in addition to removing the second disadvantage. Since they already have the radar receiver on board, this should not be a difficult feature to add (at least, it requires extra processing logic but little extra hardware).
, its range is limited. To overcome this, most such missiles use a combination of command guidance with an inertial navigation system
(INS) in order to fly from the launch point until the target is close enough to be detected and tracked by the missile. The missile therefore requires guidance updates via a datalink from the launching platform up until this point, in case the target is maneuvering, otherwise the missile may get to the projected interception point and find that the target is not there. Sometimes the launching platform (especially if it is an aircraft) may be in danger while continuing to guide the missile in this way until it 'goes active'; In this case it may turn around and leave it to luck that the target ends up in the projected "acquisition basket" when the missile goes active. It is possible for a system other than the launching platform to provide guidance to the missile before it switches its radar on; This may be other, similar fighter aircraft
or perhaps an AWACS.
Missile guidance
Missile guidance refers to a variety of methods of guiding a missile or a guided bomb to its intended target. The missile's target accuracy is a critical factor for its effectiveness...
method in which a guided missile
Guided Missile
Guided Missile is a London based independent record label set up by Paul Kearney in 1994.Guided Missile has always focused on 'the underground', preferring to put out a steady flow of releases and developing the numerous GM events around London and beyond....
contains a radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
transceiver
Transceiver
A transceiver is a device comprising both a transmitter and a receiver which are combined and share common circuitry or a single housing. When no circuitry is common between transmit and receive functions, the device is a transmitter-receiver. The term originated in the early 1920s...
and the electronics necessary for it to find and track its target autonomously. NATO brevity code
Brevity code
Multiservice tactical brevity codes are codes used by various military forces. The codes procedure words, a type of voice procedure, are designed to convey complex information with a few words.-American/NATO codes:...
for an active radar homing missile launch is Fox Three.
Advantages
There are two major advantages to active radar homing:- Because the missile is tracking the target, and the missile is typically going to be much closer to the target than the launching platform during the terminal phase, the tracking can be much more accurate and also have better resistance to ECMElectronic countermeasuresAn electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
. Active radar homing missiles have some of the best kill probabilities, along with missiles employing track-via-missileTrack-via-missile“Track-via-missile” refers to a missile guidance technique which combines features of semi-active radar homing and radio command guidance.-Explanation:TVM guidance requires a radar ground station and a missile with a radar receiver...
guidance. - Because the missile is totally autonomous during the terminal phase, the launch platform does not need to have its radar enabled at all during this phase, and in the case of a mobile launching platform like an aircraft, can actually exit the scene or undertake other actions while the missile homes in on its target. This is often referred to as fire-and-forgetFire-and-forgetFire-and-forget is a third-generation method of missile guidance. The military uses the term for a type of missile which does not require further guidance after launch such as illumination of the target or wire guidance , and can hit its target without the launcher being in line-of-sight of the...
capability and is a great advantage that modern air-to-air missileAir-to-air missileAn air-to-air missile is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft. AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid fuelled but sometimes liquid fuelled...
s have over their predecessors.
Disadvantages
There are three major disadvantages to active radar homing:- Since the missile has to contain an entire radar transceiver and electronics, it was until recently difficult to fit all of this into a missile without unacceptably increasing its size and weight. Even with today's miniaturisation making this possible, it is quite expensive to make these missiles since the sophisticated electronics within the missile are inevitably destroyed upon impact.
- There is very little chance that targets with capable modern radar warning receiverRadar warning receiverRadar warning receiver systems detect the radio emissions of radar systems. Their primary purpose is to issue a warning when a radar signal that might be a threat is detected. The warning can then be used, manually or automatically, to evade the detected threat...
would be unaware that an incoming missile is approaching them. This gives them sufficient time to take evasive action and deploy countermeasuresChaff (radar countermeasure)Chaff, originally called Window by the British, and Düppel by the Second World War era German Luftwaffe , is a radar countermeasure in which aircraft or other targets spread a cloud of small, thin pieces of aluminium, metallized glass fibre or plastic, which either appears as a cluster of secondary...
. However, given the accuracy of this homing method, unless the target is especially maneuverable or the missile is not, there may not be much they can do to avoid being intercepted. - ARH-type missiles lose their effectiveness the closer the target is. Therefore, these types of missiles with this mounted equipment are only effective in long range confrontations.
Passive radiation homing
Many missiles employing this type of guidance have an extra trick up their sleeves; If the target does attempt to jam them using some kind of ECMElectronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
, they can in effect turn into an anti-radiation missile
Anti-radiation missile
An anti-radiation missile is a missile which is designed to detect and home on an enemy radio emission source. Typically these are designed for use against an enemy radar, although jammers and even radios used for communication can also be targeted in this manner.- Air-to-Ground :Most ARM designs...
and home in on the target's radiation passively. This makes such missiles practically immune to ECM, in addition to removing the second disadvantage. Since they already have the radar receiver on board, this should not be a difficult feature to add (at least, it requires extra processing logic but little extra hardware).
Operation
Active radar homing is rarely employed as the only guidance method of a missile. It is most often used during the terminal phase of the engagement, mainly because since the radar transceiver has to be small enough to fit inside a missile and has to be powered from batteries, therefore having a relatively low ERPEffective radiated power
In radio telecommunications, effective radiated power or equivalent radiated power is a standardized theoretical measurement of radio frequency energy using the SI unit watts, and is determined by subtracting system losses and adding system gains...
, its range is limited. To overcome this, most such missiles use a combination of command guidance with an inertial navigation system
Inertial navigation system
An inertial navigation system is a navigation aid that uses a computer, motion sensors and rotation sensors to continuously calculate via dead reckoning the position, orientation, and velocity of a moving object without the need for external references...
(INS) in order to fly from the launch point until the target is close enough to be detected and tracked by the missile. The missile therefore requires guidance updates via a datalink from the launching platform up until this point, in case the target is maneuvering, otherwise the missile may get to the projected interception point and find that the target is not there. Sometimes the launching platform (especially if it is an aircraft) may be in danger while continuing to guide the missile in this way until it 'goes active'; In this case it may turn around and leave it to luck that the target ends up in the projected "acquisition basket" when the missile goes active. It is possible for a system other than the launching platform to provide guidance to the missile before it switches its radar on; This may be other, similar fighter aircraft
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
or perhaps an AWACS.
List of missiles
Examples of missiles known to use active radar homing (all in their terminal phase) include:European
- MBDA MeteorMBDA MeteorMeteor is an active radar guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile being developed by MBDA. It is to equip the Eurofighter Typhoons of the UK's Royal Air Force , Germany's Luftwaffe, Spain's Ejército del Aire and Italy's Aeronautica Militare Italiana, the British and Italian F-35s , the...
air-to-air missile (With contribution from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom)
France
- MBDAMBDAMBDA is a missile developer and manufacturer with operations in France, Britain, Germany, Italy, and the United States. It was formed by a merger of Aérospatiale-Matra Missiles , Finmeccanica and Matra BAe Dynamics in December 2001. In 2003 the company had 10,000 employees...
ExocetExocetThe Exocet is a French-built anti-ship missile whose various versions can be launched from surface vessels, submarines, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft. Hundreds were fired in combat during the 1980s.-Etymology:...
anti-ship missileAnti-ship missileAnti-ship missiles are guided missiles that are designed for use against ships and large boats. Most anti-ship missiles are of the sea-skimming type, many use a combination of inertial guidance and radar homing... - MBDA MICAMBDA MICAThe MBDA MICA is an anti-air multi-target, all weather, fire-and-forget short and medium-range missile system. It is intended for use both by air platforms as individual missiles as well as ground units and ships, which can be equipped with the rapid fire MICA Vertical Launch System...
air-to-air missile and surface-to-air missileSurface-to-air missileA surface-to-air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles...
Japan
- Type 80 Air-to-Ship MissileType 80 Air-to-Ship MissileType 80 Air-to-Ship Missile is an Air-to-ship missile developed in Japan.The missile is primarily intended as an air launched coastal defence weapon. In fact it is somewhat more capable than this, able to engage both sea and land targets such as buildings and bridges...
- Type 81 Surface-to-air MissileType 81 Surface-to-Air MissileThe Type 81 Surface-to-Air Missile or Tan-SAM is a Japanese developed surface-to-air missile currently in service with the Japan Self-Defense Forces.-Development:...
(SAM-1C only) - Type 88 Surface-to-Ship MissileType 88 Surface-to-Ship MissileThe Type 88 Surface-to-Ship Missile is a surface-to-ship missile developed in Japan.-Overview:SSM-1 is an improved and land launched version of ASM-1...
- Type 90 Ship-to-Ship MissileType 90 Ship-to-Ship MissileType 90 Ship-to-Ship Missile is a ship-to-ship missile developed in Japan. It is a ship launch variant of the SSM-1 .The JMSDF's RGM-84 Harpoon is being replaced by the Type 90....
- Type 91 Air-to-Ship MissileType 91 Air-to-Ship MissileThe Type 91 Air-to-Ship Missile is an Air-to-ship missile developed in Japan.An air launched variant of the SSM-1, the ASM-1C is carried by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C Orions and their successor, the Kawasaki P-1....
- Type 99 air-to-air missileMitsubishi AAM-4The Mitsubishi AAM-4 is a medium-range active radar-guided air-to-air missile developed in Japan and intended to replace the semi-active radar homing AIM-7 Sparrow missile in service...
(Mitsubishi AAM-4, AAM-4Kai) - Type 03 Medium-Range Surface-to-Air MissileType 3 Chū-SAMor SAM-4 or is a Japanese developed surface-to-air missile currently in service with the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces.-See also:* List of missiles* Anti-ballistic missileComparable SAMs:*MIM-104 Patriot* Akash missile* S-300* KS-1* HQ-9...
- Type 11 Surface-to-air Missile
Russia
- NPO NovatorNPO NovatorNPO Novator is a Russian company that designs long-range anti-aircraft missiles. It was established in 1947 as OKB-8 in Sverdlovsk , became independent in 1991, and then became part of the Almaz-Antey conglomerate...
and DRDODefence Research and Development OrganisationThe Defence Research and Development Organisation is a agency of the Republic of India, responsible for the development of technology for use by the military, headquartered in New Delhi, India...
R-172 long range air-to-air missile - Vympel NPOVympel NPOVympel NPO is a Russian research and production company based near Moscow, mostly known for their air-to-air missiles. Other projects include SAM and ABM defenses. It was started in the Soviet era as an OKB .-OKB-134 Toropov:...
R-37Vympel R-37The Vympel R-37 is a Russian air-to-air missile with an extremely long range. It has also had the names K-37, Izdeliye 610 and R-VD , and the NATO codename 'Andi'.It was designed to shoot down AWACS and other C4ISTAR aircraft whilst keeping the launch platform out of range of any fighters...
(AA-13 Arrow) long range air-to-air missile - Vympel NPOVympel NPOVympel NPO is a Russian research and production company based near Moscow, mostly known for their air-to-air missiles. Other projects include SAM and ABM defenses. It was started in the Soviet era as an OKB .-OKB-134 Toropov:...
R-77Vympel R-77The Russian R-77 Missile is a medium range, air-to-air, active radar-guided missile system. It is the Russian counterpart to the American AIM-120 AMRAAM missile, thus gaining a nickname: Amraamski....
(AA-12 Adder) medium range air-to-air missile - Vympel NPOVympel NPOVympel NPO is a Russian research and production company based near Moscow, mostly known for their air-to-air missiles. Other projects include SAM and ABM defenses. It was started in the Soviet era as an OKB .-OKB-134 Toropov:...
R-27 (AA-10 Alamo) medium range air-to-air missile (R-27AE version only) - Tactical Missiles CorporationTactical Missiles Corporation275px|rightOJSC Tactical Missiles [ Weapons ] Corporation or KTRV for short is a major Russian weapon manufacturer. Headquarters in Korolev, Moscow Oblast....
Kh-31Kh-31The Kh-31 is a Russian air-to-surface missile carried by aircraft such as the MiG-29 or Su-27. It is a sea skimming cruise missile with a range of or more and capable of Mach 3.5, the first supersonic anti-ship missile that could be launched by tactical aircraft.There are several variants, it is...
(AS-17 Krypton) anti-shipping missile (Kh-31A only) - RadugaMKB RadugaMKB Raduga is a Russian aerospace company, concerned with the production of various missile systems and related technologies. It is headquartered in Dubna in the Moscow Oblast...
Kh-15Raduga Kh-15The Raduga Kh-15 or RKV-15 is a Russian air-to-surface missile carried by the Tupolev Tu-22M and other bombers. Originally a standoff nuclear weapon similar to the US Air Force's AGM-69 SRAM, versions with conventional warheads have been developed....
(AS-16 Kickback) air-to-surface missile (Kh-15S only) - RadugaMKB RadugaMKB Raduga is a Russian aerospace company, concerned with the production of various missile systems and related technologies. It is headquartered in Dubna in the Moscow Oblast...
Kh-59Kh-59The Kh-59 Ovod is a Russian TV-guided cruise missile with a two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system and 115 km range. The Kh-59M Ovod-M is a variant with a bigger warhead and turbojet engine...
(AS-13 Kingbolt) air-to-surface missile (Kh-59MK only) - Tactical Missiles CorporationTactical Missiles Corporation275px|rightOJSC Tactical Missiles [ Weapons ] Corporation or KTRV for short is a major Russian weapon manufacturer. Headquarters in Korolev, Moscow Oblast....
Kh-25Kh-25The Kh-25/Kh-25M is a family of Soviet lightweight air-to-ground missiles with a modular range of guidance systems and a range of 10 km. The anti-radar variant is known to NATO as the AS-12 'Kegler and has a range up to 40 km. Designed by Zvezda-Strela, the Kh-25 is derived from the...
(AS-10 Karen) air-to-surface missile (Kh-25MA only) - RadugaMKB RadugaMKB Raduga is a Russian aerospace company, concerned with the production of various missile systems and related technologies. It is headquartered in Dubna in the Moscow Oblast...
KSR-5Raduga KSR-5The Raduga KSR-5 was a long-range, air launched cruise missile and anti ship missile developed by the Soviet Union....
(AS-6 Kingfish) anti-shipping missile - RadugaMKB RadugaMKB Raduga is a Russian aerospace company, concerned with the production of various missile systems and related technologies. It is headquartered in Dubna in the Moscow Oblast...
KSR-2Raduga KSR-2The Raduga KSR-2 was a Soviet cruise missile developed to replace the KS-1 Komet . It was developed in 1958 and entered service in 1962...
(AS-5 Kelt) anti-shipping missile - RadugaMKB RadugaMKB Raduga is a Russian aerospace company, concerned with the production of various missile systems and related technologies. It is headquartered in Dubna in the Moscow Oblast...
Kh-22Raduga Kh-22The Raduga Kh-22 is a large, long-range anti-ship missile developed by the Soviet Union. It was intended for use against US Navy aircraft carriers and carrier battle groups, with either a conventional or nuclear warhead.-Development:...
(AS-4 Kitchen) anti-shipping missile - KBMKBMOrder of Lenin and Order of Labour Red Banner FSUE "KB Mashinostroyeniya or KBM for short is a state defense enterprise, scientific and design R&D center specialized in missile systems located in Kolomna, Moscow region, Russia....
Khrizantema (AT-15 Springer) anti-tank missile (9M123-2 and 9M123F-2 variants only) - NPO AlmazNPO AlmazJSC "NPO "Almaz" named after A. A. Raspletin is a Soviet/Russian military R&D enterprise founded in 1947. It's the core of the Almaz-Antey holding....
S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) surface-to-air missile - NPO Mashinostroyeniya P-500 Bazalt (SS-N-12 Sandbox) anti-ship missile
- NPO Mashinostroyeniya P-700 GranitP-700 GranitThe P-700 Granit is a Soviet and Russian naval anti-ship cruise missile. Its GRAU designation is 3M45, its NATO reporting name SS-N-19 Shipwreck...
(SS-N-19 Shipwreck) anti-ship missile - RadugaMKB RadugaMKB Raduga is a Russian aerospace company, concerned with the production of various missile systems and related technologies. It is headquartered in Dubna in the Moscow Oblast...
P-270 MoskitMoskitThe P-270 Moskit is a Russian supersonic ramjet powered cruise missile. Its GRAU designation is 3M80, and its NATO reporting name is SS-N-22 Sunburn. The missile system was designed by the Raduga Design Bureau during the 1970s as a follow up to the "SS-N-9 Siren"...
(SS-N-22 Sunburn) anti-ship missile - Tactical Missiles CorporationTactical Missiles Corporation275px|rightOJSC Tactical Missiles [ Weapons ] Corporation or KTRV for short is a major Russian weapon manufacturer. Headquarters in Korolev, Moscow Oblast....
Kh-35 (SS-N-25 Switchblade) anti-ship missile - NPO Mashinostroyeniya P-800 OniksP-800 OniksThe P-800 Oniks for export markets; "Oniks" is onyx, and "Yakhont" is ruby or sapphire in English) is a Russian supersonic anti-ship cruise missile developed by NPO Mashinostroyeniya as a ramjet version of P-80 Zubr. Its GRAU designation is 3M55...
(SS-N-26) anti-ship missile - NPO NovatorNPO NovatorNPO Novator is a Russian company that designs long-range anti-aircraft missiles. It was established in 1947 as OKB-8 in Sverdlovsk , became independent in 1991, and then became part of the Almaz-Antey conglomerate...
3M-54 Klub3M-54 KlubThe Russian 3M-54 Klub is a multi-role missile system developed by the Novator Design Bureau. Its NATO reporting name is SS-N-27. Both submarine and surface ship launched versions exist. The system is designed to accept various warheads, allowing its use against surface and subsurface naval...
(SS-N-27 Sizzler) anti-ship missile
United States
- BoeingBoeingThe Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
Harpoon anti-ship missile - Lockheed MartinLockheed MartinLockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
AGM-114L Hellfire Longbow air-to-surface missileAir-to-surface missileAn air-to-surface missile is a missile designed to be launched from military aircraft and strike ground targets on land, at sea, or both... - Lockheed MartinLockheed MartinLockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
MIM-104 PATRIOTMIM-104 PatriotThe MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the Raytheon Company of the United States. The Patriot System replaced the Nike Hercules system as the U.S. Army's primary High to Medium...
surface-to-air missile (PAC-3 version only) - RaytheonRaytheonRaytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
AIM-120 AMRAAMAIM-120 AMRAAMThe AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM , is a modern beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile capable of all-weather day-and-night operations. Designed with the same form-factor as the previous generation of semi-active guided Sparrow missiles, it is a fire-and-forget...
air-to-air missile and surface-to-air missile - RaytheonRaytheonRaytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
RIM-174 Standard ERAM (Standard Missile 6) surface-to-air missile - The U.S. Navy's BatBat (guided bomb)-External links:*...
radar-guided glide bomb of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, world's earliest munition design known to use an active radar homing system.