Missile Lock

Thank you very much for that. Everything much clearer now.

Right here goes with what must rate as the ultimate Duhh question. I can understand how aircrew can tell they have an incoming missile locked on to them where radar guided missiles are concerned, that’s part of the purpose of RWRs. What baffles me is how they detect incoming missile lock with IR guided missiles as they don’t really lock on. I originally posted this question a few weeks ago and now I can’t find it so I don’t know if it was ever answered. Please bear with us oldies as we’re not all computer whizz kids like you youngsters (anyone under 25):D
Cheers in advance
Mike

Mike if you are locked-on soley by WVR-IR guided missile – you will have no idea you are being targeted since the seeker is totally passive. However if you are targeted and then locked-on via a fighters radar which then cues the WVR-IR guided missiles seeker to your exhaust plume you will have some warning as your RWR will go off. The reason this is done is that the radar can give the pilot data that the missiles seeker can’t – such as range to the target – which is useful when attempting to maximise the missiles engagement envelope.

After the launch however aircraft equiped with MAWs (missile approach warners) are capable of tracking the inbound IR missiles – the F-22 uses an MLD system that searches in the IR/UV spectrum for inbound missiles in a 360deg sphere around the jet. The Eurofighter uses an active RF system – while the F-35 uses DAS. LWR will also have the capability to alert the pilot to the missiles laser fuse – but thats generally to late. They are more useful against an IRSTs laser which is used for range data.