beam-riding missile

A guided missile directed to its target by beam-rider guidance. The missile, immediately after its launch and as soon as it attains controllable flight status, is gathered in the wide beam and directed onto the target. The guidance beam now narrows and passes the correction signals to the missile continuously to direct it to the target. See beam-riding guidance.

References in periodicals archive

The first stage of the modular system was the Leds-50 sensor suite which provides hull hemispherical coverage and alerts the crew when their vehicle is being targeted by rangefinder, designator, beam-riding missile or laser dazzler threats.

RPG beheaders

South Africa's Kentron Ingwe (Leopard) is a Tow-class laser beam-riding missile with a maximum range of 5000 metres.

Helicopter armament: the French Army pioneered the use of missiles from helicopters during its conflict in Algeria in the 1950s. From that moment, the rotary-wing aircraft became a `must' platform for anti-armour warfare throughout the world. (Complete Guide)

One of the most serious threats is the KBP 9M121 Vikhr (AT-16), a supersonic laser beam-riding missile that can be used either against tanks or aircraft.

A decade of opportunities. (Airborne Warfare)

A laser beam-riding missile is less prone to jamming problems.

Helicopter Weapons

Since the mid-1980s, the Israeli Army has been deploying an IR laser beam-riding missile derived from the wire-guided Hughes TOW.

Anti-tank guided missile developments

Command to line-of-sight and beam-riding missiles like the Blowpipe, Javelin and Starburst belong to a different league.

Transport aircraft self-protection

The unmanned turret has two pairs of Denel Ingwe ('Leopard') laser beam-riding missiles in the ready-to-launch position with a stabilised day/night system mounted between them.

Long-range anti-tank punch: developed to defeat tanks, long-range anti-tank guided weapons are more often used to attack bunkers, buildings and technical infrastructure

The development of laser beam-riding missiles and even specialised anti-helicopter rounds fired from tank guns means that yet another part of the spectrum needs to be monitored for possible threats.

All-spectrum awareness: if helicopters are to fly and fight, their crews need to be aware of all potential threats--hostile radar, laser emitters and incoming missiles and projectiles. EW system houses have developed a range of warning systems priced at a level which rotary-wing operators should be able to afford. (Electronic Warfare)

The ADATS employs Contraves search and track radars that can simultaneously follow up to six targets (with growth potential for ten), a Martin-Marietta EO module, and eight laser beam-riding missiles. The missile weights 51.4 kg and has a range of 10 km.

Low-level naval and ground-based air defense systems