HOT3 guidance without LOS

[MBot]

The HOT3 missile continues to follow guidance commands even after line of sight to the missile is lost (for example blocked by terrain). The missile should go ballistic* immediately after sight to the missile is lost, as the fire control system needs to track the IR flare in the back of the missile to generate guidance commands.

 

*Considering that the weapon continuously maneuvers to remain in the center of the targeting sight, it would probably fly off in a random direction immediately after loosing guidance commands.

[Dingo_Bob]

the missile is wire guided not IR, ie. it's physically attached to the helo by a thin filament (like old cassete tape) carrying the input from the right hand stick in the command position, until impact, the camera is just that a camera, when we "lock" the camera to point it is only to a set axis on the camera gimbal not a "hard" point on the ground like a Maverick,

 

The wire should be cut if it gets caught on obstacles or if we change to a different weapon station, or it exceeds the ~4000m limit on the spool

Edited May 5, 2016 by Dingo_Bob

[MBot]

The camera tracks the IR flare in the back of the missile to determine where it is in relation to the camera boresight. It then sends guidance commands through the wire to bring the missile into the center of your crosshair (this is called SACLOS guidance). If the camera loses sight of the missile, complete guidance should be lost immediately.