Preset Guidance

Certain guided missiles have self-contained guidance systems. All guidance and control functions are performed totally within the missile. They neither transmit nor receive any signals during flight. Therefore, jamming or other electronic countermeasures are ineffective against them. Generally, self-contained guidance systems are used in surface-to-surface or shore applications.

Preset Guidance

The term preset completely describes this method of guidance. Before the missile is launched, all the information relative to target location and the required missile trajectory must be calculated. The data is then locked into the guidance system so the missile will fly at correct altitude and speed. Also programmed into the system are the data required for the missile to start its terminal phase of flight and dive on the target.

One disadvantage of preset guidance is that once the missile is launched, its trajectory cannot be changed. Therefore, preset guidance is really only used against large stationary targets, such as cities.

Picture (above) anti ballistic radar satellite