Which statement differentiates an Active guidance system from a Semi-Active system?

Which statement differentiates an Active guidance system from a Semi-Active system?

• A. Active Uses Onboard Target Illumination; Semi-Active Relies On An External Source.
• B. Active Uses External Source; Semi-Active Uses Onboard.
• C. Both Relies On External Illumination.
• D. Both Relies On Onboard Illumination.

Answer: (A)

Active guidance relies on the missile carrying its own energy source to illuminate the target, so the onboard radar (or other illuminator) does the lighting and the missile’s seeker uses the reflected energy to home in. Semi-active guidance, by contrast, depends on energy from an external platform—like the launching aircraft’s radar or a ground radar—to illuminate the target; the missile’s seeker then detects the reflected illumination. That fundamental difference is why the statement about onboard illumination for active and external illumination for semi-active is the correct distinction. The other options mix up where the illumination comes from, which doesn’t match how these two guidance modes operate.

Active guidance relies on the missile carrying its own energy source to illuminate the target, so the onboard radar (or other illuminator) does the lighting and the missile’s seeker uses the reflected energy to home in. Semi-active guidance, by contrast, depends on energy from an external platform—like the launching aircraft’s radar or a ground radar—to illuminate the target; the missile’s seeker then detects the reflected illumination. That fundamental difference is why the statement about onboard illumination for active and external illumination for semi-active is the correct distinction. The other options mix up where the illumination comes from, which doesn’t match how these two guidance modes operate.