Lock-on after launch

Lock-on after launch(LOAL) is the ability of missile systems tolock-onto a target after being launched from a carrier vehicle. The term is normally used in reference to airborne weapons, especiallyair-to-air missiles.LOAL is an important part of modern weapon systems as it allows a weapon to be carried internally to increasestealthand then acquire a target once it has left a launching aircraft. LOAL systems normally rely on cuing from ahelmet-mounted sightor onboard sensors likeradarorforward-looking infrared(FLIR) and use a simple strapdowninertial guidance systemto know where to look after launch. Examples of LOAL weapons include the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM) and later versions of theAGM-114 Hellfireanti-tank missile.The older method of launch has retroactively become known aslock-on before launch(LOBL), although this term is not commonly used and is a backronym to distinguish it from the LOAL method.

See also

• Index of aviation articles

External links

• "ASRAAM"(PDF).MBDA.March 2014. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2014-08-03.