Antenna Beams

Command Guidance is called a guidance system wherein intelligence transmitted to the missile from an outside source causes the missile to traverse a directed path in space.

 

Capture Beam / Guidance Beam A wide beam incorporated in capture transmitters of beam rider (command guided) missile systems to facilitate gaining initial control of amissile immediately after launch. Upon capture, the system then centers the missile in the narrow guidance beam. The figure illustrates a launched missile at point of capture.

Figure 1: The path of the missile through the beams

Track Beam

These are of two primary types: conical scan and monopulse.

1. The conical scan system directs the radar signal in a circle around the target. The radar paints this circle 15 to 40 times per second. As the target moves out of the center of this circle, the radar develops aim error voltages and re-aims the antenna.
2. The monopulse system directs four beams at the target simultaneously. The target is in the middle of the four beams. If the target is not in the center, the radar return develops an aim error voltage to re-aim the antenna beam.