Air-to-air missile

An air-to-air missile is a guided weapon launched from an aircraft to intercept and destroy another aircraft or airborne target.

Infrared homing: A guidance method that tracks infrared radiation emitted or reflected by a target. Many short-range missiles steer toward heat from an aircraft’s engines or airframe.
Beyond-visual-range missile: An air-to-air missile designed to engage targets beyond the pilot’s unaided visual range. This class relies especially on sensors and guidance to reach targets that cannot be seen directly.
Short-range air-to-air missile: An air-to-air missile optimized for engagements at relatively short distances. Short-range designs prioritize rapid acquisition and maneuverability in close combat.
AIM-9 Sidewinder: A family of American short-range air-to-air missiles introduced in the 1950s. Its infrared homing made it a defining example of the short-range missile.
Missile gap: A perceived imbalance in missile capability between opposing military forces. Claims about missile superiority have shaped defense policy and procurement decisions.
Semi-active radar homing: A guidance method in which a missile homes on radar energy reflected from a target and illuminated by another source. Some missiles depend on the launching aircraft’s radar to illuminate targets throughout an engagement.
Dogfight: A close-range aerial combat engagement between aircraft. Close engagements demand missiles that can acquire targets quickly at sharp angles.
Medium-range air-to-air missile: An air-to-air missile intended for engagements beyond close combat but shorter than the longest-range intercepts. Medium-range weapons bridge close-in fighting and long-distance interception.
AIM-7 Sparrow: An American medium-range air-to-air missile family that primarily used semi-active radar homing. The Sparrow illustrates the dependence of early radar-guided missiles on continued radar illumination.
BVR combat: Aerial combat in which aircraft engage targets beyond visual range. Long-range missiles made detection, identification, and engagement possible before visual contact.

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