SACLOS

Overview

SACLOS (Semi-Automatic Command-to-Line of Sight) - A method of missile command guidance where the missile system utilizes electronic components and associated internal logic to direct a missiles flight path to a target by means of a sighting system. This is in contrast with a MACLOS (Manual Command-to-Line of Sight) system, where the operator would need to directly control the flight of the missile, creating a much higher chance of error and difficulty to hit a distant target, especially under fire and cover.

Types of SACLOS

SACLOS systems come in two basic flavors:

Wire and Radio-guided SACLOS

Wire and radio-guided SACLOS missile guidance systems reference the aiming reticule on the sight to calculate the angular difference between the crosshairs and the current position of the missile, and make flight adjustments to correct for impact. These adjustments are then communicated back down the wire, or radio signal, to the missile guidance system. An IR (infrared) or UV (ultraviolet) flare or strobe in the tail of the missile is part of the mechanism that facilitates this guidance correction by the sighting system. Both wire and radio signals have their strength and weaknesses - While wire communication is unjammable, it is susceptible to breaking or snagging in heavily forested environments, while radio signals can be potentially jammed, especially in modern EW (Electronic Warfare) environments.

Beam-riding SACLOS

On a beam-riding SACLOS system, the sighting system emits a beam using a medium such as radar or light (e.g. a laser), which a sensor in the rear of the tail looks for and aligns the missile with. The missile then follows the path to where the beam is aimed at. Note that this differs from systems where there is a sensor in the head of the missile that observes a beam "painting" a target, and guides the missile to the spot. Because the sensor is looking back towards the operator, it is largely immune to jamming methods, other than of course those where the target itself is obscured suddenly to the operator (such as if smoke or other visually disrupting methods are used), or if the operator comes under fire and cannot maintain the aim.