In simple memory response, if the trigger times out before the flare leaves the seeker FOV, what happens?

In simple memory response, if the trigger times out before the flare leaves the seeker FOV, what happens?

• A. The missile will likely be decoyed by the flare.
• B. The missile continues to track the flare.
• C. The missile switches to manual control.
• D. The missile resets and restarts tracking.

Answer: (A)

In simple memory response, once the seeker loses real-time lock, the missile relies on the last known bearing to the target and follows that remembered track for a short period instead of actively reacquiring. If a flare enters the seeker’s field of view and remains there before the trigger times out, the memory guidance has nothing active to re-lock onto the actual target. The flare, being a strong infrared source, becomes the dominant signal the seeker sees, and the missile’s limited memory guidance will tend to steer toward that decoy rather than toward the real target. That’s why the missile is likely decoyed by the flare. This isn’t about switching to manual control, resetting and restarting tracking, or continuing to track only the flare with active guidance. The memory behavior makes it vulnerable to decoys when the trigger times out while a decoy still occupies the seeker’s field of view.

In simple memory response, once the seeker loses real-time lock, the missile relies on the last known bearing to the target and follows that remembered track for a short period instead of actively reacquiring. If a flare enters the seeker’s field of view and remains there before the trigger times out, the memory guidance has nothing active to re-lock onto the actual target. The flare, being a strong infrared source, becomes the dominant signal the seeker sees, and the missile’s limited memory guidance will tend to steer toward that decoy rather than toward the real target. That’s why the missile is likely decoyed by the flare.

This isn’t about switching to manual control, resetting and restarting tracking, or continuing to track only the flare with active guidance. The memory behavior makes it vulnerable to decoys when the trigger times out while a decoy still occupies the seeker’s field of view.