What does seeker push-ahead (TAB) do?

What does seeker push-ahead (TAB) do?

• A. Drive the seeker backward away from the target.
• B. Drive the seeker forward toward the target.
• C. Attenuate the seeker's sensitivity.
• D. Ignore the target and maintain current track.

Answer: (B)

Push-ahead biases the seeker to look ahead of the target, effectively leading the pursuit. By driving the seeker's aim point forward along the target’s direction of travel, TAB accounts for the target’s motion and the missile’s time of flight, increasing the chance of a successful intercept. It’s not about moving the seeker backward, reducing sensitivity, or ignoring the target; it’s about placing the seeker’s lead point in front of the target to compensate for movement and timing so guidance can steer toward where the target will be.

Push-ahead biases the seeker to look ahead of the target, effectively leading the pursuit. By driving the seeker's aim point forward along the target’s direction of travel, TAB accounts for the target’s motion and the missile’s time of flight, increasing the chance of a successful intercept. It’s not about moving the seeker backward, reducing sensitivity, or ignoring the target; it’s about placing the seeker’s lead point in front of the target to compensate for movement and timing so guidance can steer toward where the target will be.