Which type of guidance do BVRAAMs use?

BVRAAMs, or Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles, primarily utilize radar guidance systems. This allows them to effectively track and engage airborne targets at significant distances, far beyond what is achievable with visual identification. The radar guidance system is crucial for the missile's ability to lock onto targets, guide themselves in-flight, and make mid-course adjustments, ensuring high accuracy when engaged with fast-moving aircraft.

In many cases, BVRAAMs employ active radar homing, where the missile itself has onboard radar that can detect and engage a target independently after being launched. This capability enhances operational flexibility, allowing the launching aircraft to engage targets without needing to maintain a radar lock on the target throughout the missile's flight.

Other guidance methods, such as inertial, infrared, and visible light, are typically associated with different types of munitions or may complement radar systems in some scenarios, but they do not serve as the primary guidance technology for BVRAAMs. Inertial guidance is often used in the initial phase of flight, however, it lacks the target-seeking capabilities necessary for engagement over long distances, while infrared and visible light guidance systems are more commonly found in short-range air-to-air missiles or ground-launched systems rather than BVRA