The ability to target missiles using passive sensor data.
Example. A scout (fighter/gunboat/ship/etc) has a thermal contact. Missile platform is in range with a missile that has a thermal sensor. Contact shows as a valid to assign target. The launch platform can use it's missile control to generally guide the missile into it's own acquisition range but the missile must be able to takeover for terminal guidance.
You can do this by targeting the missiles on a waypoint and then releasing control so they will find their own targets (if they have onboard guidance).
Steve
I guess it's the onboard guidance that I'm missing. It used to be a researchable tech item to add to missiles and I no longer see it. Is that just active sensors?
If so, can we have a variant for passives?
If not, what I'm I missing? I've searched back through the posts concerning the last couple of generation changes to missiles and appearently have not found it.
I thought I'd tried targeting a waypoint for launch and then dropping active fire control. Next time I have to opportunity I'll try it again paying special attention to what procedures I'm using.
Thanks Steve for addressing my question.
<10/22 edit>
I think I found what I was missing. Too launch a missile active sensors must be on. What I'm asking for as a means of passive target assignment. That's what I was trying to illustrate with my earlier example. What I haven't tried yet is assigning a waypoint for initial targeting without active sensors/fire control being online.