MCLOS

The acronym manual command to line of sight ( m anual c ommand to l ine o f s ight ; German manual control with visual link is referred to a method for controlling the military missile, in particular rockets used).

When using an MCLOS missile, the operator has to observe his missile and the targeted target and at the same time steer his missile. Typically, the missile is controlled with a joystick and its movement is observed through a periscopic telescopic sight. The rockets are usually equipped with a magnesium flare, which ignites automatically when launched. This enables the shooter to better optically follow the missile trajectory - as is the case with tracer ammunition .

It takes a lot of practice to master the MCLOS controls, as even slight concentration disorders in the shooter are likely to lead to a miss of the target. The aiming accuracy is quite low with tank-sized targets - even with good shooters - since the restless (sometimes even lurching) trajectory of the rocket requires prompt and rapid correction. This was evident during the attack by Arab states on Israel, as only a few anti-tank missiles managed to hit their target due to the cloud of smoke when the rocket was launched, the rapid movement of the target and especially the enemy counterfire .

The MCLOS route guidance has largely been replaced by the SACLOS route guidance, which is much easier to use . This only allows the shooter to concentrate on the target: The shooter aims at the target and the system calculates the angle between the rocket and the target based on the data transmitted by the optics. This data is converted into control commands that are passed on to the control unit of the missile.

MCLOS missiles

literature

TW Lee: Military Technologies of the World. Praeger, 2008, p. 83
Anil Maini: Lasers and Optoelectronics: Fundamentals, Devices and Applications. John Wiley & Sons, 2013, p. 533 ff.