Ballistic missiles locate their targets through a combination of inertial navigation, satellite corrections, and terminal guidance.
After launch, the missile’s onboard computer uses gyroscopes and accelerometers to calculate position, speed, and direction in real time. This inertial system is independent of external signals but accumulates error over time.
Modern missiles reduce this drift by integrating satellite navigation signals such as GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, or domestic systems, improving impact accuracy.
During the ballistic phase, after engine cutoff, the missile follows a gravity‑driven trajectory and usually does not need thrust.
In the final approach, advanced missiles employ sensors—active radar, infrared seekers, electro‑optical cameras, or terrain‑matching systems—to fine‑tune the flight path. Some have small control motors or fins to achieve meter‑level precision. The combination of inertial, satellite, and terminal guidance can bring accuracy below 5–10 m, enabling strikes on moving targets like ships, while purely inertial guidance may leave errors of several hundred meters.