Certain air-to-air missiles, such as the Meteor, AIM-120D, and Derby Mk-III, are equipped with a two-way datalink. This capability allows the launching platform not only to provide mid-course target updates—such as heading and speed—but also to receive data from the missile itself. But what information can the missile send back through the down link ?. While parameters like the missile’s own speed are relatively straightforward, can the missile also relay data gathered by its onboard seeker, such as targets it has detected or is actively tracking?. In other words, could the missile act as mini radar sensor for the aircraft?
