4 ms·
ICBMs don't use GPS. The almost universally use a inertial guidance system. For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Inertial_Reference_Sphere https:
by chipsa 5y ago
ICBMs don't use GPS. The almost universally use a inertial guidance system. For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Inertial_Reference_Sphere https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Inertial_Reference_Sp....
Bombers use a similar inertial guidance system, but with updates from GPS and star trackers as applicable. The reduced precision from GPS doesn't matter too much, as the inertial guidance systems are pretty good now.
- jcadam 5y agoThe assumption is that in a nuclear conflagration, expect GPS to become... unavailable.
- jcrawfordor 5y agoA surprising number of ICBMs have used star trackers as well! It's somewhat surprising that ICBMs used star trackers before inertial guidance was sufficiently precise. The idea of an automated, high-precision star tracker is not so surprising today but back in the '60s it was quite an achievement.