Editing Beam riding (section)

==Laser beam riding==
Beam riding guidance based systems became more common again in the 1980s and 90s with the introduction of low-cost and highly portable [[laser designator]]s. Due to the shorter wavelengths used, a laser beam can be projected with a much narrower [[angular resolution]] than a radar beam while not requiring a significant increase in the size of the projector's [[aperture]] when compared to other optical devices being used by a typical guidance system for [[precision-guided munition]]s. Because of this, it is possible to spatially encode additional information in a beam using digital or electro-optical means, which has a number of advantages. Missiles with small optical receivers on their tail can beam-ride on lasers with similar ease as earlier radar beam systems, but will be inherently more accurate due to the higher [[spatial resolution]] of the beam's encoding at the target.

Additionally, because the beam is usually projected directly onto the missile's receiver, an order of magnitude less intensity is needed than a semi-active design where the target must be "painted" and the missile must detect the laser's [[diffuse reflection]] from the target. The lower intensity requirement of laser beam riding systems compared to semi-active laser homing systems can make them significantly more difficult for a target's laser warning receivers to detect. Very low power signals can be used.<ref>Richardson, Mark, and Al-Jaberi, Mubarak, [https://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/1826/1047/thesis_v1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y "The vulnerability of laser warning systems against guided weapons based on low power lasers"], Cranfield University, 28 April 2006</ref>

In modern use, laser beam riding is generally limited to short-range missiles, both anti-air and anti-tank. Examples include [[Air Defense Anti-Tank System|ADATS]], the [[Starstreak (missile)|Starstreak]], the [[RBS 70]], Russian [[9K121 Vikhr]] and [[9M119 Svir]], Ukrainian [[Skif (ATGM)|Skif]] and [[Skif (anti-tank guided missile)|Stuhna-P]] [[Anti-tank guided missile|ATGMs]].