Star Cruiser missiles

I just finished reading the latest tml messages and would like to make a
comment on the use of detonation missiles:
As far as I understood the standard procedure for using a missile consists in
sending it to the target, receiving the info relayed by the missile and then
telling it to fire.
Since distances are pretty big the missile would have to work on his own,
following the target between relaying the information and receiving the order
to detonate.
Another problem this procedure posses is that when relaying information to
the remote pilot (operator seems more convinient) the missile becomes quite
visible to the enemy.  Using of very tight beam doesn't improve this for 2
reasons: (i) again because of the large distances involved the remote
operator's ship will move between the moment the missile relays the message and
the moment the ship receives it.  therefore the beam couldn't be all that
tight.  And (ii) since the missile is suppose to infiltrate enemy 'territory'
the message could easilly be picked up by a ship (other than the target).

It seems that a better (safer) use of missiles would be to rely on
preprograming and expert systems that locally control the missile's actions.
The missile could still receive new orders but it would never transmit (unless
ordered to).  Tasks like identification of targets would be left to other
probes (note: these probes could tell the missiles where to fire at).

What do you think of this?

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Pedro A.C. Tavares

Faculdade de Ciencias - Universidade de Lisboa

Email: [email removed]
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