Outline the detection, identification, cueing, fire-control, and engagement steps in a surface-to-surface missile engagement.

• A. Detect, identify, cue, fire-control, engagement.
• B. Detect, cue, identify, engage, fire.
• C. Identify, detect, cue, fire-control, engagement.
• D. Detect, identify, engage, cue, fire-control.

Answer: (A)

In a surface-to-surface missile engagement, the steps unfold in a logical flow from sensing to firing. First, detection spots a potential target with radar or other sensors, establishing that something of interest exists. Then identification uses the sensor data to confirm the target's identity and its legitimacy as a threat, filtering out decoys or non-threats. Once the target is confirmed, cueing passes the validated target information to the fire-control system, priming it to track the target and prepare a firing solution. Fire-control then computes the intercept solution, coordinates the weapon’s launch parameters, and maintains the track to ensure a proper intercept path. Finally, engagement is the actual launch of the missile and the subsequent guidance toward the target, continuing as needed to achieve the intercept.

This sequence makes sense because you can’t cue or fire without first knowing what you’re tracking and confirming it as a target, and you can’t generate a firing solution without cueing data and an identified target.