How long does it take for the seeker to activate?

• A. 5-8 seconds
• B. 20-30 seconds
• C. 10-15 seconds
• D. 1 minute

Answer: (C)

After powering up the seeker on the anti-armor missile system, it needs a brief warm-up and stabilization before it can reliably detect and track a heat signature. That warm-up is about ten to fifteen seconds. During this time the infrared sensor reaches its operating temperature, calibration settles, and the guidance system can lock onto a target. Rushing ahead before the seeker is ready can lead to poor tracking or a failed lock, while taking too long wastes valuable time in a real engagement. So the ten-to-fifteen second window is the standard, reliable activation period for proper target acquisition.