AIM-120 missiles use _________ for target acquisition.

The AIM-120 missile primarily utilizes active radar target detection for its target acquisition. This technology allows the missile to seek out and engage targets autonomously after launch. It features an onboard radar that can detect and track targets, facilitating its ability to engage enemy aircraft effectively at various ranges and under different environmental conditions.

Unlike infrared target detection, which relies on heat signatures and can be susceptible to countermeasures like flares, or laser target acquisition, which requires continuous illumination of the target, active radar provides a more reliable and less vulnerable means of targeting. Visual target identification is not practical for a missile's operational effectiveness due to the speeds and distances involved in combat scenarios. Thus, the reliance on active radar target detection is crucial for the AIM-120's function in modern aerial combat.