WTI Threat Inventory Practice Test

Active guidance involves the missile carrying its own onboard seeker (such as radar or infrared) that searches for and continuously tracks the target. This lets the missile locate and steer toward the target independently, without needing continuous illumination or guidance from the launch platform. That autonomous terminal guidance is what the question is testing.

In contrast, semi-active schemes rely on energy from the launching platform (like ground or aircraft radar) to illuminate the target and the missile homes in on the reflected energy, rather than on an onboard seeker. The other labeled schemes combine guidance ways that still depend on external information rather than an active onboard seeker.