How do Missiles are Guided to the exact target ?

Question

Is the missile's are guided by using Global position System.

Answer 1

Guided missile

A pilotless, controlled-flight vehicle that is guided to a target by guidance and control equipment. This equipment may be carried in the missile vehicle itself, or guidance may be directed from the launch site. The term is generally reserved for aerodynamic, maneuverable missiles that may be guided to predetermined targets for military purposes.

Guided missiles are classified by launch/target mode such as air to air (AAM), air to surface (ASM), surface to air (SAM), surface to surface (SSM), and other possible modes. Missiles may be classified by range (short, medium, long) or by techniques related to tracking and guidance (radar, infrared heat seeker, optical or television, laser, radio, wire control command, acoustical). Some missiles make use of terrain following, which permits the missile to look at the terrain, compare it with a predetermined mapped route, and in effect fly a course as if by following a road map. See also Guidance systems.

Guided missiles are generally self-propelled, and may use rocket motors (liquid or solid), air-breathing turbojet engines, ramjets, or various types of combined-cycle engines. For some missions, particularly air-to-surface missions, unpowered, gliding guided missiles may be used. See also Ion propulsion; Jet propulsion; Rocket propulsion.

The kill mechanism for a missile consists of some form of explosive warhead and a system fordetonation (fusing and arming). Warheads are typically either high-explosive or nuclear. Warheads may be exploded upon contact with the target, by command from an external source, by a proximity fuse that senses the target, by preset timers, and so on.

Answer 2

A device for correcting the flight path of an air to surface missile and ding said missile to a target. A first map of a strip of ground which is transverse to the direction of flight is provided on a rotatable drum along with a second map of a strip of ground which is parallel with the direction of flight. A live image of the ground over which said missile is traveling is projected first through the first map to provide a position fix of the missile in range and azimuth relative to a target and after a correction has been made to the flight path of the missile, the live image of the ground is projected through the second map to provide guidance correction to direct the missile to the target.

P.S. - plagiarised.

Answer 3

Various means:
Heat seeking,
Satelite positioning,
Laser guided,
the Japanese used some human guided in WWII,
remote controled by someone near the target or using a camera onboard the missile the fins are moved to guide them.

Answer 4

Some are heat seekers, others are guided by global positioning and cross referenced with topological mapping along with Longtitude and latitude. Damn good, aiming!

Answer 5

Yes by GPS and laser technology.

Answer 6

http://people.howstuffworks.com/cruise-missile1.htm see here