Hunter-killer sight

For the StarCraft Hunter Killer, see Hunter Killer (StarCraft).

For the Top Cow Productions comic series Hunter-Killer, see Hunter-Killer (comic).

Hunter-Killer is a military term used to describe any team in which the roles of "sensor" and "shooter" are separated. A hunter-killer team's primary mission is to seek out and destroy the enemy, particularly in contexts where the enemy is attempting to evade detection rather than seek engagement.

Examples include:

pairs of F-4G "Wild Weasels" and F-16Cs, where the F-4G "hunter" can detect, identify, and locate an enemies radar and then direct the F-16C's weapons to the site
M2 Bradley Infantry / Cavalry Fighting Vehicle often "hand off" fire missions to M1 Abrams main battle tanks
one or more antisubmarine aircraft carriers and a number of escort vessels whose primary mission is to detect and destroy submarines

Smaller submarines tasked with coastal defense are sometimes referred to as "hunter-killers" even though they may not operate in teams with other platforms. In the United States Navy and Canadian Navy such submarine types are given the hull classification symbol "SSK".

Hollywood:

In the Terminator saga, Hunter Killers were unmaned vehicles that were built in automated factories. There were two types that were viewed on all three of the terminator movies, which were the tank and the aerial versions.

HK's were easier to build than terminators, because they were not composed of small, moving parts. Once they were rolled off of the assembly lines, HK's ran 24 hours a day, detecting any sort of vibration with motion sensors. If any vibration was detected, the HK's would analyze, and if it represented a human target, weapons were brought online and the target was engaged. If it lost the acquired target, the HK would open any file on tactics in its CPU, and it would try to reaquire its target. If the target was never found, it would resume its daily patrol. In most of the tactics which were used, these infiltration units often led the way onto the front lines; later, T-800 and T-850 Terminator units offered HK's cover and assistance from Tech Com personnel if they retreated underground. The HK tanks were very effective when it came to tracking and taking the fight to the enemy during the day, but they were a bit clumsy. They were so huge, they were vulnerable to Tech Com soldiers using explosives under their tracks. Also, because of their size, they could not continue to pursue their acquired targets. The HK Aerials were also effective for locating and pursuing freedom fighters, except they were vulnerable if enemy rockets destroyed their turbo fan engines.