[InclinedPlane]

By "modern" I mean a subset of systems which excludes first generation systems as well as some second and other generation systems, it's generally just simpler to say "modern" than be more specific. If I said "modern computers use integrated circuits" the timeline of modernity would be clear, I don't mean state of the art, just not archaic.

[badgar]

> By "modern" I mean a subset of systems which excludes first generation systems as well as some second and other generation systems

The word you're looking for is "mature."

[InclinedPlane]

Maturity of a technological system to me implies a plateau of design, but that's not the case in missile guidance. Current generation systems are significantly more advanced and more capable than previous generation systems.

[Gravityloss]

Yes, sorry for nitpicking but I just think that the word choice was perhaps not good. I'd think modern missiles means something much more recent easily, when this is talking about something practically existent for the whole development time of missiles. Sidewinder development was started in 1946.