The first version of the missile, the R.510, was infra-red guided, and while accurate had very limited operating parameters.

[1] The missile was superseded by the far more capable R.530 in French service, although continued to be used in training units until 1976.

The R.510 was optically guided by a PbS infra-red photocell with a 20° field of view.

[1] However the PbS seeker was insensitive and could only effectively track targets at night.

The R.511 used a Thompson-CSF semi-active radar homing head which was tuned to home on to reflections of the launch aircraft's radar; its antenna scanned conically 8° off the boresight of the missile at a rate of 225 revolutions per second.