A system for communicating with a projectile in flight toward an intended target includes a barrel-launched projectile and a remote receiver. The barrel-launched projectile includes an ordnance portion, an active communications apparatus and an onboard speed control. The active communications apparatus includes an onboard receiver, an electromagnetic wave reception device, and an active transmitter. The electromagnetic wave reception device includes at least one from the group consisting of an antenna and a photo receptor and is configured to receive an electromagnetic signal. The electromagnetic wave reception device is connected to provide a signal derived from the electromagnetic signal to the onboard receiver to deploy the onboard speed control. The active transmitter is connected and configured for transmitting a signal to the remote receiver during flight and before activation of the speed control. The transmitted signal is directed within a cone angle extending in a direction opposite of the barrel-launched projectile's flight direction. The onboard speed control includes a shaped explosive charge. Deploying the onboard speed control initiates explosion of the shaped explosive charge. The explosion of the shaped explosive charge adjusts velocity of the barrel-launched projectile.