meistro

Re: Russian TWS, and the R-77 missle... Actually I was thinking of the F-14 when I wrote that...I believe that the AN/AWG-9 radar was the first to introduce the whole TWS concept (among other things). This of course brought about the much hyped (but unproven) Phoenix missle system. Aside from that you are right, and thanks for the information.

What exactly is the point of using TWS radar submodes while flying Russian planes, if all it does is just attempt an automatic STT of a target (at .85 of the missle range no less)? The entire point of TWS, atleast as far as western avionocs is concerned, is so that you can track, and fire at multiple targets without having to enter into a STT lock. Actually I think that in most US planes today, even in RWS mode, the contact must be bugged twice to even enter into a STT lock. Which makes sense since an STT lock is totally uneccasary for use in conjunction with the primary weapon (AMRAAM). Which brings me to my next question...why doesnt the R-77 work in similar fashion? Why is it neccesary for an ARH missle to be fired in conjunction with a STT lock. In other sims (well atleast in Falcon) the MiG-29 and Su-27s can fire AA-12 missles without entering into a STT. Now Falcon could probably have it wrong (and obviously they have part of it wrong seen as how the Su-27 doesnt even employ the AA-12 missle), but I thought that it was based on some sort of common knowledge. And further more I thought that the MIG-29 could fire on atleast two targets simutaniously with the R-77 (AA-12...whatever its called).