Pavlin_33

Here is a testimony of yet another pilot (3rd) explaining how while having his radar is search mode he still could detect being locked up in his SPO: Rough translation: There ya go, testimony from very people that operated the real thing in real combat conditions. An these are the export versions.

Here's a testimony of yet another pilot saying how he picked up enemy launches: Rough translation:

For all the people saying that SPO on a MiG-29 can pick up only "Hercues" launches, here you are: a testimony from a real Fulcrum pilot saying how his SPO device picked up enemy launch Rough translation: --- Also here is the same pilot talking about how while having locked up an enemy at around 35km, he gets launch warnings on his SPO device. Rough translation:

I know this is a complex topic, but on one hand we have interpretation of the hardware saying one thing and on the other we have RL pilot statements, and RL Su-27 manual stating something different. Also it's worth mentioning that RL 29B manual never mentions this limitation - for what ever reason, but it seems to be in line with pilot statements.

I am not 100% sure but I think in RL locking someone up is a sign that they're being engaged and no RL pilot will not react to that. Only in video games do we just brush it off and wait for the actual launch tone, before we take it seriously.

This is not even completely true. So called FF detailed airplanes don't even have basic stuff modeled correctly, like IFF, ECM, RWR, pitot tube freezing, engine surges and so on.

When it comes to instantaneus turns, they are just G limited turns until you reach a certain speed after which the frame can't sustain max G. One thing to notice is that max AoA decreases with the increase in Mach number. If you can't reach max G above corner speed that means that either AoA limit was exceeded or the elevator does not have enough authority or is somehow limited.

I think IRL radar jamming might be an issue, that's where EOS/27T come in.

It was not rushed, it was meant to be deployed using GCI and supported by extensive air defences. You can't look at Soviet doctrine through NATO glasses.

A bit off topic, but cockpit layouts are something you just get used to. I've been flying red exclusively for 10+ years, and when you put me in a NATO style cockpit, I am completely lost. If you ask me, Soviet style artificial horizont with separate pitch and roll axis is way better, but that's just me. I got used to this style and now I can't unlearn it

I honestly don't understand how come this is not enough. Both manuals (27 & 29) use the word "may", so at least there should be some sort of random probability of this happening, which would re-set once the radar emissions are off.

What I was thinking is: if there's a trustworthy testimony that SPO was working fine, then it's logical to conclude that in cases where it wasn't there was some sort of hardware issue. No one knows better how this thing works than people that have used it. I mean if you ask Yugoslav pilots in '99 about their 29's, where almost none of critical equipment was functional, they would not be a good source for the topic at hand. This however does not mean that Fulcrum is bad, just that it was not maintained.

Great text. Just shows how different RL operations are, especially when it comes to IFF.

It's enough to ask a trusted 29 driver(s) what happened in real life. Going through diagrams trying to figure out how this thing worked can possibly lead to wrong conclusions. If 2 pilots say the same thing, I think this should take precedence over tech diagrams. You forgot to mention schovels and washing machines.

Ah I see. I didn't know they carried fox3 also.

Didn't 16A have only fox 2? 29 has DL, fox 1, HMS, 2 engines... IMHO it beats the 16A version in almost everything except RWR maybe

Dunno, the manual just says that the sensitivity is 150% of max range of the illuminator.

SPO has a maximum detection range of 150% of illuminating radar's max. range. I am guessing that that's for when the signal enters the center of a lobe.

Yes, MiG-29's radar was pecifically developed for WVR with a max detection range of around few kilometers. The 27Rs were designed to be initially guided using M-link, and then they would home in using pilot's eyballs.

True that

I guess in this kind of situation ot would be advisable to ask RL pilots for their input.

Don't feel bad, my voice doesn't sound the best either. Opinions are like asses - everybody has one.

Let me put in your terms: F-15 has a horrible range compared to 777ULR. It's payload is also not good at all and it can't carry any passengers.

Optimal speed at low altitude is M 0.5, as per RL OM.

So you get "nails"? If yes, then assume that you are being targeted. If this helps in any way, that is.