Range gating not simulated?

Noctrach · April 16, 2020

Just for clarity, this has been a very long-standing issue but range gates/ground separation not being in any way simulated for missile guidance behaviour is a known issue?

It's possible to notch a missile from any altitude without chaff so long as the missile is even looking a few degrees below its local horizon. Even if this means there's tens of miles of separation between its target and any possible background clutter.

While I absolutely welcome the new lofting mechanics, they do shine a really bad light on this issue as notching missiles has become much easier at any altitude.

Attached a track and tacview demonstrating this behaviour.

Behaviour in sim:

F-15C at 35,000 ft vs AIM-120C at 35,500 ft.

No chaff or ECM used.

AIM-120C looking down 10 degrees below the horizon, the missile loses me the second I pass through the doppler notch at 90 degrees offset, only to reacquire after having already passed me.

Separation between my jet and the ground clutter from the missile seeker's perspective: 38 miles.

Tacview analysis: https://gfycat.com/slightposhemperorpenguin

Expected behaviour:

Any sort of range gating simulation would entirely mitigate the ability to notch a missile unless close to a source of background clutter.

HighAltitudeNotchNoChaff.trk

HighAltitudeNotchNoChaff.zip.acmi.zip