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Recently HB was able to follow some leads and finally was able to confirm the addition of the AIM-54C's ability to go active on its own. I'm now wondering if HB was able to find some more things that could improve the AIM-54C's performance (better CCM, improved motor performance, better range, etc.) or even the later AIM-54C ECCM/Sealed models.

Say I'm having this problem where I'm out at about 50-30 miles from Backfires and I can't get the damn Phoenix missiles to launch on a track. I press down on the trigger for 3 seconds and no joy. Is there some kind of in range cue? I have Master ARM On, HUD in air-to-air mode and the targets in the repeater. ACM mode doesn't seem to change a thing. Anything I'm missing besides a big, beautiful launch? Oh and when the missiles do launch they don't track the inbound Backfires or in other missions JF-15s? I've thrown together this simplistic "Phoenix Drill" mission and the only time the Phoenix missiles launch is when I'm in close (like less than 15 nm). Phoenix Drill.miz

Specific Impulse is calculated like this: https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/k-12/airplane/specimp.html It will be called "Isp" from here on. The Isp therefore calculates from Game Files like this: 13595N / ((163kg/27s) * 9,81m/s )= 229,554s As a Comparison, the Space Shuttles Solid Rocket Boosters Isp was 242s on Ground level, 268s in Vacuum. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Solid_Rocket_Booster?fbclid=IwAR0U76UEI_XSu9uyMmW-ieV7sorH4y-cTmtCPLeXGUVowO2t_1LMh3T8ii4#:~:text=This propellant is commonly referred,%2Fs As visible in the Files, it currently works with a specific thrust that is not changing with Air Pressure, even tho it should. Source: https://www1.grc.nasa.gov/beginners-guide-to-aeronautics/thrust-force/#general-thrust-equation-for-rocket-engines Furthermore, the Missile does currently NOT reach close to its Specification, as specified in the two Sources below (see "New Air-Launched Small Missile (ALSM) Flight Testbed forHypersonic Systems" and "SubA_6_2_Phoenix Project Overview"). Source: "nullNew Air-Launched Small Missile (ALSM) Flight Testbed for Hypersonic Systems" Source: "SubA_6_2_Phoenix Project Overview" Furthermore, both Rocket Motors share the same Isp, even tho one is Smokeless and the other one is Smoking (!!!) This is very unlikely, given smokeless propellants usually have Isp Drawbacks. Proposed Solution: Currently, the Aim-54 Isp and Max. Mach Speed are too low compared to the real world without a doubt. Increasing the Thrust (and therefore Isp) by: 5% for the MK60 Motor at Ground level 0% for the MK47 Motor at Ground level would put the MK60 Motor at 241,03s of Isp, about on par with the Space Shuttles Solid Boosters. Most important however is the (currently missing) additional Dynamic Thrust by Altitude: Both Boosters should gain extra Thrust of 268s/242s = ~11% when in Vacuum, so using the Barometric Formula for Air Density at Altitude both Motors should achieve a higher thrust of: 3,74% burning at 10000 feet (see Math below) 6,6% burning at 20000 feet (see Math below) 8,69% burning at 30000 feet (see Math below) 9,9% burning at 40000 feet (see Math below) Math: 10000 feet: 1atm - 0.66atm = 0.34atm, 0.34 * 11% = 3,74% 20000 feet: 1atm - 0.40atm = 0.60atm, 0.6 * 11% = 6,6% 30000 feet: 1atm - 0.21atm = 0.79atm, 0.79 * 11% = 8,69% 40000 feet: 1atm - 0.10atm = 0.90atm, 0.9 * 11% = 9,9% Source: https://www.mide.com/air-pressure-at-altitude-calculator & https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barometric_formula For Testing, I have modified my Game Files to match the Math: The MK60 Missile would now reach Mach 4.5 instead of its previous Mach 3.8 when launched at 40000 feet, bringing it right to where it should be, according to both Sources ("New Air-Launched Small Missile (ALSM) Flight Testbed forHypersonic Systems" and "SubA_6_2_Phoenix Project Overview"). Thank you for taking the time to read and assess this, Dear Reader Best Wishes, Florian (Student and future Engineer of the Aerospace Engineering Branch) New Air-Launched Small Missile (ALSM) Flight Testbed forHypersonic Systems.pdf SubA_6_2_Phoenix Project Overview.ppt