Kh-25ML's range is too low with advanced flight model

[Maverick Su-35S]

Hi,

 

 

Did anyone wonder why does the KA-50 have Kh-25ML missiles in real life? Definitely because the Kh-25ML would have a greater distance than the Vikhr missile besides delivering a greater damage. Since some updates (don't remember when) in 1.5.x or 1.2.x, the Kh-25ML missile benefited from an AFM flight model which made it have a realistic flight behavior, but also drastically decreased the range of the missile through excessive drag and much lower lifting performance. If one might check to see, the Kh-25ML in the sim will reach it's critical AoA while flying at 1G when the speed falls below 880km/h IAS (so that is it's stall speed). In the sim, the Vikhr also exhibits stall below 860km/h IAS and it's rather obvious why regarding the very high wing loading it has with hose tiny control surfaces, but the KH-25ML with it's lower wing loading (compared to that of the Vikhr) should logically have a lower stalling speed than 860km/h. The Kh-25ML's weight to drag ratio should be much higher than that of the Vikhr, which would mean that it should also have a lower deceleration than that of a Vikhr when the fuel burns out. There could also be a problem with the pitching/yawing moment of the KH-25ML which is very low as it responds very sluggish in pitch/yaw motions while flying at quite high speeds as Mach 2. The KH-25ML also has a lower top speed than a Vikhr missile which isn't normal. In game, the KH-25ML, can barely go beyond 2000km/h at around 1000 meters, while the Vikhr goes as fast as +2500km/h at same altitude.

 

Because of all these aspects, you can't hit a target with the KH-25ML unless it's closer than 8.5km and your KA-50 isn't lower than 2500 meters AGL if it shoots from a stand still, cause the missile will never reach it's destination. The Vikhr goes well beyond 8km away if you shoot it from 2500 meters AGL in hover, being able to reach and kill targets as far as beyond 12km ahead.

 

I don't believe that the Vikhr is overrated or has exaggerated performances, but the opposite, I believe that the KH-25ML has some deficiencies, being unable to reach a realistic flight performance and range.

 

Here's a track file which should regard all the above:

Kh-25ML vs Vikhr range.trk

 

 

I wish it would be re-checked or tested!

Edited April 25, 2016 by Maverick Su-35S

[Maverick Su-35S]

Good job ED on fixing this!

 

 

Although no answer was given here, I now have it in the sim! I suppose the way the KH-25ML behaves in the sim right now is how it also does in reality. I didn't have the time to confirm and I hope I don't need to. Now, after being launched from a KA-50, the KH-25ML won't fall like a brick before gathering enough lift (as it happened before this fix). Although it naturally still drops some altitude if fired from zero airspeed, it's body angle of attack is maintained at critical after launch in order to maximize lift and thus reduce the altitude loss until it starts climbing as high as possible to attain as much total energy as possible (kinetic + potential) before following the laser designated target. If this is how it does in reality (or as much as close to it), you have my gratitude. So now the missile's range is greatly enhanced (and finally useful) when it's used on KA-50. No more huge initial drops in altitude after launch and now the missile climbs well prior to following the target.

 

 

Regards!