[CORRECT AS IS] AGM-84D Harpoon High Flight Profile Not Working

[TeamMaximus]

I've noted that when launching a Harpoon with the HIGH FLT profile, rather than climbing to 35,000 feet (per the F/A-18C manual), the Harpoon maintains the launch altitude. In the first track file, I launch four missiles while at 30,000 feet, two with HIGH FLT profile, the other two MED, and LOW. The two missiles on the HIGH profile maintain approximately 30,000 feet, while the MED missile descends to and maintains 15,000 feet until a target is detected. The LOW missile descends to 5,000 feet and maintains that altitude until a target is detected, and it switches to skim.

 

In the second track file, I descend to and maintain 15,000 feet for the launch. The two HIGH missiles maintain approximately 15,000 all the way to the target detection phase. The MED and LOW missiles work as advertised.

 

In both track files, the launch point is waypoint 1, 50nm from the target positions.

 

 

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FA-18C AGM-84D Test.zip

FA-18C AGM-84D Test 2.zip

[Grimes]

I'm not 100% certain the missile is supposed to climb to the altitude. I've seen that behavior for all modes whereby if flt profile is >= current altitude it just attempts to maintain the current altitude. Definitely a SME type of question though.

[AvroLanc]

I'm not 100% certain the missile is supposed to climb to the altitude. I've seen that behavior for all modes whereby if flt profile is >= current altitude it just attempts to maintain the current altitude. Definitely a SME type of question though.

 

Yeah I suspect this is correct behaviour. You could hardly expect the missile to climb to 30000ft from, in theory 2500ft min launch altitude, and still have fuel / energy remaining.

[TeamMaximus]

I'm not 100% certain the missile is supposed to climb to the altitude. I've seen that behavior for all modes whereby if flt profile is >= current altitude it just attempts to maintain the current altitude. Definitely a SME type of question though.

 

From the OpenBeta F/A-18C manual:

 

Flight Profile (FLT). The FLT option provides three flight profiles, HIGH, MED, and LOW. These are used to change the flight profile setting.

• HIGH: The Harpoon cruises to the target at high altitude. A high-altitude profile provides the maximum range for the weapon and increases the effective search area of the seeker; however, the weapon is detectable at longer range and more susceptible to countermeasures.

Cruise altitude is 35,000 feet.

• MED: The Harpoon cruises to the target at medium altitude. Medium altitude provides a compromise between the HIGH and LOW profiles. Maximum range and relative search area size is greater than LOW, but less than HIGH. Similarly, enemy detection typically occurs later than HIGH, but sooner than LOW. Cruise altitude is 15,000 feet.

• LOW: The Harpoon cruises to the target at low (sea skimming) altitude. Low altitude is also known as a sea skimming profile because the Harpoon travels to the target area at very low altitude. While maximum range is reduced, enemy reaction time is also greatly reduced. Cruise altitude is 5,000 feet.

 

Was my thread marked [CORRECT AS IS] by an SME? If so, perhaps an update to the OpenBeta F/A-18C manual, Harpoon section would help with expectations.

 

Thanks,

 

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[Grimes]

I'd guess Wags or a moderator who knows the answer set it to "Correct as is" but I don't specifically know who did it.

 

I think the cruise altitude stated is what the missile will maintain, but the manual does not state anywhere that it would either climb to the altitude or maintain current altitude if below the desired setting.

[NineLine]

The missile should not climb to a set FLT, if it is launched below the set FLT, it will cruise at the launch altitude.

[blue 22]

mines will try to climb as well to the max altitude setting . the 35,00 foot cruise you can launch it at 30,000 it will stay around that high. if the low altitude warning does display around 2000 it will stay at the launch altitude of 2000 on low settings.

[KTFBGB]

From the OpenBeta F/A-18C manual:

 

Flight Profile (FLT). The FLT option provides three flight profiles, HIGH, MED, and LOW. These are used to change the flight profile setting.

• HIGH: The Harpoon cruises to the target at high altitude. A high-altitude profile provides the maximum range for the weapon and increases the effective search area of the seeker; however, the weapon is detectable at longer range and more susceptible to countermeasures.

Cruise altitude is 35,000 feet.

• MED: The Harpoon cruises to the target at medium altitude. Medium altitude provides a compromise between the HIGH and LOW profiles. Maximum range and relative search area size is greater than LOW, but less than HIGH. Similarly, enemy detection typically occurs later than HIGH, but sooner than LOW. Cruise altitude is 15,000 feet.

• LOW: The Harpoon cruises to the target at low (sea skimming) altitude. Low altitude is also known as a sea skimming profile because the Harpoon travels to the target area at very low altitude. While maximum range is reduced, enemy reaction time is also greatly reduced. Cruise altitude is 5,000 feet.

 

Was my thread marked [CORRECT AS IS] by an SME? If so, perhaps an update to the OpenBeta F/A-18C manual, Harpoon section would help with expectations.

 

 

Thanks,

 

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What you describe is exactly what the manual says. It says cruise altitude is 35k. Says nothing about climbing.

[TeamMaximus]

What you describe is exactly what the manual says. It says cruise altitude is 35k. Says nothing about climbing.

 

Neither does it say anything about not climbing. :smilewink: Be that as it may, I think this was answered adequately by @NineLine and others. Any moderator that cares can mark this closed.

 

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