AIM-120C Radar-Support

[Laud]

As far as I understand it the missile should be "cut off" the aircrafts datalink once a lock is droped / radar off.

 

 

We tested this. Locked a target - fire missile at Rmax - drop the lock / radar off - wait ten seconds - reaquire the lock.

 

 

TacView showed the missile kinda lost in its loft trajectory after stoping to support it. But once the target was reaquired by the aircraft radar, the missile put it's nose down and corrected its flightpath.

 

 

 

This hints to the missile being supported by a reaquired lock even though it shouldn't.

 

 

Am I wrong or is the missile?

[mcnabb100]

The 120 doesn't instantly lock the the target off the rail. It has to be supported initially.

[will-]

The 120 doesn't instantly lock the the target off the rail. It has to be supported initially.

 

you can shoot a 120 and it will find a target on its own.

[dundun92]

Perhaps the missile entered the 15km active range?

[SDsc0rch]

the missile should actually continue to its latest calculated interception point and then turn on its on-board radar

not just "go stupid" and continue along its last trajectory

[Harker]

the missile should actually continue to its latest calculated interception point and then turn on its on-board radar

not just "go stupid" and continue along its last trajectory

it should, but the AIM-120C in DCS, it goes to the last point the target was detected, not the interception point. At least in the Hornet.

[SDsc0rch]

true ---- maybe ED will see this and add that functionality into the A120...

[Laud]

The 120 doesn't instantly lock the the target off the rail. It has to be supported initially.

 

 

Well, yeah, that's basically what my post is about.

[Laud]

Perhaps the missile entered the 15km active range?

 

 

No, don't thinkso. Tested both scenarios: Without reaquiring the lock and with reaquiring.

 

 

There was a noteable difference in its flight-profile.

[Laud]

the missile should actually continue to its latest calculated interception point and then turn on its on-board radar

not just "go stupid" and continue along its last trajectory

 

 

It flew (lofting) towards the position the target was at at launch (not going stupid) but corrected once the lock was reacquired.

 

 

 

That hinted to be caused by a reestablished datalink to the aircraft, which shouldn't happen.

[Laud]

it should, but the AIM-120C in DCS, it goes to the last point the target was detected, not the interception point. At least in the Hornet.

 

 

That's a thing I didn't even was aware of.

[Harker]

That's a thing I didn't even was aware of.

It's the same thing that happened to you, as per your description that the missile flew towards the point where the target was at launch. I'm assuming that you cut off radar support immediately after launch.

 

If you maintain the lock and cut support later, the missile will fly to the last point the target was detected. If it hasn't gone active in the meantime, of course.

[Laud]

Yes, we figured that as long as you support it for at least 10 - 15 seconds performance increases significantly.