Question about Phoenix Active conditions

[Crudbasher]

Ok so Ph Act switch makes the 54 active off the rail. Got it. The ACM cover up also make it active. But I found this from the HB manual.

 

For all other modes and within 10NM of target (or in ACM or PH ACT) the AIM-54 will launch active off the rail and the targeted aircraft will immediately see the missile’s own radar actively engaging it. It will not loft in this case and thus the range is less than in the other two cases.

 

So does that mean that no matter what the switches are set to, if fired within 10 miles of a locked or TWS target the 54 will go active right away? (I'm assuming locking via PD-STT is the exception since that causes a SAHR behavior all the way to the target).

 

Can anyone clarify please? Thanks!

[near_blind]

That sounds correct. AIM-54s are big missiles that accelerate relatively slowly. 10 NM is a really close engagement, and the system is trying to get the missile off the jet and working on its own as quick as possible. 

[captain_dalan]

I am curious on the PD-STT sub 10NM launches. Would those go active as well?

[BreaKKer]

43 minutes ago, captain_dalan said:

I am curious on the PD-STT sub 10NM launches. Would those go active as well?

From what I understand with the AIM-54C, it will go active off the rails, go to the boresighted target, and then if it doesn't see anything, it falls back onto the STT

[DSplayer]

7 hours ago, BreaKKer said:

From what I understand with the AIM-54C, it will go active off the rails, go to the boresighted target, and then if it doesn't see anything, it falls back onto the STT

That's what an AIM-54C would do IRL. In-game, however, it doesn't do to limitations with the game so a PD-STT shot (I believe) doesn't go active unless the aforementioned ACM cover is up, the PH-ACT is on, or you launch within 10 miles. Not like you would make a PD-STT shot at those ranges considering PAL (An ACM mode which therefore uses P-STT) has a max range of 15nms and goes active immediately as well. AIM-54As also go active if you launch within 10 miles in PD-STT.

[Naquaii]

18 hours ago, Crudbasher said:

Ok so Ph Act switch makes the 54 active off the rail. Got it. The ACM cover up also make it active. But I found this from the HB manual.

 

For all other modes and within 10NM of target (or in ACM or PH ACT) the AIM-54 will launch active off the rail and the targeted aircraft will immediately see the missile’s own radar actively engaging it. It will not loft in this case and thus the range is less than in the other two cases.

 

So does that mean that no matter what the switches are set to, if fired within 10 miles of a locked or TWS target the 54 will go active right away? (I'm assuming locking via PD-STT is the exception since that causes a SAHR behavior all the way to the target).

 

Can anyone clarify please? Thanks!

 

PD-STT is not an exception, in this case it'll be a normal active launch and the missile will be active, this is an exception to the normal SARH PD-STT behavior when within 10NM.

[Crudbasher]

I am so appreciative for everyone's responses! So the Aim-54 will launch in Active mode within 10 miles. No exceptions. So not a good missile to fire into a furball.

 

[captain_dalan]

5 hours ago, Naquaii said:

 

PD-STT is not an exception, in this case it'll be a normal active launch and the missile will be active, this is an exception to the normal SARH PD-STT behavior when within 10NM.

Thanks for settling this out @Naquaii!

[QuiGon]

On 11/4/2020 at 12:57 PM, IronMike said:

1. TWS with range >10NM: LTE (launch to eject) 3s, loft, SARH/DL, missile goes active at 16 seconds TTI (time-to-impact)

 

2. PDSTT with range >10NM: LTE 3s, loft, SARH/DL, missile does not go active (SARH/DL all the way to target)

 

3. TWS or PDSTT with range <10NM, or PH ACT selected: LTE 3s, no loft, active directly after launch

 

4. PSTT or BRSIT or (ACM cover up with no track or PSTT or PDSTT): LTE 1s (unless STT and angle >15deg then 3s), no loft, active immediately

 

5. This also means the in-flight missiles with TWS will no longer go active if tracking is lost, the F-14 is destroyed, the radar is disabled etc. before 16s TTI. However, the WCS can keep a track file stored for up to 2 minutes (for targets under missile attack) and send an active signal to the Phoenix pointing it into the target’s likely position, if the track has not updated for a certain time

 

Note that the 16 seconds TTI for pitbulling is outdated info and has been replaced by a distance based pitbul activation, which has three settings, that the RIO can set ( SMALL being 6NM, NORM 10NM and LARGE 13NM).

 

Unfortunately the manual is missing such a clear overview over the various launch behaviours.