Mirage 2000C 18/11/2021 update presentation

[myHelljumper]

Mirage 2000C update presentation 

Hello Mirage pilots, we are very pleased to present you the upcoming radar update for our M-2000C module. The team has been hard at work for the last 6 months on creating a new radar framework for Razbam modules that will be used first to simulate the RDI radar.

This update should release in the next Open Beta update.

In this update presentation, we will first introduce the RDI radar with its improvements and additions. We will then talk about the air-to-air changes that will be introduced in this update, the other improvements and we will finish with the updated manual.

RDI Radar

Introduction

Our Mirage 2000C uses the RDI (radar doppler à impulsion) radar, its primary mission is to detect and track air targets at long range in clear sky as well as in look down against targets flying as low as 30m. It has a secondary capability to carry out ranging for air-to-ground weapon delivery as well as low altitude navigation with ground mapping and terrain avoidance modes.

Radar modes

All the already implemented radar modes have been reworked and the missing modes have been added.

Here is a list of the added modes:

• PSIC Super 530 (Poursuite sur information continue Super 530 – Single target track Super 530): PSIC sub-mode that is selected when a Super 530D missile has been fired. This mode lasts 50 seconds during which the radar will continue to try to illuminate the target even if the lock is lost.
• SHB (Sécurité haut-bas – Terrain avoidance while track): The radar alternate between PSID and DEC mode.
• RRAS (Ralliement radar sur alidade/site – Radar slave to TDC/elevation): The antenna position is slaved to the TDC in azimuth and the HOTAS antenna elevation command in elevation. The radar will execute a PSIC on the first target it detects within 10nm.
• VISU (Visualisation du sol – Ground mapping): The radar is used to display a map of the ground.

Memory mode has been added to PSIC where the radar will try to reacquire the target for up to 5 seconds after the lock is lost.

Radar model improvements.

A lot of effort has been put into creating a realistic doppler radar model that recreates the strengths and weaknesses of this type of radar.

The RDI radar mainly works in HPRF (high PRF) and uses doppler filtering to discriminate aircrafts from the environment and display a clear picture to the pilot. The simulation of the HPRF modes includes range ambiguity, detection probability based on target range, RCS and closing speed as well as a simulation or background noise with associated filters based on altitude, terrain shape and type.

The RDI radar can also work in LPRF (low PRF) for terrain mapping/avoidance or in bar search. In this PRF setting, the raw radar image is presented to the pilot without any doppler filtering, making targets hard to find in look down.

The main weaknesses of a doppler radar are its different doppler filters it uses to remove ground returns from the radar picture. There are 3 filters:

• Main lobe filter (red): Filters the ground returns coming from the main lobe, preventing the radar from detecting aircraft flying tangent to the radar (called a notch maneuver).
• Altitude return filter (yellow): Filters the returns from the ground directly below the aircraft, preventing the radar from detecting aircraft with a low closing speed (aircraft flying in the same direction at roughly the same speed).
• Side lobe filter (noise filter): Filters the ground returns coming from the radar sidelobes, this filter reduces the range at which aircraft closing with a speed slower than the radar can be detected (aircraft flying in the same direction at a slower speed).

In order to get the maximum detection range possible, these filters are lowered as much as possible. This leads to the radar displaying spurious contacts (false contact) every 2-3 bar.

The Main lobe filter is disabled in look-up, which can lead to the detection of chaffs by the radar.

We will now list other improvements that have been made to the radar:

• Uncorrelated IFF diamonds with new and improved IFF interrogation modes.
• Improved jamming representation.
• Improved MDO and RDO (yellow memory targets).
• New persistence mode in 1 bar search.
• New doppler rejector switch and behavior
• New radar Z mode elevation controls.
• New gain knob for BFR and VISU radar image control.

Air-to-air improvements

To go along the new radar, we did a complete overhaul of the Mirage air-to-air. This overhaul's main improvements are fixes for the current as well as new symbology for the different air-to-air modes.

MAGIC

All the MAGIC mode symbology has been reworked and improved to be more realistic. While the whole VTH symbology was improved, this mode did not change very much as the previous implementation was mostly correct.

Air-to-air guns

The air-to-air gun mode main change is the rework of the tracer line and associated symbology. The new tracer line should be smoother and more accurate.

The shell markers and salvo markers symbologies have been added, they both represent virtual tracers coming down the tracer line. The shell markers are always displayed and represents 2 virtual shells while the salvo marker represent the whole salvo and are displayed when the trigger is pressed (1st or 2nd stage)

The distance meter has been improved with the addition of the analog closing speed, a chevron indicating what the target range will be in 5 seconds at the current closing speed.

The shoot incitation symbology has been added, it is activated by placing the gun shoot incitation switch on the head-up command panel in the PRED position. The shoot incitation is represented by the duplication of the target square or triangle on the VTH and indicates that the aircraft estimates that the current gun solution will result in a hit.

530

The 530 mode and associated radar mode have seen a lot of improvements that should lead to a higher probability of kill for the missile.

The time of flight and DLZ have been reworked, they now take the aircraft and target altitude, range, speed and aspect into account to give a more accurate information.

The Super 530D seeker is now simulated and will require to be locked on the target before the missile can be fired. This lock is indicated by a 650 Hz tone (same as the MAGIC lock tone) and by the missile status letter being circled on the VTH. The seeker range should be above the missile kinematic range in most cases but could result in bad surprises in look down scenarios.

When a Super 530D is fired, the radar switches to PSIC Super 530 mode, a sub-mode of PSIC that lasts 50 seconds (45 seconds of missile lifetime + 5 seconds). While the radar is in this mode, if the target is lost, the radar will continue to illuminate its last known trajectory and try to reacquire the lock for 8 seconds. After the 8 seconds are elapsed, the radar will switch to forced illumination mode where it will continue to illuminate the target’s trajectory but won’t try to reacquire the lock anymore. During memory and forced illumination mode, even though the target is lost by the radar, if it is still in the radar cone, the Super 530D will continue to guide on it as it is still illuminated.

If the memory or forced illumination modes are not able to continue illuminating the target, the pilot can choose to switch to PSIC Super 530 pointé mode. This mode works as a flood mode and will slave the radar antenna to the aircraft axis. The pilot will need to aim the radar at the target using the aircraft to continue its illumination for the missile.

Police

For the police mode we completely reworked the interception director and added a new symbology.

The interception director will now guide the aircraft to the employment domain for the selected weapon: all aspects for the MAGIC II and Super 530D missiles, rear aspect for the air-to-air guns and police mode. For rear aspect interceptions from a head on situation, the director will guide the aircraft on a hard turn to place itself behind the target aircraft.

The distance meter has also been added to police mode when close to the target. It is displayed fixed at the center of the VTH and works in the same way as the air-to-air gun distance meter with the addition of the police range.

Other changes

In addition to the radar and air-to-air modes rework, we implemented a lot of quality of life updates for the Mirage.

We will list some of them :

• Total rework of the VTB and VTB symbology in SVG.
• New PCN, fuel flow and frequency repeater fonts.
• ILS needle test.
• Realistic back-up ADI spindown and caging.
• Realistic radio frequency repeater with special option to keep the old implementation
• SRS integration for PTT as well as transmission and reception indication inside the cockpit.
• New AoA popup to replace the VTH indication.
• New dynamic RWR symbol page, with RWR customization in saved games folder.

Updated manual

To go with the release of this update is the updated manual. The manual has been reworked to give more useful information to the user and updated with the latest changes for the Mirage 2000C.

The updated manual can be downloaded here :

M-2000C Manual RC7

Conclusion

With this update we brought the Mirage radar and air-to-air systems to the level of quality and realism they deserve. We will continue to improve the module by going over the remaining systems with the goal of making it the best Mirage 2000C simulation possible.

IMPORTANT: A lot of bindings have changed with this update (landing gear, trigger, antenna elevation commands....), check everything before comitting to a merge without the trigger command bound .
 

Full changelog for the 18/11/2021 2.7.8.16140 update:

RDI Radar:
Full radar rework

Modes & features:
Added BFR radar mode (raw returns image)
Added VISU radar mode (ground scan)
Added ENT mode (interleaved synth HFR / raw BFR)
Added gain knob for BFR/VISU
Added elevation Z-Mode : fixed altitude
Added tracking memory mode extrapolating lost contacts for some time and relock tentatives
Added real spiral search pattern
Added incitation to switch PSIC(STT) depending on aspect, signal strength, distance
Added required double press for switching to PSID in PSIC incitation conditions
Added PSIC forced under 2.1NM
Added radar channel switches (only changes display)
Added SHB mode : interleaved DEC/PSID mode with specific scan parameters
Added RRAS (lock on TDC/Elevation) lock mode
Added hardened clutter removal gate mode (less false contacts, worse detection)
Added fully implemented doppler rejector switch (OFF/AUTO/ON)
Reworked radar state logic (memory, priority modes, ...)
Reworked BAH & BA2 modes with distinct performances

Interface:
Radar scan azimuth in 15° and 30° modes by increments instead of continuous
Displayed TDC range fixed
Displayed TDC elevation fixed
Realistic TDC contact selection
Antenna elevation setting system with mode memory
Removed antenna elevation axis as it defeats the purpose of elevation modes/memory
Antenna elevation switch speed depends on mode
Antenna elevation switch first jumps one step, then goes continuous after a delay
Antenna scan elevation sets to contact elevation when lock is lost/broken
More accurate TDC-driven range switching

VTB(HDD):
Full vector refresh
Added a field of vision lens effect
More accurate DO symbology (RDO, MDO, TAF DO, TAF Mem DO)
Fully fixed MDO ribbons as on the real thing
Added radar remanence (available in 1-line HFR, SHB, PSID)
New VTB sweep arc with hole on antenna position
Fixed VTB attitude indicator
Added missile ranges to Lock Line
VTB map aligned on course/drift in DEC, SHB, VISU
Full-featured BScope mode with all PPI features
Radalt indication on VTB enabled by VTH switch in AG modes
Radalt indication on VTB forced on and red below decision altitude
Fully implemented brightness dials
New IFF search arc with delay and SECT/CONT
Added VTB Jamming "B" yellow indicator
Added Magic sensor azimuth/elevation yellow marks
IFF scan markers now independent of HFR contacts
Multiple HFR markers per contact (one per scan line)
HFR contact located precisely at tip of seagull marker
New HFR jamming markers (snowflakes)
New PSIC(STT) symbology
Added PSID(TWS) number of contacts around lock
Improved DEC rendering & colors
Added special option to enlarge small texts

Detection & realism:
Realistic probabilistic detection law (intermittent contacts in poor conditions)
Realistic radar lobe law (better detection in lobe center, ground mapping spread)
Realistic HFR disambiguation processing degrading with number of echoes
Realistic jam model with gates pull-off
Radar senses all objects : missiles, ships, buildings
HFR scan inter-contact masking
Realistic notch filters
Radar position calculations tied to INS errors
Realistic ab-initio doppler tracking model
Adaptive PRF, ambiguous distance tracking with disambiguation errors
Monopulse tracking error simulation
Tracking may swap contacts in proper conditions
Tracked contact position filtering & prediction
Realistic TWS/PSID
More realistic NCTR depends on aircraft type, signal strength and aspect
Realistic, speed limited antenna motor movement
Accurate antenna gimbal limits shape
Physically based terrain aware altitude, primary and secondary clutter monte-carlo simulation
Accurately degraded echo detection in clutter
Spurious contacts generated in clutter.
Target size accounted for at close range
Fully raytraced shadowed ground in raw modes (BFR/DEC/VISU/SHB)
Terrain type reflectivity simulation
Wind dependent ocean clutter simulation
Objects returns (map ships, buildings, ...) in ground modes
Jamming simulation in raw (BFR) modes
More realistic, imperfect magic/radar contact merging
530D more prone to changing target if multiple targets are lit by radar
New TAS processing and ground locking, sensing all objects

Performance:
Fully multi threaded radar search

IFF:
IFF on locked hostile may return friendly state if friendly in cone
Realistic, probabilistic STT/PSIC IFF with "uncertain" return state
New STT/PSIC IFF symbology
Realistic IFF lobe detection (IFF lobe much larger than main radar lobe)
IFF SECT mode

Radar Fixes: 
Fixed all warmup issues
Fixed antenna elevation stuck & moving slowly
Fixed vertical search mode scan pattern
Fixed DEC remanence bugs

VTH(HUD):
Full vector refresh
New BAH/BA2 elevation & azimuth symbology
AA Ring flashes when target is notching or at gimbal limit
AA Ring doubled within missile max range
Breakaway/NoShoot cross displayed below missile min range
Fixed Breakaway cross conditions
Aligned heading scale on FRL
Positioned all elements based on footage
New target range bar with accurate range switching
New gun snake with 8 shell segments and variable time interval
More accurate snake calculation (has too much deflection)
Dashed 1st snake segment
Added +5s distance prediction on gunsight sight range
Added cyclic shell markers
Added virtual shot markers at 1st stage trigger press
Double square/triangle locked contact gun shoot hint (PRED)
Locked contact FOV constrain fixed
Added dashed out of fov triangle 
Added jamming locked contact symbols
530D TOF displayed in MAG/CAN when missile in flight
Fixed acceleration chevrons "sticking" around zero
Acceleration chevrons range more accurate

TAF(GCI Datalink):
Added AI based GCI hostile designation
Simulated GCI radio range
Simulated GCI hostile radar detection range
Added GCI Bearing/Range on HSI (TEL mode)
Added TEL symbol displayed when data is available but TAF not selected
Added TAF symbol flashing when radio link is lost
Added AI based Rules of Engagement displayed on HUD
Added a mission editor option for disabling TAF
Added intercept course (mach, arrow vector, course tick) displayed on VTB
Added EVF/TAF panel for selecting GCI channel
Added kneeboard page with GCI channel list

A/A:
New 530D mode logic
More accurate 530D TOF calculation
More accurate missile range calculation
New 530D director guiding to heads on
New SuperPointe (Flood) 530D mode
New Magic director avoiding 30° low IR target front cone
New Gun/Police director guiding into target six
G-Turn factor indication in final Gun/POL director turn
Director makes a notch avoidance move in all modes
Director added to VTB in POL and SHB modes
Proper S530D side selection from switch and target position & speed
Working S530D salvo mode
New S530D auto director simulation model with masking

Misc:
ILS test positions
Gun orientation adjusted (slightly lower than before)
Added a 0.5s delay to switch to CNM Neutral to allow direct MAG<->CAN toggle on 3pos switch as IRL
Fixed Ground mode switching logic (from weight on wheels)
New VTB/VTH warning/error/incitation display logic
Realistic aux-gyro that has errors and 20min spindown after power loss
New altimeter calibration knob
New SELH decision altitude knob
Improved DETOT switch speeds (faster increase) and drum animation
Fixed VTH altimeter display (no leading zeros)
Removed M91/92/93 INS lights
New PCN fonts
New Fuel flowmeter fonts
Realistic radio repeater (green only) with special option to keep the easy one
Radio freq repeater blinks upon TX
Radio freq lights on upon RX
SRS integration for PTT & RX light
Added mach 1 shockwave effect on altimeter
INS platform can gimbal lock causing BOULE warning and drift
New AoA popup repeater instead of AoA in HUD for non head-tracking users
Removed ALCM special option, always on. Can still be disabled per mission
Changed ALCM drift to class 4
New RWR table format, customizable in Saved Games
Decoy programs customizable in Saved Games
Fixed emergency landing gear not reset after landing
Fixed possibility to lower landing gear on belly (now requires rearm or repair)
Added an ALCM option in mission editor independent of enforce drift option
Lowered default marker and missile volumes

Missions:
New missile combat quick mission

Edited December 10, 2021 by myHelljumper

[CallsignLord]

Finally some love for my beloved baguette

Cheers

[kotor633]

Ingenious! This is great news!

[JagHond]

And the latest manual as well! Thanks a lot, very much appreciated.

With best regards.

[malachi]

Merci beaucoup

[Shmegegge 1-1 Aero]

1 hour ago, myHelljumper said:

with the goal of making it the best Mirage 2000C simulation possible

My totally completely unbiased opinion:  remove "Mirage 2000C" and this statement will still be true!

[Northstar98]

Awesome update! Very pleased with what I'm seeing!

Edited November 13, 2021 by Northstar98

[charenton]

C'est bel et bon, Monsieur Helljumper!

[Geraki]

Very nice please keep coming to improve BVR capabilities (Radar and BVR Missiles) - in order to entered into BVR Arena VS F-16/FA-18 ......

Welldone so far!!!

[ThorBrasil]

thank you so much for this update! I am very happy for this news. any news regarding the new M2000 sound pack?

[=36=Witcher]

36 minuti fa, Geraki ha scritto:

Very nice please keep coming to improve BVR capabilities (Radar and BVR Missiles) - in order to entered into BVR Arena VS F-16/FA-18 ......

Welldone so far!!!

No, no and a thousand times no. The Mirage 2000C can only carry Matra 530D and Magic II. Everything else is just not real. If you want to enter BVR arena use another module.

Edited November 13, 2021 by =36=Witcher

[Galinette]

1 hour ago, =36=Witcher said:

No, no and a thousand times no. The Mirage 2000C can only carry Matra 530D and Magic II. Everything else is just not real. If you want to enter BVR arena use another module.

 

Haha you can as is, but you need to be cunning!

[Schmidtfire]

33 minutes ago, Kercheiz said:

Haha you can as is, but you need to be cunning!

...or call the Hornet pilots in advance and ask them to please load AIM-7's 

[LtCol_Davenport]

2 hours ago, =36=Witcher said:

No, no and a thousand times no. The Mirage 2000C can only carry Matra 530D and Magic II. Everything else is just not real. If you want to enter BVR arena use another module.

 

But the real question is: Will we ever get a version of the Mirage with Fox-3 and a T-POD?

[Thinder]

4 hours ago, =36=Witcher said:

No, no and a thousand times no. The Mirage 2000C can only carry Matra 530D and Magic II. Everything else is just not real. If you want to enter BVR arena use another module.

 

 

Because according to you, the 530D is not a BVR missile?

The 2000 was BVR capable before the AIM-7 was integrated to the Block25 or the Hornet, in the frame of a scenario put back in the context of their respective service lives, the two US aircrafts would be limited to AIM-9s, the F-16 Block 25 didn't become fully operational before October of 1988, by then the 2000 was already equiped with the 530D.

Edited November 14, 2021 by Thinder

[DomSakis]

THX Bro

 

[jacobs]

Wow, awesome changes and razbam already updated the manual! That's great, thanks guys. 

[Harlikwin]

3 hours ago, Thinder said:

 

Because according to you, the 530D is not a BVR missile?

The 2000 was BVR capable before the AIM-7 was integrated to the Block25 or the Hornet, in the frame of a scenario put back in the context of their respective service lives, the two US aircrafts would be limited to AIM-9s, the F-16 Block 25 didn't become fully operational before October of 1988, by then the 2000 was already equiped with the 530D.

 

Barely...

During the majority 80's the M2k had RDM and 530F... Like only at the very last year or two did it get RDI and 530D. And even then thats mostly on paper. Hell in 86 they had squadrons with F1's and 530 (not F) flying around.

At any rate I look forward to this new radar model, its about time we get some better sensor modeling in DCS and I really don't care which Dev's do it, be it Raz or Deka, and hopefully ED will follow suite.

Edited November 14, 2021 by Harlikwin

[dggoofy]

Hi,

What a nice news.

Do you schedule to update also the cockpit sounds ? I mean, the click and slang for ALL switches and levers ?

 

Cheers

 

Daniel

[=36=Witcher]

Il 14/11/2021 at 01:25, Thinder ha scritto:

 

Because according to you, the 530D is not a BVR missile?

The 2000 was BVR capable before the AIM-7 was integrated to the Block25 or the Hornet, in the frame of a scenario put back in the context of their respective service lives, the two US aircrafts would be limited to AIM-9s, the F-16 Block 25 didn't become fully operational before October of 1988, by then the 2000 was already equiped with the 530D.

 

That's not what I meant! @Gerakiwas asking for "Improve BVR capabilities (Radar and BVR missiles)" and I just replied that the M2000C already has its BVR capabilities implemented. Everything else would not be an M2000C capability.

The point here is that some people wants the M2000C to be able to stand out against modern F-16 and F-18 equipped with 120s and 9Xs. We all know that facing Fox3 capable modules with the M2000C is possible but needs training and careful execution, not "better weapons" that are not even remotely compatible in real life.

Il 13/11/2021 at 23:36, LtCol_Davenport ha scritto:

But the real question is: Will we ever get a version of the Mirage with Fox-3 and a T-POD?

This is another module, said plenty of times.

Edited November 17, 2021 by =36=Witcher

[diamond26]

Excellent work. Thanks Razbam team!

[falcon_120]

2 hours ago, =36=Witcher said:

That's not what I meant! @Gerakiwas asking for "Improve BVR capabilities (BVR and missiles)" and I just replied that the M2000C already has its BVR capabilities implemented. Everything else would not be an M2000C capability.

The point here is that some people wants the M2000C to be able to stand out against modern F-16 and F-18 equipped with 120s and 9Xs. We all know that facing Fox3 capable modules with the M2000C is possible but needs training and careful execution, not "better weapons" that are not even remotely compatible in real life.

This is another module, said plenty of times.

Agreed on all those points.

 

Hopefully we'll get a m 2000-5 at some points as a new module, it would be awesome as it is the current M2000C

[sylkhan]

2 hours ago, falcon_120 said:

Hopefully we'll get a m 2000-5 at some points as a new module, it would be awesome as it is the current M2000C

Mirage 2000-9 would be (IMO) a better option.

https://www.dassault-aviation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/08/Mirage_2000-9_special_issue1.pdf

- Nav/attack system:
Modular avionics, new RDY-2 multimode radar, digitally terrain following system, new IMEWS countermeasures, Thomrad
radio with frequency evasion and enhanced encoding, glass cockpit with new LCD visualisation plus night vision goggles com-
patibility, data-link, gyro-laser inertial navi-gation system, navigation Forward Looking Infra-Red system (NAHAR).
In-flight refuelling and autothrottle (automatic speed control).

- Air-air strike:
Mica IR and EM.

- Air-ground strike:
Conventional bombs, video and laser-guided bombs, Black Shaheen cruise missile, recce pod and SHEHAB laser designation pod.

[Thinder]

9 hours ago, Harlikwin said:

Barely...

During the majority 80's the M2k had RDM and 530F... Like only at the very last year or two did it get RDI and 530D. And even then thats mostly on paper. Hell in 86 they had squadrons with F1's and 530 (not F) flying around.

At any rate I look forward to this new radar model, its about time we get some better sensor modeling in DCS and I really don't care which Dev's do it, be it Raz or Deka, and hopefully ED will follow suite.

 

 

Sorry you're talking B.S, only the first 37 2000 had this radar and were upgraded with modifications to their inlets in order to take the M53 P2 as well, service entry of the 2000 is officialy summer 1983.

https://www.defense.gouv.fr/air/moyens/avions-de-chasse/mirage-2000-c

The 530D was in service before the F-16 Block 25 and to do so had to be equiped with the new RDI radar in the first place.

Quote

Launched in development in 1977, it was commissioned in 1987.

  

1 hour ago, sylkhan said:

Mirage 2000-9 would be (IMO) a better option.

https://www.dassault-aviation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/08/Mirage_2000-9_special_issue1.pdf

- Nav/attack system:
Modular avionics, new RDY-2 multimode radar, digitally terrain following system, new IMEWS countermeasures, Thomrad
radio with frequency evasion and enhanced encoding, glass cockpit with new LCD visualisation plus night vision goggles com-
patibility, data-link, gyro-laser inertial navi-gation system, navigation Forward Looking Infra-Red system (NAHAR).
In-flight refuelling and autothrottle (automatic speed control).

- Air-air strike:
Mica IR and EM.

- Air-ground strike:
Conventional bombs, video and laser-guided bombs, Black Shaheen cruise missile, recce pod and SHEHAB laser designation pod.

Same here, you compare aircraft which are not within the same time frame, as I said, the 2000 was BVR capable well before the introduction of the F-16 Block 25, be it with the F or D model.

If you put them back to this context your F-16/18 would be limited to AIM-9, that's a FACT.

Quote

Service entry of the Mirage 2000C RDI - M53-P2 1987

This is a game but you all try to play "accuracy" and completely forget the real capabilities of those aircrafts within their respective service history, even so, the F-16 Block 25 would equiped with AIM-7, the 530D had snap up performances superior to those models of AIM-7.

Then if you want to talk accuracy, ask yourself why the transonic issues with assymetric load of the F-16 is not simulated in this game.

You don't have a valid argument here.

 

Here is an intercept profile for the 530F.

I suggest you inform yourself before posting stuff like this...

Edited November 14, 2021 by Thinder

[Thinder]

Quote

The Super 530 D is the version adapted to the Mirage 2000 equipped with an on-board pulse doppler radar (called RDI, pulse doppler radar).

The main differences in characteristics compared to the F are as follows: - semi-active EMD doppler seeker (see chapter 8, EMD), with digital technology from 1980 (microprocessor for management); significantly increased range of AD: 50 km; very high resistance to modern countermeasures; - partially digitized computer pilot; - more efficient vehicle: increased mass and length (+ 30 kg and + 265 mm), total impulse thruster 16% higher, with a composite SEP casing; - performance: maximum speed of Mach 5; Possible elevation gain, allowing attacking targets at 24,000m; minimum target altitude of 60 m; Maximum firing distance of 50 km, with an intercept distance of 35 km.

At the time, this missile was "the must have" from a performance standpoint. Launched in development in 1977, it was commissioned in 1987.

1,000 missiles were produced, of which 620 (including 30 training) for France. It was exported with the Mirage 2000 to Egypt, India, Abu Dhabi, Greece. It was widely used by the French Air Force on patrol with AD operation, without fire, during the Gulf War and the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

This use had not been foreseen and the operating potential of the AD (the mechanics) was limited to 25 hours; but it could be increased to 200 hours after testing. For its part, the third American generation consists of the 7 F and 7 M versions of the Sparrow.

The vehicle has been improved; but it was above all the AD that needed modernization. The reliability of the Sparrow 7 E version used during the Vietnam conflict was viewed by reports in the US Senate as unacceptable; AD had stuck with "tube" technology.

Version 7 F, featuring solid state technology, did not enter service with difficulty until 1978, due to flaws encountered during the evaluation phase; we will see the consequences with the hasty launch of its successor, AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air

http://marc.mistral.free.fr/aventure/militaire/missiles tactiques/mt 59 79/mt ch 09.htm

Centre des hautes études de l'armement. Département d'histoire de l'armement. Comité pour l'histoire de l'aéronautique. Paris

COMAERO

https://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb42381212q

Edited November 14, 2021 by Thinder