cannot reproduce Aim9B should not be able to uncage

[Harlikwin]

 The Aim-9B is bugged with regard to its uncage-lock/pre-firing behavior.

Currently, you put the gun piper on the target until you get “tone” (~4 deg IFOV). And if you hit the uncage switch you can “lock” the target, and “uncages” the seeker head, and you can freely maneuver within the seeker gimbal limits (~25 deg).

While this behavior or variations thereof may be found on later models of the aim-9 (9P, 95 are uncagable) its not correct for the 9B since its seeker only uncages (locks) the target after being fired. Correct behavior would look like maneuver till you get tone on target. Then fire, and the firing process takes ~1 sec from depressing trigger to missile leaving the rail. The seeker gyro is uncaged with the firing command, never before. If the target maneuvers out of the 4 degree seeker FOV during this time you loose lock.

Early versions of the sidewinder used a mechanical cage mechanism as described below. Later 9B versions used a magnetic cage mechanism which still mostly operated in similar fashion.

And yes I know what the F5 -34 says and it is wrong in this regard (its correct for everything other than the 9B). The 9B could never be uncaged. 

Pg 71

Pg 115 sidewinder

Magnetic caging and firing sequence, and 9B firing sequence from OP 2309 (3rd) page 2-2AIM-9B (https://archive.org/details/OP23093rdAIM9B) Declassed pre-1980.

As stated above, only AFTER firing does the gyro uncage. 
 

And finally the first sidewinder to have uncage capability was the aim9E as mentioned in the Project CHECO report from Vietnam (pg10-11). https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA486826