SM-2 has the guidance of the SM-1 and lacks secondary IR homing

[Northstar98]

Hi everyone,

Long-standing issue - the SM-2 has the guidance of the SM-1 (SARH, illuminating at launch), instead of having its proper guidance, which is INS/DL mid-course + terminal SARH (with the illumination coming from the AN/SPG-62 on the Arleigh-Burke and Ticonderoga - unfortunately said radars appear to be non-functional in DCS and "patriot str" is defined for presumably the AN/SPY-1A/D and the AN/SPG-62).

Incidentally, the missile accurate for the Ticonderoga and Arleigh-Burke should at least be the RIM-66M-5 SM-2MR Block IIIB (though AFAIK, early M variants are still in the inventory), which incorporates an IR seeker in a small fairing on the side of the missile:

There is an unknown version of the RIM-66M in the files but it isn't an M-5.

Edited March 3, 2023 by Northstar98

[H7142]

Depends on the version of the missile but I'd love to see the more modern versions of the system in game and the ability to change out what version a ship has in the ME.

 

[Northstar98]

On 2/15/2023 at 4:50 PM, H7142 said:

Depends on the version of the missile but I'd love to see the more modern versions of the system in game and the ability to change out what version a ship has in the ME.

 

AFAIK only the very first SM-2 version, the RIM-66C/D SM-2MR Block I (C for AEGIS ships (using the Mk 26 GMLS), D for Tartar ships), was the only variant where SARH from launch is accurate. This missile was an interim, produced from 1978-1983.

However, the Ticonderoga and Arleigh Burke are both Mk 41 VLS equipped ships - the first SM-2 version that could be vertical launched was the RIM-66H SM-2MR Block II and this missile had the INS/DL mid-course.

Then you consider that in DCS, the Ticonderoga and Arleigh Burke are late-ish 2000s variants, at the very least (though the latter is somewhat of a hybrid and includes ships from the 2010s) - the RIM-66M SM-2MR Block III entered production in the late 80s with the RIM-66M-2 in the early 90s according to this. The M-5 supposedly reached IOC in 1998 according to this.

In which case, it would seem like the M-5 and the M-2 are the most appropriate versions for the 2 aforementioned vessels in DCS.

Edited March 21, 2023 by Northstar98
grammar

[H7142]

22 hours ago, Northstar98 said:

AFAIK only the very first SM-2 version, the RIM-66C/D SM-2MR Block I (C for AEGIS ships, D for Tartar ships). This is the only variant where SARH from launch is accurate. This missile was an interim, produced from 1978-1983.

However, the Ticonderoga and Arleigh Burke are both Mk 41 VLS equipped ships, of which the RIM-66H SM-2MR Block II was the first vertically-launched SM-2 variant. This missile had the INS/DL mid-course.

Then you consider that the Ticonderoga and Arleigh Burke are late-ish 2000s variants at the very least (though the latter is somewhat of a hybrid and includes ships from the 2010s) - the RIM-66M entered production in the late 80s and the RIM-66M-2 from the early 90s according to this. The M-5 supposedly reached IOC in 1998 according to this.

 

Yeah fully agreed now that i've reminded my self of what each block did.  A proper implementation of the latter versions would be quite good.  As it would allow the ship to engage multiple targets, potentially even more then guidance channels.  Just so long as it was sorted to have a guidance channel there for the last 5-10 seconds of flight.  I think the game is aiming for a 2005-2010 timeframe, at least on ED's end, and the BLKIIIB would be what the ships of this era used.  The small mods of this version are things that aren't particularly relevant to DCS but the combined IR/terminal SARH seeker would be.

[Whiskey11]

I would say this issue, among many of the Surface to Air missiles, need some serious attention from the developers.  Not just the current crop of missiles and how they are represented, but also adding in additional missiles and types.  I realize the more modern systems are classified, but certain, more modern Russian SAM's are plenty old enough, yet more modern than the S-300PS we have in game.  Having additional Sea to Air Missile systems would be great too!