When do I no longer need to guide the AIM-120C?

[Hoggorm]

Hello,

When I fire a AIM-120C the HUD will show a Axx counting down until the missile go active on the target. So what I try to do is at least keep the radar looking at the target until the A changes to a T.

Now sometimes I need to turn away early, lets say at A19. To me that should say that the missile have not gone active and will be a miss. Still I see that many times I do hit anyway.

So what happens? Whit still 19 seconds left until the missile is active I no longer guide the missile but it hits nevertheless.

I was hoping you could explain to me what happens and how early I can turn away and still hit the target.

[Skyracer]

Följer

 

[rob10]

As long as the target doesn't move out of the missiles seeker cone after you turn away and BEFORE it goes active, it could still pick up the target and still have the opportunity to hit once it the seeker goes active.

[Hoggorm]

I see.

So when waiting until the missile go active and then turn gives a better chance of hitting I would assume?

While turning immediately can make for a lucky shot.

[okopanja]

1 minute ago, darkman222 said:

In my logic the missile pulls the needed lead pursuit for the current speed and altitude the target is travelling at. So, correct me if I am wrong, if the target does not change course, speed or alitude the missile should find the target no matter when you turned off guideance. This is of course highly hypothetical and not realistic that the target does not changes flight parameters at all, but to illustrate my point, its a valid test scenario to talk about.

 

I do not thing there is anything to talk about.

This actually happens all the time: many people fly very very regularly, while they focus on radar work. AIM-120 has the INS so it will go to last known position. E.g. if you do not STT them, they will mostly fly straight, in order to maximize their own speed and altitude.

The longer you provide the guidance, the less likely the missile will be surprised by deviations from originally calculated intercept point.  Off course the more you provide the guidance the more time is distance closing.

[ExocetYVR]

If you're inside the enemy's WEZ your safest bet is likely to launch and then turn cold. That shot will have a lower PK due to lack of initial guidance, but if it can force your enemy to go defensive you can then decide to re-commit and get in position to launch a second missile with a high PK in the no-evasion launch zone.

Outside of the enemy's WEZ you can crank to provide guidance until the missile goes pitbull, or even fire off a follow-up shot as you enter the WEZ and then turn defensive.

[NytHawk]

Assuming the aircraft you shot at hasn't made any sporadic manoeuvres, the INS will guide the missile to where it thinks the bandit is. The radar will also go active and search for anything in its seeker cone.

Its not uncommon for an AMRAAM to be perfectly fine when you lose lock a few seconds before pitbull

[Viper33]

There generally should be Husky and Pitbull indications in the HUD. Not in DCS right now.

[Prime]

On 11/23/2023 at 10:32 AM, Viper33 said:

There generally should be Husky and Pitbull indications in the HUD. Not in DCS right now.

This right here

[Tenkom]

On 11/23/2023 at 7:32 PM, Viper33 said:

There generally should be Husky and Pitbull indications in the HUD. Not in DCS right now.

The target indicator on the FCR starts flashing when the missile goes pitbull.

[Aquorys]

On 11/23/2023 at 7:32 PM, Viper33 said:

Husky and Pitbull

...if you're flying one of the few US Navy Vipers, then yeah