Range of AIM-9M tied to AGM-65D

[orbmis]

Hello,

Just started working with the wonderful Warthog, so I decided to start with the A-10A from FC2024. Something that has me a bit stumped is the the AIM-9M has a range of approx 18km, while the AGM-65D that it's tied to has range of approx 8-12km. But once I get into A2A mode, I find that I can't get a lock on to the enemy aircraft until I've closed to about 3-4 km. With that, I've completely lost my range advantage, and now I'm working feverishly to escape their AA defenses .

Am I missing something? My understanding is the A-10A doesn't have any radar, so it doesn't appear that the aircraft is the cause. Does anyone have any insights as to what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks for any assistance,

orby

Edited August 12, 2024 by orbmis

[Yurgon]

Looks like this thread should go here: https://forum.dcs.world/forum/241-a-10a-for-dcs-world/

5 hours ago, orbmis said:

Something that has me a bit stumped is the the AIM-9M has a range of approx 18km, while the AGM-65D that it's tied to has range of approx 8-12km.

Not sure I follow. What do you mean when you say the AGM-65D is tied to the AIM-9? I know next to nothing about the DCS A-10A, but I'm not aware of any ties between Sidewinder and Maverick, other than maybe the basic seeker technology (Infrared, in case of the AGM-65D).

When you mention the range of these missiles, do you refer to the maximum kinetic range or the maximum tracking range?

5 hours ago, orbmis said:

But once I get into A2A mode, I find that I can't get a lock on to the enemy aircraft until I've closed to about 3-4 km. With that, I've completely lost my range advantage, and now I'm working feverishly to escape their AA defenses .

The AIM-9 seeker tries to pick up a heat signature. A fighter flying away from you in full afterburner should be easy to track from a relatively long distance, whereas a jet coming at you (so blocking the line of sight to its exhaust) might only provide a sufficiently strong heat signature at relatively short ranges.

Either way, when you find yourself fighting a hostile aircraft in the A-10, something has gone very wrong. Sidewinders are self defense missiles. If you get jumped by a fighter, they're like your last resort to try and get out of the situation alive. But if you ever feel that you should be going after bandits voluntarily - don't! That's not your job as a Hog driver. Your job is to protect the 19 year old kid on the ground.

[ASAP]

9 hours ago, orbmis said:

Hello,

Just started working with the wonderful Warthog, so I decided to start with the A-10A from FC2024. Something that has me a bit stumped is the the AIM-9M has a range of approx 18km, while the AGM-65D that it's tied to has range of approx 8-12km. But once I get into A2A mode, I find that I can't get a lock on to the enemy aircraft until I've closed to about 3-4 km. With that, I've completely lost my range advantage, and now I'm working feverishly to escape their AA defenses .

Am I missing something? My understanding is the A-10A doesn't have any radar, so it doesn't appear that the aircraft is the cause. Does anyone have any insights as to what I might be doing wrong?

Thanks for any assistance,

orby

 

The A-10 never had a range advantage, you didn't lose anything. The AGM-65 and AIM-9 are two totally different weapons that are completely independent of each other. I'm not sure what you are getting at by saying they are tied together, no relationship exists. The 18Km range for an AIM-9M that you are expecting just isn't a thing. that is way beyond its actual range.  The 3-4 range is fairly accurate under certain conditions, its actually a rather long range shot in most cases. There's no radar integration the AIM-9 needs to see a certain wattage of IR energy in order to get good lock. The missile can actually lock onto a target way beyond its kinematic range. The A-10 pilot has to look at the bandit and assess its relative size to determine if they are within the range.

TLDR: I think your expectations are the issue, not the simulation.

[orbmis]

Hi all,,

trying to clarify this a bit, by ‘tied’, I meant that I was utilizing the seeker technology on the AGM-65. Maybe I’m misunderstanding this a bit. Doesn’t the AIM require the AGM to be pinging the enemy target before it can be launched? If not, what is the purpose of the AGM in that A2A fight. BTW, the A10 was providing CAS and going against enemy helicopters.

If the AGM isn’t required, then the AIM can be fired completely independently and then chase the opposing heat signal on its own? 
 

thanks for helping me better understand this.

orby

[Dragan]

I agree with Asap and Jurgon,.The A-10 is not an air combat plane with the fast planes that are meant for that, it is a very good plane for completely different things on the ground.and carrying the AIM-9 is self defense in an emergency and nothing more, for example, it can shoot down helicopters and slower aircraft, however, in Iraq in 1991, an A-10 pilot did not use an AIM-9 but shot down a helicopter with a cannon.

[hornblower793]

1 hour ago, orbmis said:

If the AGM isn’t required, then the AIM can be fired completely independently and then chase the opposing heat signal on its own? 
 

This is correct - the AIM-9 is purely a heat seeker so you cannot guide it. It guides itself to an appropriate intercept point based on target movement. While it is an all asepct variant the probability of intercept will still be affected by factors such as range, target aspect, closing speed, countermeasures, pilot competence etc.

Edited August 13, 2024 by hornblower793

[orbmis]

Hmmm,, starting to look like my strategy in the instant action mission may be all wrong. Any of you have FC3/2024? I’m working with A-10A instant action Close Air Support. My plan is to attack/eliminate the helo’s (armed), then move on to deal with the enemy ground forces.

Has anyone tried that mission? Is there a better strategy I should be using? 
 

thanks again for the assistance,

orby

Edited August 13, 2024 by orbmis

[Yurgon]

6 hours ago, orbmis said:

Doesn’t the AIM require the AGM to be pinging the enemy target before it can be launched?

No, it doesn't. What makes you think that's the case? Are you following any tutorials or guides that say these weapons are in any way linked or tied together?

Like the others already said, there is absolutely no link or tie between Maverick and Sidewinder. The Mav is a dedicated air to ground missile, the other is a dedicated air to air missile.

3 hours ago, orbmis said:

Has anyone tried that mission? Is there a better strategy I should be using? 

Not a clue. I only responded because you posted in the A-10C section of the forum.

However, with the A-10C, I feel confident in saying that many of the instant action missions are located in fairy tale land and have nothing to do whatsoever with real life employment. I suppose the A-10A missions might be similarly, shall we say, "liberal" with the setup they propose. Maybe look at the user files to see if there are better missions.