Problems with Aim 7 Sparrow ACM mode

[DST]

Anytime when I use ACM mode with Sparrow, I'm not able to hit any target.

I set up a mission where target is flying same direction in front of me, range below 5 miles, I press CAGE button, NWS button, I get range bar on pipper, shoot cue is on, I can fire Sparrow, but it never hits target, always flies away like it doesn't have any lock. When I use Jester with context button forward press long in the same situation the target gets a hit. 

I understand this ACM mode as a kind of mode where the pilot can quick lock any target in close range boresight view without the use of Jester. Is there something I overlook? 

[Zabuzard]

The CAGE/CAA mode is tricky to use and can easily lock onto clutter or side-lobes if you use it in certain situations.

You always have to verify lock quality before shooting, make sure you actually locked onto the real target. Check all indications on the screen for plausability. If you have a bad lock, double tap the NWS button to exit and re-enter CAGE/CAA, upon which it makes a new lock-attempt.

For shooting the missile the same rules apply to normal locks. That is, you have to wait the 2-4 seconds for the missile to obtain the tracking solution before firing.

[Kalasnkova74]

1 hour ago, DST said:

Anytime when I use ACM mode with Sparrow, I'm not able to hit any target.

I set up a mission where target is flying same direction in front of me, range below 5 miles, I press CAGE button, NWS button, I get range bar on pipper, shoot cue is on, I can fire Sparrow, but it never hits target, always flies away like it doesn't have any lock. When I use Jester with context button forward press long in the same situation the target gets a hit. 

I understand this ACM mode as a kind of mode where the pilot can quick lock any target in close range boresight view without the use of Jester. Is there something I overlook? 

In addition to Zabuzard’s post, I recommend doing some personal scholarship on the AIM-7. 

The AIM-7 is a rocket powered mini-aircraft designed in the 1950s , and must be treated as such to be launched effectively. Unlike modern missiles which tell you their kill parameters on the HUD and other computer systems, the pilot and WSO must mentally understand the Sparrows hit capability , dynamically apply that in the air, and know when to shoot and not shoot. 

First, nose/tail settings must be applied so the missile knows it’s engaging a tail-chase vs a head on target. You can still get a hit if you don’t do this, but it’ll be much lower probability. 

Next, relative size of the target must be considered. If you’re engaging a TU-95 or B-52, you can launch further away than engaging a MiG-21 or MiG-15. The smaller the target, the lower your realistic engagement range and thus the lower probability of a successful Sparrow kill. 
 

Consider the time to launch as well. Five miles goes by QUICK at combat speeds. You may not have enough time to set the borseight mode, lock the target , wait four seconds to ensure the missile guidance data is downloaded and the antenna cued, then wait another 1.5 seconds from trigger pull to missile clearance and launch. Note the AIM-7 has to roll when launched from the F-4E before it can maneuver, so it won’t behave like an AIM-120 that maneuvers nearly off the rail.  

When using the Sparrow, I mentally budget six seconds for the launch cycle. If it looks like I can’t complete a firing cycle within that time, I pinky switch to a different weapon. 

 

[DST]

38 minutes ago, Kalasnkova74 said:

First, nose/tail settings must be applied so the missile knows it’s engaging a tail-chase vs a head on target. You can still get a hit if you don’t do this, but it’ll be much lower probability.

How do I do this? (With me piloting & Jester AI) 

[Zabuzard]

Thats only necessary if you want to do no-lock "flood" shots. Its done in the Jester Wheel, section Boresight.

Details in the manual:

https://f4.manuals.heatblur.se/jester/combat/radar.html#dogfight

Edited November 5, 2024 by Zabuzard

[DST]

5 hours ago, Zabuzard said:

Thats only necessary if you want to do no-lock "flood" shots. Its done in the Jester Wheel, section Boresight.

Details in the manual:

https://f4.manuals.heatblur.se/jester/combat/radar.html#dogfight

 

Ah ok, this can be done also with jester context button press short fwd while in radar boresight mode, to cycle through "tail", "aft", and so on, right? I always wondered what that means.

[Zabuzard]

Ah ok, this can be done also with jester context button press short fwd while in radar boresight mode, to cycle through "tail", "aft", and so on, right? I always wondered what that means.

Yeah exactly. Its to enable shooting the missile without any lock. It will then fly forward and look for the first thing that matches the selected aspect setting.

In some situations where obtaining a solid lock is almost impossible, it can be the only option to employ this weapon.