RCS determination.

[blkspade]

So upon running into a really old thread on some other site with a poll of who would win in a fight between the F-14 and F-15, the Phoenix missile's range and effectiveness against fighters was brought up. I then had the sudden realization that not only is the phoenix huge, its got nearly the same dimensions as the KH-58 which show up on radar according to the sim. I know that radar return logic in sim is likely written as a table of objects deemed important of having any RCS, as opposed to any kind of real-time math. But shouldn't the size of the phoenix realistically make it radar observable and thus able to be engaged.

 

Missiles already collide with each other by chance as its now, so why not make the phoenix target-able if it highly likely to have reasonable radar return for such.

[GGTharos]

Missiles collide with each other due to the implementation of the code algorithms.

 

While you could in theory target a Phoenix, depending on your radar, RCS isn't equal just because the size of the missile is similar. It might not even be close (take F-22 vs. F-15). Further, since you're likely to experience a closure of Mach 3-4 (that would be about 30 sec from you seeing a blip if you are lucky enough to see it right at 20nm), you won't have time to do anything about it before it zips right out of your radar scan zone and into your cockpit.

[blkspade]

I know that there is more to it than size, but I doubt that any thing went into the design with RCS reduction in mind. Nothing radically different in the contours of the missiles. In most cases when that KH-58 shows its likely that it was fired from a lot closer and still accelerating compared to the Aim-54 which in most cases was fired from a lot further and no longer powered. In terms of in game being primarily fired from a SU25t.

Edited January 18, 2013 by blkspade

[blkspade]

Actually your mention of the F-22 further aids my point in a way. Part of the design is for the weapons to be in the internal bay to further reduce its RCS along with its shape and RAM. Not only is the phoenix huge the fins provide exact right angles which is an RCS booster as well. They could have a higher RCS than the KH-58 for that reason alone.

[GGTharos]

Like I said, I don't think it would really matter. By the time you pick it up, you better be doing something about it rather than fiddling with your radar.

[Cali]

Another thing is who knows if the real missile shows up or not. That is something we may never ever find out. Never heard anything about something like that in all the books I have read, docs I've seen or any internet site I've been to.