Explained: Air To Air Missile Types

#GRExplained #DCSExplained #GR #DCSWorld

[pclank]

Referring to the picture used... AIM 120 AMRAAM is a FOX 3. It's an Active-RADAR missile with essentially two RADAR models. Great video though, keep it up.

[AdurianJ]

A continuous rod warhead are litterally metal rods along and around the warhead that are welded together at either end.
This means that when the warhead explodes the rods fold out as they are connected one after another until they form a great circle perpendicular to the warhead. The stresses then destroy the circle welds but the rods still keep flying off in one plane.

This will disect an airplane that say get's an AIM-9 up it's tailpipe

[Hairysteed]

You don't have to wait for pitbull to turn away. The an active radar missile simply flies to the target's last known position before attempting to acquire it on its own radar. Mid-course updating does improve accuracy though.

[TheGranicd]

R73 has trust vectoring, that`s why it turns better then AIM9. Export (tunned down)version had 45 degree offbore lock but Soviet version had 60.

[adamfrazer]

It shockingly took several minutes of searching to find EXACTLY what I wanted to give me all the info my tiny brain can consume - not only that, but amongst a sea of War Thunder videos etc, yours was the single video with this info, many thanks for putting this together 👍🍻

[Quandoquesto]

Continuous rod aims to maintain a higher energy state of the mass of the warhead for longer by keeping the rods connected up to a certain point. This helps to increase the duration and level of kinetic energy that can be transferred to a target upon contact, as opposed to smaller shrapnel which would lose kinetic energy quickly

[ZephyrIguana]

My understanding is that the Sparrow works so much better as a SAM.
Also, the AIM-120 can fit on the wing rails of the F-18. They just prefer the Sidewinder. If they need to engage in a dogfight, Sidewinders are better.

[negativejam]

What’s the “best” missile for each classification of range?

[jamespool]

I don't play this game. Used to fly sims. Too old anymore, don't have the hardware any more (what a great innuendo lol) But you guys are fun to watch . Congrats and I truly hope y'all make some $ off this. Y'all are genuinely entertaining.

[vertigo]

Why dont they make 2 stage AA missiles? One stage to launch and loft, then let if cruise until its a few km/nm from its target, if need be slower than current AA missiles, then a second stage that only needs to burn for a few seconds to give the missile the ability to manoeuvre again and ensure a kill. I think that every time i see a AA missile being defeated because it ran out of energy and basically cant turn without propulsion. Just a tiny kick stage at the end would seem to guarantee a kill almost every time?

[dr.tankenstien]

Well, you guys are sort of correct about the AIM-54C. Let me give you proper history about the AIM-54 since I am a 30 year US Navy Servicemember that had the pleasure of being up close and personal with this weapon system. The information you gave, about the AIM-54A being a "Bomber Buster" is true. Its radar seeker head and associated avionics package were designed to recognize slow moving bombers. It wasn't until the AIM-54C came along that you could also use it against tactical sized aircraft and cruise missiles. The forward vanes are unmovable and provide stability and lift for the missile while the 4 rudder vanes on the rear of the missile control direction. And now for a little historical information. I retrieved this information from the Official US Navy Information website. I have left out the most boring of information and I am highlighting the best parts. Remember the F-14 was designed for the missle, not the other way around.

1960: AIM-54 Phoenix long-range interception missile concept outlined using technology from the AIM-47 Falcon to arm the General Dynamics F-111B, a Navy variant of the F-111 (program canceled in 1967). Originally known as the AAM-N-11 Phoenix. The AIM-54 Phoenix was a product of two US missile programs, the Navy's Bendix AAM-N-10 Eagle and the USAF's Hughes GAR-9.

1966: First guided interception succeeded: An A-3A Skywarrior, equipped with a Phoenix missile and its control system, located, locked on at long range and launched the missile, scoring an intercept on a jet target drone. The event occurred over the Navy Pacific Missile Range near San Nicolas Island. Although the Phoenix had been launched successfully before, this was the first full-scale test employing all functions of the missile control system.

1969: February 3rd. The Naval Air Systems Command issued a contract to Grumman for development of the F-14A fighter and manufacture of six experimental aircraft. The F-14 would feature a variable-sweep wing and carry the Phoenix missile.

1970: September. The first live Phoenix missile was launched. Launched from an altitude above the target, in a look down, track-while-scan mode, the missile passed close to the drone, destroying it after the detonation of the warhead by its proximity fuze.

1973: June. Hughes completed their testing program with a world record-setting performance; launched from an F-14A over Pt. Mugu, a Phoenix missile was launched against a BQM-34E Firebee drone at a distance of 110 nautical miles. This shattered the previous record of 76 nautical miles, which was achieved during the RDT&E phase. At the time the missile had achieved a 77% success rate, with 43 scored hits out of a total of 56 missiles launched from various aircraft. November 21st. First Phoenix proves effectiveness in full-arsenal testing on an F-14 operating over the Pacific Missile Sea Test Range. The F-14 fired six Phoenix missiles over a 38-second period and guided them simultaneously at six separate targets 50 miles away, obtaining four direct hits. Flown by CDR John R. "Smoke" Wilson and LCDR Jack Hauver, the Tomcat was flying at speed of M0.78 and an altitude of 24, 800 ft - while the target drones were flying at speeds of M0.6 to M1.1. This was the only time six Phoenix was launched by a single aircraft.

1980: November 18. After eight years and nine months of production, Hughes delivered the 2, 505th (and last) AIM-54A Phoenix missile, Serial Number 79120. This signaled the end of one era and the beginning of another, with the start of production of the Improved Phoenix, the AIM-54C. In keeping with its mythical name, the AIM-54C was an old Phoenix that had been reborn and was ready to live on.

2004: July 15. Last AIM-54 was shot by VF-213 CAG-8 Pilot- LCDR Mark Tankersley and RIO- LTJG Scott Timmester.

General Characteristics
Primary Function: Long-range air-launched air intercept missile.
Contractor: Hughes Aircraft Co. and Raytheon Co.
Date Deployed: 1974.
Unit Cost: $477, 131 (in 1974 US Dollars)
Propulsion: Solid propellant rocket motor built by Hercules.
Length: 13 feet (3.9 meters).
Diameter: 15 inches (38.1 cm).
Wingspan: 3 feet (.9 meters).
Weight: 1, 024 pounds (460.8 kg).
Speed: In excess of 3, 000 mph (4, 800 km).
Range: In excess of 100 nautical miles (115 statute miles, 184 km).
Guidance System: Semi-active and active radar homing. (It could be guided like an AIM-7 or "Fire and Forget" like the AIM-120.)
Warhead: Proximity fuse, high explosive. Warhead Weight: 135 pounds (60.75 kg).

All information is correct as of 10 March 2017. Enjoy!

[Hairysteed]

Reasons why the Sparrow's kill ratio was so poor in Vietnam:
-ROE limitations requiring visual ID before engaging
-Poor pilot training causing many pilots to fire at the edge of the maximum range
-Poor handling by the ordnance crew causing reliability issues (they were basically handled the same way as old iron bombs)

The Sparrows did a LOT better in Desert Storm

[Hairysteed]

The Korean Airliner (KAL-007) was shot down by a K-8, not an R-60

[AdurianJ]

AIM-7M is the fist Sparrow Version with an Inverse monopulse seeker, which is a game changer.
The Skyflash which is an improved British Sparrow based on AIM-7E got an Inverse Monopulse Seeker about half a decade before the AIM-7M entered service.
The Skyflash has a Shorter range because the AIM-7E body has more space for electronics which the british used to improove the missiles ECCM while at the same time the US designed the AIM-7F which used the smaller size of modern electronics to increase the size of the rocket motor.
The Skyflash and AIM-7F are solid state missiles.

[Grisbane]

Don't know if it was said but Sparrows are still in use. They work terrifically at killing other missiles. But are mostly used as far as I know on surface ships. The Arleigh-Burk class DDG's have them, known as a SeaSparrow. I used to be stationed outside of Ingals shipyard in Pascagoula MS where they build a lot of these things. As I understand larger ships such as LHA and LHD, as well as CVN's have them for area missile defense. Some LHD's were built in Ingals but I never saw them close due to our pier being only capable of mooring up to CG sized ships. Yorktown, Gates and Tico (the ship I was stationed on) homeported there along with 2 FFG's. Base is a Coast Guard port now and all the CG's are scrapped. Ingals is still there and pumping out DDG's (among other things).

[rikuurufu]

The fins on the R-77 are called "Grid Fins" or colloquially, "Potato Mashers"

[jamieeast]

NO FLY ZONE = EASY PICKINGS.
FAIR ?
PROBABLY NOT !

[WEEPFORBALDUR]

Hi, I've just subscribed after watching this video.
I've not even got a pc, my flight Sims are restricted to arcadey console stuff, but I'm a dreamer lol. Great videos, I look forward to going through your catalogue then annoying my daughters with endless facts about various aircraft and their weapon systems 😁👍

[cornbread]

*** Wishing the Su-33 had a Fox 3 Missile. :( Good Video!

[giveherheadnotheadaches]

Nobody:
The guy explaining the missiles: