This has an Unexpected Feature...

The AIM-174B has been given a warm reception by all the observer. But it is a strange proposition. So, let's have a look into the new AIM-174 from a not so common angle.

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[Nocturne]

Math and simulations are good, but if you want precise data for classified military hardware, the best way is still to throw a random number in the war thunder forums and wait for the manual to be posted in response :)

[Johnwashere-dtov]

Engineer here, addicted to Excel and modeling. Love your work! Your approach to calculate the possible range is ingenious!

[彭新懿]

PL 15 worked with real targets shows it is really good😂

[aleksandrs]

I'm a simple man. I see an M7 video, I push a like

[christophmahler]

Love the statistical analysis approach...

US Secretary of the Navy to US Congress: 'After evaluating near peer competitor capabilities to limit carrier operations in our mission to ensure freedom of navigation, we can now declare that for the Fighter/Attack F/A-XX program, we propose to procure an airframe that is large enough to carry three 2000lbs guided missiles in an internal bay and that features an outstanding combat range that enables interception of long range aviation bombers and secondary deep strike missions, all at supersonic speed'

US Senate Committee on Armed Services: 'You are proposing a reactivation of the F-111B program ?'

US Secretary of the Navy: 'What ? Nooo...'

[Slowekistan]

Hard to believe the old AGM-78 is still flying.

[ELMS]

I have said this before, but there is nowhere else to go to get this in-depth information, presented so clearly. Outstanding! I would never have the time or ability to find this out on my own.
I wasn’t able to get my YouTube support restored after losing my credit card so I did it through
Patreon, and at the next highest level. It’s worth every penny. Be well, Gus!

[edsong]

I love this channel so much because it presents the most realistic or logical explanation of things, the explanations stays in the realm of logic and engineering POV which is 80% of the time, as for the 20%, those are what we process engineers call luck

[kathrynck]

The first missile picture was painted in "debris field orange", which means it was meant to be easy to find all the pieces. Which means it was intended to be detached, either to test separation, or to test 'fire'. Given the lack of "reference stickers" on the F-18, I lean more towards a test fire. Which means the 2020 picture shows a missile which is fairly far along in development.

2022, as a deployment goal, was already a delay for the AIM-260. The navy was already impatient with AIM-260 development pace by 2020.

Propellent chemistry and nozzle design are actually _very_ highly secretive. You definitely cannot read about the latest propellent and nozzle designs in a book. So they have more impact than you'd think. The different ranges of the AIM-120 models display this pretty strongly.

AIM-174B is a LOT bigger than the AIM-260 will be. I wouldn't consider the Navy's choice to deploy the 174 as a rejection of the 260, but as a whole new class of air to air missiles.

F-15 could carry 4, if using the rarely mounted outer wing pylon. Or even 6 (if a FAST pack was modified specifically for it, that's the conformal tanks for the F-15). Technically 7, if you deleted the centerline fuel tank. F-15's are payload monsters.

Development time of the 174B would be hugely expedited by the fact that it's a modification of an SM-6, and not an all-new missile design. 4 years may seem very 'rushed', but considering how much of the work was already completed in the SM-6, 4 years may be a normal development timeline.

Lack of imagery of the AIM-260 suggests one of two possibilities to me: 1) it's visual shape reveals features which DARPA want's to delay becoming public for as long as possible (like dual-staging perhaps). 2) the visual shape would reveal RCS characteristics, implying the missile is at least _somewhat_ low observable. Or... both.

But yes, the 260 is _WAY_ behind schedule, which means it's having a problem-fraught development process. And the USNavy _IS_ kinda fed up with the wait.

One thing worth mentioning on range & flight profiles... at a certain point size starts to create broken math, because of the impact of having a portion of the flight time in exo-atmospheric conditions. I don't know if the 174B is large enough to get into "Ballistic-Missile-Math", but it's big enough that it might.

[geeussery]

I really enjoy these videos and find them not only informative but also entertaining. Love Otis too. Thanks fellas

[fastsheep]

Once again a very informative video. Thanks

[cannonfodder]

The Twitter defense analyst and enthusiast circles were obnoxious for a while after the AIM-174B's reveal. Still a good analysis and decent guestimate of the AIM-174B's potential range. Although like many things in the absence of hard data, I would take such numbers with a large helping of salt.

BTW not really a nitpick but I do object to the R-77-1 being called R-77M. No official literature I have seen has the current R-77-1 as the M model which seems to be reserved for the future variant for the Su-57's.

A good video.

[corneliushojl]

Millenium research, good, very good.
Thank you

[jaimepm]

We hace a previous example on a reversed way: The NASAM as a surface launched AIM-120 AMRAAM

[tommarquez]

Superb. I like the way you analyze those questions, it gives us new insights on how to approach a problem.

[teddy.d]

As an American I’m accustomed to program delays, in regard to weapons and other systems especially post virus. Gus I sincerely appreciate your topic preparation and specifically the way you orate your knowledge, as well as your explanation/chart for range of missiles discussed in the video. I’m not an engineer nor a defense expert however, my late dad was a propulsion engineer so my knowledge is likely more than the average Joe. I just wanted to convey that not all Americans are pompous arseholes who claim to know it all, as well as argue about weapons specifications and functionality. If in doubt, someone will more than likely post the specs on War Thunder anyway…😂
Fantastic video sir, well done…as usual.
Cheers from 🇺🇸

[JimHoward]

In ancient times I was an F-4G EWO. The F-4G and F-105G could both carry the AGM-78 Standard Arm antiradiation, which was a Standard missile with a radar homing warhead.

I never flew with it myself, but it reminded me of Space Shuttle solid rocket strap on boosters, it was so huge.

The only combat employment I heard about was that one was fired at a Bar Lock in downtown Hanoi. It hit the target, but the White House was pissed because downtown Hanoi was off limits. Because we didn’t want to make Uncle Ho mad. It was an insane war.

[zaffazad]

Your vlog was very well-balanced. My two cents: the range is determined by the fuel capacity a missile can hold and the payload, electronics, warhead, etc. These factors are determined by the size; circumference, length, total weight, and airframe capacity to keep that weight. In a fighter jets class, only F15s the Sukhoi’s 30, and a few Mig 29 and 31 class aircraft can launch weapons that are around just over a ton from a bay. The current innovations in rocket motors and fuel-to-weight ratio regarding manoeuvrability and flight length are at most 350 km. Therefore, 400 km or beyond that range is not a plausible argument.

[nerdwwii]

Have you been living under a rock?
00:56 Under charger, most of the time!

Made my day. Thank you!

[frankthecarpenter]

Your analysis is absolutely spot on. Do not ask me why I say this. A little bit of calculus and computer programming goes a long way. Way good for you my extremely intelligent