3 ms·
> Detection/track ranges are generally much higher. This is absolutely not true. For modern weapons, the effective range is generally limited by detection, whe
by Tuna-Fish 5y ago
> Detection/track ranges are generally much higher.
This is absolutely not true. For modern weapons, the effective range is generally limited by detection, whether you are talking about heavy SAM (like the S-400, with it's 400km range) or modern AAM (like the Meteor or R77M, with ranges ~200km).
As a rule, it's relatively cheap and easy to increase missile range, so they are not limited by ability but by choice. SAM ranges are pushed past reasonable detection ranges because it allows siting the missiles more to the rear, which is safer, and for the missile batteries to provide mutual support. AAM ranges are pushed past detection to increase the size of the no-escape zone, which is usually thought to be more important than the actual maximum range.
- the__alchemist 5y agoI'm not sure where you're getting those numbers, but your ranges are off by an OOM. Maybe if you're talking a lofted shot from high speed, high alt against a non-maneuvering target, with low PK expectations.
- Tuna-Fish 5y agoEr, most of them are conservative if anything. The Meteor for example is advertised with a 60km nez, against a mach 2.5 plane starting from a tail chase. It's fairly easy to calculate that the pure kinematic maximum range against a stationary target will have to be way higher than 200km. R77m has been claimed to be similar, and while there might be some exaggeration there, it's not that hard to believe given that it's a ramjet missile that's quite large.