3 ms·

What about guns? Relative speed against the enemy is the same no matter if you shoot forward or backward. Or am I missing something?

Maursault 4y ago
Bullets don't move at the speed of light.[1] Shoot a bullet backwards off a bullet train, that bullet's ground speed is less than if shot from the ground while stationary. Similarly, shoot a bullet forward off a bullet train, that bullet's ground speed is more than if shot from the ground from a stationary position. Shoot bullets backwards off a jet moving Mach 3 (just sayin') those 1700mph bullets will still be moving in the forward direction of the jet at 600mph relative to the ground. [1] They should use rear-facing lasers!
- malloci 4y ago
  This really only applies if shooting at a target behind you that is either stationary or moving much slower than you. If the target is moving at (or nearly at) the same speed as you then those velocities effectively cancel out
- jasamer 4y ago
  But the bullet will still hit the plane following you at roughly 1700mph (you could say, the plane will crash into the bullet at that speed, but it‘s the same result), because it‘s also moving at Mach 3.
  - hef19898 4y ago
    Good luck trying a Cobra with a Blavkbird, a plane that needs a third of the US to make a 180 turn at full speed.
- leereeves 4y ago
  That's true in the ground's frame of reference. But in the plane's frame, where both planes are roughly stationary and the wind is moving 100s of mph backwards, bullets fired backwards move faster. And for aerial combat I would argue the plane's frame is the important one.
- ozim 4y ago
  But the guy that is pursuing you will still be going after you in around Mach 3 so he will go through your bullets like they would be traveling his direction at 600mph.
- jawarner 4y ago
  Yeah but your enemy is also moving forward because they’re trailing you.
avereveard 4y ago
You need a backward facing radar for modern fire control targeting calculating a solution. These are heavy and large and will interfere with engine placement.

Maursault 4y ago

Bullets don't move at the speed of light.[1] Shoot a bullet backwards off a bullet train, that bullet's ground speed is less than if shot from the ground while stationary. Similarly, shoot a bullet forward off a bullet train, that bullet's ground speed is more than if shot from the ground from a stationary position. Shoot bullets backwards off a jet moving Mach 3 (just sayin') those 1700mph bullets will still be moving in the forward direction of the jet at 600mph relative to the ground. [1] They should use rear-facing lasers!

malloci 4y ago
This really only applies if shooting at a target behind you that is either stationary or moving much slower than you. If the target is moving at (or nearly at) the same speed as you then those velocities effectively cancel out
jasamer 4y ago
But the bullet will still hit the plane following you at roughly 1700mph (you could say, the plane will crash into the bullet at that speed, but it‘s the same result), because it‘s also moving at Mach 3.
- hef19898 4y ago
  Good luck trying a Cobra with a Blavkbird, a plane that needs a third of the US to make a 180 turn at full speed.
leereeves 4y ago
That's true in the ground's frame of reference. But in the plane's frame, where both planes are roughly stationary and the wind is moving 100s of mph backwards, bullets fired backwards move faster. And for aerial combat I would argue the plane's frame is the important one.
ozim 4y ago
But the guy that is pursuing you will still be going after you in around Mach 3 so he will go through your bullets like they would be traveling his direction at 600mph.
jawarner 4y ago
Yeah but your enemy is also moving forward because they’re trailing you.

avereveard 4y ago

You need a backward facing radar for modern fire control targeting calculating a solution. These are heavy and large and will interfere with engine placement.