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The real-life reason for this wild spiraling behavior would be that the launch tube isn’t pointed directly at the target and the missile overcorrects. That’s ac
by Armisael16 4y ago
The real-life reason for this wild spiraling behavior would be that the launch tube isn’t pointed directly at the target and the missile overcorrects. That’s actually how the sidewinder missile got its name.
This kind of mid-flight course change is a characteristic of real missiles in other cases , though:
* almost anytime a submarine or ship launches, the missile goes straight up for a little bit to clear the ship before sharply turning
* if you shoot a guided missile straight up unguided to clear terrain (eg a hill) before turning on guidance you’ll see this
* cruise missiles in the gulf wars famously did this by following the street grid - even turning at street light
* if you launch a torpedo in a random direction then activate guidance later it can disguise where you are, since the torpedo is coming from a different direction
- magila 4y agoI always assumed the Sidewinder missile was named based on the snake's ability to sense prey by thermal radiation.
- Armisael16 4y agoIt was a bit of both, really (and the snaking path was only present in early versions of the missile). Sorry to mislead!
- sdmike1 4y ago> cruise missiles in the gulf wars famously did this by following the street grid - even turning at street light That's fascinating! Do you have more info on this?
- MonkeyMalarky 4y agoApparently HIMARS rockets do it too to avoid counter-battery fire. In videos from Ukraine you can see them launch at one angle then change direction after clearing a good distance from the launcher.
- paganel 4y agoThe Russian Onyx missiles also have an interesting-looking initial phase of the launch [1] [1] https://youtu.be/2-22myhg_nE?t=9 https://youtu.be/2-22myhg_nE?t=9
- icegreentea2 4y agoOhohoh. The craziest reason for the missile to go a little conky has got to be the energy management steering maneuver in THAAD (dunno if other missiles do it as well) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_High_Altitude_Area_Defense#/media/File:Tems11.jpg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terminal_High_Altitude_Area_De...
- z303 4y agoAnother was Sprint. Turning towards the target before it gets too fast. Limiting the stress on the airframe and energy required. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_(missile) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sprint_(missile) https://youtu.be/YZZV464z9g8 https://youtu.be/YZZV464z9g8
- bee_rider 4y agoGood points! I was 100% thinking of this from the point of view of a video game, without stating it, haha.