![]() ![]() Analysis: Range and additional considerations ![]() Interestingly, I would expect this value to be much closer to 45nm but it is clear how the range affects the latter Phoenix as well, especially if the target is either Flanking or Notching. The equivalent for the AIM-54A Mk60 is slightly closer to 40nm. This value, for the AIM-54C Mk47 at medium to long ranges, is approximately 35nm. We can define a “sweet spot”, a range where the missile performance is consistent no matter the altitude and the aspect of the target. The AIM-54A Mk60 and its more powerful rocket motor shows its muscles but, nevertheless, it still shows the same symptoms of the AIM-54C Mk47. This was a rather common occurrence at longer ranges. What I think has happened is that, as the range increased, more missiles have been defeated kinetically even before having the chance of having their seeker defeated. This is a peculiar chart because it gives the impression that, the longer the range, the more effective the seeker of the missile is. Therefore, the lower the result, the better. This chart plots the number of defeated Phoenixes versus the total tests per scenario (120). The following are the results of the Phoenix-C. Let’s now focus on the reason why a missile was defeated. This number can be considered the limit of the employment of the AIM-54C at high altitude versus a manoeuvering target.Įventually, at 20,000, the increasing range affects the AIM-54A Mk60 as well, dragging the PK down post 40nm. At higher altitudes instead, it manages to perform well up to 40nm. This is due to the fact that this version of the Phoenix has the most powerful rocket motor and the air at higher altitudes is thinner.Īs expected, the missile that suffers the most as the range increases is the AIM-54C Mk47, especially at 20,000ft. It is interesting to note how the AIM-54A Mk60 at high altitude shows fairly constant results. The Flanking scenario is the test that pushes the performance of the rocket motor to the limits because the closure rate is not as high as it is in the Hot aspect tests. This scenario shows some interesting results. ![]() That aside, it is interesting to note how the results are fairly similar and consistent between 35nm and 45nm. The increased performance of each version at 45nm, 30,000ft, especially for the AIM-54C Mk47, may be related to the odd case of the MiG-29S I cover later on. The AIM-54A Mk60 follows a similar pattern with an offset towards longer ranges. The PK increases for the AIM-54C Mk47 from 35nm and then it is fairly stable. This chart shows the hit rate from Hot-aspect targets at different altitudes and ranges. As we know from the previous studies, it is the least meaningful because the PK changes so much as the altitude and aspect of the target change. The following is the combined chart for the Hit Rates. NOTE: The legend marks the series by reporting two letters to better identify them: “ C” for the AIM-54C Mk47 and “ A” for the AIM-54A Mk60 plus “ L” for Low Altitude test at 20,000ft and “ H” for High Altitude, 30,000ft. I also decided to use normalized data when possible in order to reduce the number of less meaningful charts (this article is long enough already!). Considerations can be made in regards of the Altitude Δ performance, how each version performs in specific scenarios and how the WCS Guidance as a function of the distance affects the ultimate result. There are multiple ways to look at the data. It’s simply too long to be posted here): AIM-54C Mk47 (left column) and AIM-54A Mk60 (right column)ĪIM-54C Mk47: 20,000ft and 30,000ft AIM-54A Mk60: 20,000ft and 30,000ft Analysis: Charts Usual routine here, a look at the raw data (the complete raw data series will be available in PDF format as the study is completed. The total amount of AIM54 launched is 1920. As usual, each set of tests is composed of 120 AIM-54A Mk60 and 120 AIM-54C Mk47. This article studies the performance of the AIM-54 at longer ranges: 30nm, 35nm, 40nm, 45nm. The previous articles introduced the modus operandi and the criteria of the tests, studied the low altitude performance and went into the details of the effect of the altitude at a fixed range. This is the last set of test about the Probability of Kill model for the AIM-54A Mk60 and the AIM-54C Mk60. I am waiting for them to finalize the new implementation before writing a new study about the updated guidance model and the AIM-54. Heatblur and ED have developed a new missile API in late 2020 so the way the WCS guides the missiles has changed. ![]()
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