• Medium range missiles. From 15 km up to 75 km. (R-27, R-77, AIM-7, AIM-120, and
others)
• Long range missiles. Over 75 km. (R-33, AIM-54, and others)
These missiles use a variety of guidance systems:
• Passive infrared. Infrared target seeker (R-60, R-73, R-27Т, AIM-9, R550)
• Passive radar. Radar emitter targeting, is usually combined with semi-active or active
targeting. It is a targeting mode modern missiles such as AIM-7M, AIM-120, and R-27R can
use. This is sometimes referred to as Home On Jam (HOJ) mode.
• Semi-Active Radar Homing (SARH). Such seekers home in on the reflected radar energy
from the launch aircraft’s continuous wave radar. (R-27R/ER, AIM-7, R-33)
• Active Radar Homing (ARH). Active systems have their own radar seekers built into the
missile. (R-77, AIM-120, AIM-54)
Medium and long range missiles are often fitted with an inertial navigation systems (INS) and a
command-guidance transmitter/receiver (data link). This enables such systems to be launched
towards a target’s position that is further than the supporting radar can lock and illuminate.
Passive radar and infrared homing systems do not radiate an active signal. Instead, they guide to
the target by locking on to the target’s radar or infrared emissions. These are "fire-and-forget"
missiles, i.e. they are fully automated after launch.
Semi-active missiles home in on the reflected radar energy of a target. For such missiles, it is
necessary that the supporting aircraft retain radar lock until the missile hits the target. This can
often lead to "jousting" of SARH armed aircraft.
Active missiles at long ranges have the same features as semi-active systems; i. e. the launch aircraft
must track the target and provide guidance to the missile. Once the missile is within 10 to 20 km of
the target, the onboard radar seeker activates and continues the intercept without need of support
from the launch aircraft’s radar. Such systems have only recently been introduced into service.
AAMs fly according to the same aerodynamics laws as aircraft. They are affected by the same
gravitational and drag force that affect aircraft. For a missile to fly, it must also generate lift forces.
Due to the small size of AAM wings though, lift is generally generated by speed rather than wing
form.
After launch, the missile is accelerated by its motor. This is generally a solid propellant motor that
operates from 2 to 15 seconds. During this period, the missile accelerates up to Mach 2 -3 and then
continues flight based on the stored kinetic energy to overcome drag and gravity. As airspeed
decreases, it becomes increasingly difficult for the missile to maneuver due to the decreased
efficiency of its control surfaces. When the missile’s speed falls below 1,000 – 800 km/h, it becomes
almost uncontrollable and will continue to fly ballisticly until it hits the ground or self destructs.
Maximum missile launch range is not a constant value; it depends on a number of variables:
launcher's flight altitude, air speed and target aspect. To attain a missile’s maximum launch range, it
is best to launch at high altitude, at high airspeed, in a high aspect intercept. Note that launch range
does not necessarily equate to missile flight range. For example, in a high aspect encounter where
the missile is launched at 50 km, the missile will only travel about 30-35 km. This is because the
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