536
edits
Air to Air Weapons: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
[[File:Fox Codes and Air-to-Air Missiles Illustrations.png|thumb|This illustration showcases the three primary air-to-air missiles (AAM) used in US modern aerial combat.|720x720px]] | [[File:Fox Codes and Air-to-Air Missiles Illustrations.png|thumb|This illustration showcases the three primary air-to-air missiles (AAM) used in US modern aerial combat.|720x720px]] | ||
= Missile naming = | |||
The 1963 United States Tri-Service rocket and guided missile designation system was introduced to standardize the naming and classification of rockets and guided missiles across the U.S. military branches—Army, Navy, and Air Force. This system aimed to create a consistent and clear method for identifying these weapons, improving communication and coordination among the services. | |||
The system used a combination of letters and numbers to indicate the type, purpose, and version of the weapon. For example, the designation would include a letter indicating the primary function (e.g., "A" for air-to-air missiles, "S" for surface-to-surface missiles) and a series of numbers that denote specific models or versions. This structure helped streamline inventory management, development, and operational planning for missile systems. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Short form | |||
! Full form | |||
! Description | |||
|- | |||
| '''AIM''' | |||
| Air Intercept Missile | |||
| A type of missile designed to intercept and destroy airborne targets. Often equipped with high explosive warheads. | |||
|- | |||
| '''ATM''' | |||
| Air Training Missile | |||
| A missile used for training purposes that simulates the performance of a real missile. It may contain live propellant and be capable of powered flight but typically has a non-functional guidance system. | |||
|- | |||
| '''CATM''' | |||
| Captive Air Training Missile | |||
| A training missile that is inert and used for practice with aircraft integration and handling. It does not contain explosive materials and is used to simulate the presence of a live missile without actual launch. | |||
|- | |||
| '''NATM''' | |||
| Permanent Special Test Air Training Missile | |||
| A specialized training missile used for test and evaluation purposes. It is inert and often used in long-term training scenarios to simulate live missiles without the need for actual firing. | |||
|} | |||
= Air-to-Air Missile Guidance Type = | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- style="font-weight:bold; text-align:center;" | |||
! Guidance Type | |||
! Targeting Method | |||
! Advantages | |||
! Disadvantages | |||
|- | |||
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Semi-Active Radar (Fox 1) | |||
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | Relies on aircraft radar to illuminate target | |||
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | Long-range engagements, simple missile design | |||
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | Aircraft must maintain radar lock, vulnerable to ECM jamming | |||
|- | |||
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Infrared (Fox 2) | |||
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | Homes in on heat (infrared) emitted by target | |||
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | Fire-and-forget, stealthy, effective at low altitudes | |||
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | Vulnerable to flares, early models (ex AIM-9P) limited to rear attacks | |||
|- | |||
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Active Radar (Fox 3) | |||
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | Missile has its own onboard radar | |||
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | True fire-and-forget, can engage multiple targets | |||
| style="vertical-align:middle;" | Expensive, target may detect missile when radar activates | |||
|} | |||
== Semi-Active Radar-Homing Missile (Fox 1 – AIM-7 Sparrow) == | == Semi-Active Radar-Homing Missile (Fox 1 – AIM-7 Sparrow) == | ||
| Line 66: | Line 119: | ||
* '''Vulnerability to Jamming''': While more resistant than semi-active systems, active radar-guided missiles can still be affected by sophisticated electronic warfare countermeasures. | * '''Vulnerability to Jamming''': While more resistant than semi-active systems, active radar-guided missiles can still be affected by sophisticated electronic warfare countermeasures. | ||
= Color stripes/bands (MIL-STD-709D) = | |||
The color stripes or bands on missiles are '''standardized''' (follow by '''MIL-STD-709D''') markings that indicate the type of warhead, propellant, or guidance system of the missile, and they follow specific military conventions for identification purposes. | The color stripes or bands on missiles are '''standardized''' (follow by '''MIL-STD-709D''') markings that indicate the type of warhead, propellant, or guidance system of the missile, and they follow specific military conventions for identification purposes. | ||