On Sun, 14 Sep 2003 13:22:42 -0400, Paul Austin wrote:

Yep, the USAF isn't convinced there's a real mission for AAMs with
that range.

A and B are at war. A and B operate the same fighter, but A has 100
km range missiles, and B only has 20 km.

Some A fighters intercept some B aircraft on a bombing mission
(assume they are flying herad-on courses). A fires AAMs at 60 km.
If B doesn't know the missiles are launched, they won't take evasive
action, and are likely to be hit. If they do know, the fact that
missiles are firing towards them will have a large effect on their
mental state, making them behave cautiously. Probably they'll turn
and run -- but certainly they are likely to be less threat to A's
aircraft than if the missiles weren't flying.

Now consider they meet, both sides on an air superiority mission.
Again, the fact that A gets its missiles off first gives them a big
advantage in air-to-air combat.

If this argument is wrong, what's wrong with it?

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