"tscottme" wrote in message ...
tw wrote in message
...
snip
Finally, why make the call at all? It seems redundant - the chap being
fired
at will know soon enough, and it isn't really anyone else's concern is
it?
(or if it is, there isn't much they can do about it)

Just wondering...


As a civilian I would guess that since fighters that launch missiles
rarely travel alone, it is valuable to alert friendly aircraft nearby
that the streak they may see is your weapon and not an opponent's weapon
nobody else noticed.

well, remember there are also GCI or AWACS folks listening in as
well...also, when we fire an AIM-9 it is an IR missile which may guide
on the nearest aircraft regardless of who you fire it at...once a
heater goes you need to let people know because unlike a radar missile
like an AIM-7, you can't call it off. Also, when fighters are
executing their free and engaged contracts sgainst a bandit, it is
always good to know when your partner fires, it sort of sets up a
"cadence" for what the two of you are doing as a team.