AGM-122 Sidearm

Can somebody tell me what the current status about the AGM-122s is?

It seems they sometimes work, getting a lock and hitting - well, within a margin - their target, while at other times they just simply don't. Recently I literally buzzed a radar emitter that was clearly active, gave me an RWR indication, but no missile lock at any range or any off-bore angle.

Are they only capable of locking onto specific emitter types?

Are there some known issues that are being worked on?

Can somebody tell me what the current status about the AGM-122s is?

 

It seems they sometimes work, getting a lock and hitting - well, within a margin - their target, while at other times they just simply don't. Recently I literally buzzed a radar emitter that was clearly active, gave me an RWR indication, but no missile lock at any range or any off-bore angle.

 

Are they only capable of locking onto specific emitter types?

Are there some known issues that are being worked on?

I think there is a bug where once you've fired the first one then the second will get stuck on the firsts lock, apparently there is a way to cycle it though i am not sure.

Hi,

Yep , once you have fired it will not reset automatically.. Just cycle through deselect/Gun/Sidearm until search tone is constant

Also; Ensure the IR cool switch is on..

Hi,

 

Yep , once you have fired it will not reset automatically.. Just cycle through deselect/Gun/Sidearm until search tone is constant

 

Also; Ensure the IR cool switch is on..

No. Absolutely DO NOT turn the IR cool switch on.

1: You shouldn't be turning it on at all unless you have a system failure that prevent's the AIM-9 seeker head from cooling OR need to cool Aim-9's while on the ground for preflight checks.

2: You do not use them with sidearms. It will uncage the seeker head and cannot be returned to boresight.

3: When the sidearms are properly implemented number 2 will cause damage to the sidearm because it will allow the seeker head to repeatedly hit gimbal stops damaging the seeker.

2-153 in the AV-8B Tactical manual

Even though the Sidearm seeker head is not

cooled, the coolant control switch (IR COOL on

the ACP) affects both the Sidearm and the

Sidewinder. Although the IR COOL switch can

provide cooling for the Sidewinder, it causes a

problem for the Sidearm.

 

In A/G master mode with Sidearm selected, if

IR COOL is selected and the Sidearm is uncaged

(pilot actuates the cage/uncage button), the

seeker is placed in the SLAVE mode. In the

SLAVE mode, the seeker is awaiting head posi-

tioning commands that are not coming, thus the

seeker is uncaged and will free float. ′′Free float′′

is defined as the lack of electronic restraint on or

guidance to the seeker antenna such that the

antenna is free to move where ever an external

force directs it (i.e., dynamic flight loads). The

movement will terminate at the gimbal stop.

Excessive and uncontrolled contact with the

gimbal stop can cause severe damage. With the IR

COOL on there is no capability to command the

missile back to the boresight (caged) position.

In non-A/G master modes (i.e., A/A), if the IR

COOL position is selected, the Sidearm seeker

will uncage and the seeker will free float. In this

case, the pilot will have no indication of this (i.e.,

no Sidearm HUD symbology or missile tone).

Due to the above conditions, the IR COOL

switch should not be placed in the IR COOL

position when Sidearm(s) is loaded on the air-

craft.

 

When Sidewinders are loaded on the aircraft,

a COOL option is displayed on the SMS stores

display (Figure 2-100). This option is displayed

when AIM-9 weapon codes are dialed in the SMS

and allows IR COOL to be provided to all

Sidewinder stations loaded with an AIM-9. The

COOL option may be preselected (boxed) by the

pilot while on the deck, however, IR COOL is not

applied to the AIM-9 stations until weight off

wheels occurs.

 

Even if the COOL option is not boxed,

Sidewinder seeker cooling is automatically initi-

ated to all Sidewinder stations with AIM-9 codes

by the SMC when a Sidewinder is selected and

the master arm switch is placed to ARM.

Just like the real thing. Sidearm was never really adopted. DOD bought a sizeable amount, but all have been expended back in 1980's and in Desert Storm. Though Marines do state that Whiskey Cobra can carry Sidearm as well as Sidewinder.

You have to uncage seeker, point it at the emitter with emission source inside Sidearm seeker FOV. Get within range of less then 10 nm, 5 if you can make it. Release it. Its most usefull against AAA guns, except Tonguska, whose own missiles outrange Sidearm. OK for attacking Tarantull corvettes. Launch Sidearm to take out Ak-630 CIWZ, then finish off Tarantul with IRMAV , bombs and GAU.

Props defeatist99 on that post. Learned something there for sure. Excellent information.

Thanks :smartass:

Thank you all for the input. I'll try around with it a bit more, I guess, see if there is method to the madness.

Only way to really fix it is to deselect the weapon with the numbered pylon buttons, then re-select it

No. Absolutely DO NOT turn the IR cool switch on.

 

1: You shouldn't be turning it on at all unless you have a system failure that prevent's the AIM-9 seeker head from cooling OR need to cool Aim-9's while on the ground for preflight checks.

 

2: You do not use them with sidearms. It will uncage the seeker head and cannot be returned to boresight.

 

3: When the sidearms are properly implemented number 2 will cause damage to the sidearm because it will allow the seeker head to repeatedly hit gimbal stops damaging the seeker.

 

2-153 in the AV-8B Tactical manual

The question is... is it actually implemented like this by Razbam or not? I do remember seeing some tutorials saying that Aim-9/Sidearm missiles cooling switch had to be on.

The question is... is it actually implemented like this by Razbam or not? I do remember seeing some tutorials saying that Aim-9/Sidearm missiles cooling switch had to be on.

I don't know if the gimbal damage has been implemented yet. But those tutorials are incorrect. A lot of those same tutorials also have you turn the manual fuzing knob which is also incorrect. You do not need to use the IR cool switch on either the sidearm or the AIM-9 either in game or real life.