AGM-122 sidearm seeker question

Does anyone know what the sidearm's max range is?

Edit- found it in this link: https://www.onwar.com/weapons/rocket/missiles/USA_AGM122.html

Looks like max range is 17 Km about 10.5 miles.

Can the Sidearm be used against enemy aircraft painting you (like the R-27EP)?

Guessing not cause of the radar bands, but still?

Supposedly it can see SA-8 and ZSU-23 emissions (7-15GHz). Most fighter radars fall between 9 and 13GHz. So it should be able to see them.

However, as I mentioned earlier, it probably doesn't perform well against a radar that is scanning. I think for there to be a chance of homing in properly, the fighter radar would need to be locked on to you. It would also only be a forward aspect missile.

It for sure uses PN guidance, just like the AIM-9M. It needs to have a similar fuse as well (IDK if it does or not). If it doesnt have a fuse, then you could probably lock on and launch the missile but considering it uses PN guidance with a 20Hz conical scan seeker in a head on engagement, it will probably miss the target. That scan rate is too low IMO considering the high closure rate between the missile and the target for it to directly hit the aircraft.

For those naysayers, who think that because the missile isnt meant to hit air radar that it cant, here's a good read on its much more sophisticated predecessor hitting a B-52 tail gunner radar.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/10314/the-time-a-f-4g-wild-weasels-anti-radiation-missile-blew-apart-a-b-52s-tail

EDIT: in case it wasn't clear. the AGM-122 was not designed to hit airborne radars. The real question is what measures were put in place to physically prevent the seeker from tracking an airborne emission, if any? In all likely hood, I think the aircraft using it did their best to stay out of any airborne fight. So i doubt it has any measures to prevent the A2A engagement, because the helo or strike pilot was the biggest denier of an air engagment.

You know we're gonna try it anyway :D

+1

If you want some antenna theory direct from the US Navy they have a book on radar and electronic warfare that is unclassified at http://www.navair.navy.mil/nawcwd/ewssa/downloads/NAWCWD%20TP%208347.pdf

At page 76 starts the theory of antennas and radio wave reception.

if this thing is not produced anymore, what do harriers use as ARMs?

Nothing, according to the manuals. The only AGMs mentioned there are the 65-series and the 122. Wikipedia claims that it can carry the AGM-88, but without any official info I'd be sceptical of these claims.

if this thing is not produced anymore, what do harriers use as ARMs?

Nothing. They are not rated to use HARMs. Instead they are now using advanced ECM pods. The latest one is the AN/ALQ-231 Intrepid Tiger II, that has evolved from a communications jammer to a full spectrum jammer (radar and radio). In this way it can provide the same ECM coverage of an EA-6B Prowler.

https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/systems/an-alq-231.htm

That's a dangerous thing to say, it implies things that aren't true :D

In this way it can provide the same ECM coverage of an EA-6B Prowler.

That's a dangerous thing to say, it implies things that aren't true :D

Since the Intrepid Tiger II is a current heavily classified system, we do not know what its current capabilities are. We do know that the USMC wants it to be a full spectrum jammer so they can retire their EA-6B fleet. The IT II is being fielded as we speak.

The USMC requested the upgrade in 2013 and now we are in 2017. It is possible that now they have their full spectrum jammer pod. Specially since it seems all it requires is a software upgrade.

I'm not seeing this on the pre-order page. Is this something that's being added later?

I'm not seeing this on the pre-order page. Is this something that's being added later?

Just an error. The missile will be available on day one.

Nothing, according to the manuals. The only AGMs mentioned there are the 65-series and the 122. Wikipedia claims that it can carry the AGM-88, but without any official info I'd be sceptical of these claims.

Everything I find says the AV-8B can carry the AGM-88. Heres one link for example https://www.military.com/equipment/av-8b-harrier-ii

Is the AGM-88 going to come out for the AV-8B (DCS) as well? I hope so :)

The AV-8B never carried either harpoons or HARMs.

The AV-8B+ is apparently capable, but that's not the jet we have.

The AV-8B never carried either harpoons or HARMs.

 

The AV-8B+ is apparently capable, but that's not the jet we have.

Boeing BAE AV8B Harrier II - NATO

PDFhttps://jfcbs.nato.int › file_download

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It can though... everything out there says the AV-8B (NOT plus) can carry it.

 

Boeing BAE AV8B Harrier II - NATO

PDFhttps://jfcbs.nato.int › file_download

 

 

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Having a hard time with the site you listed now. But the site you listed before, which does show HARM and Harpoon capability also shows compatibility with the AMRAAM. So at least one of the sites you're referencing seems to be talking about the Plus and not the Night Attack.

Having a hard time with the site you listed now. But the site you listed before, which does show HARM and Harpoon capability also shows compatibility with the AMRAAM. So at least one of the sites you're referencing seems to be talking about the Plus and not the Night Attack.

I uploaded the file from the second post.

Here you can see how they separate the AMRAAM as a plus only feature but they do not do that with any other weapon.

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https://cloud.tapatalk.com/s/5a2f776256a77/Boeing__BAE_AV8B_Harrier_II.pdf

Boeing__BAE_AV8B_Harrier_II.pdf

If you sourced some official manufacturer/navy documentation instead of a PDF based on an online magazine and wikipedia RAZBAM might be more inclined to take it seriously.

If you sourced some official manufacturer/navy documentation instead of a PDF based on an online magazine and wikipedia RAZBAM might be more inclined to take it seriously.

I found this but it doesn't list anything about SEAD weapons at all.

(Added the full doc as well looks like it has good info in there. From Naval Air Systems Command)

201968990-av-8b.rar

That's out of the actual aircraft manual. And it's why you don't see an 88.

That's out of the actual aircraft manual. And it's why you don't see an 88.

Also don't see the AGM-122...

The 2002 TACMAN details the Sidearm and how to employ it.

The 2002 TACMAN details the Sidearm and how to employ it.

So, does the sidearm need IR cool or not?

I know it doesn't have an IR detector, but is the IR cooling activation used to cool down its antirad seeker electronics?

Also, why is the external texture showing something like an IR seeker nose on the ingame sidearm? Every photo of the sidearm I saw has the nose of the missile painted the same color as the body. Any plans on changing this?