Missile question
Discussion
Whilst watching "Behind enemy lines " the other night I had to wonder about missiles and range. Now in the film the pilot flies on for another 5 mins being chased by a pair. How much range does an average missile have, it flies pretty quick so I would imagine it to run out of juice after a few miles ?
Back of an envelope maths for a Buk, lots of generalisation:
Missile travels at mach 4 = 3000mph (assumes at sea level, immediate acceleration)
Vertical range = 35,000 feet = 6 miles
Lateral range = ~30 miles
Straight line range = 30.6 miles
Time = 37 seconds
However... longer range SAMs like the Russian S-400 can supposedly go 250 miles, at not much faster speed, so it's probably possible, if not very exciting.
Missile travels at mach 4 = 3000mph (assumes at sea level, immediate acceleration)
Vertical range = 35,000 feet = 6 miles
Lateral range = ~30 miles
Straight line range = 30.6 miles
Time = 37 seconds
However... longer range SAMs like the Russian S-400 can supposedly go 250 miles, at not much faster speed, so it's probably possible, if not very exciting.
Depends entirely on the weapon system, there are Air-to-Air missiles with huge range and SAM's with huge range. It's entirely feasable for a missile to have such range. Though, being Hollywood there's always "artistic licnese". 
The US Pheonix missile which was only ever used by the F-14 had a claimed range of 100 miles. Then you get Sidewinders which had a range of 7-9 miles. For SAM's, again there are those with tiny ranges of 3 miles or less, and thoe which a range well in excess of 50-60 miles.
The US Pheonix missile which was only ever used by the F-14 had a claimed range of 100 miles. Then you get Sidewinders which had a range of 7-9 miles. For SAM's, again there are those with tiny ranges of 3 miles or less, and thoe which a range well in excess of 50-60 miles.
ph1l5 said:
Whilst watching "Behind enemy lines " the other night I had to wonder about missiles and range. Now in the film the pilot flies on for another 5 mins being chased by a pair. How much range does an average missile have, it flies pretty quick so I would imagine it to run out of juice after a few miles ?
Its a movie AshVX220 said:
Beaten to it with a more comprehensive response too!
Wasn't aware of the range of an S-400, impressive, though identifying targets accurately at 250 miles must be a challenge.
A wide area of networked radar, I suppose? Presumably in that kind of system there's also ongoing communication with the missile, rather than fire and forget, but I don't know.Wasn't aware of the range of an S-400, impressive, though identifying targets accurately at 250 miles must be a challenge.
Remember a large number of missile will simply loft themselves, the propellant expended after a short period of time. (In particular A-A missiles). It will then use its kinetic energy to intercept the target.
The motor burn duration may be quite short, but it will likely be travelling quite a high mach number once the burn is complete. (Additional benefit from this is there is no visible smoke trail to identify the incoming missile. In the case of a A-A missile, it will often only activate its internal radar in the terminal phase to make detection that much bit harder)
The motor burn duration may be quite short, but it will likely be travelling quite a high mach number once the burn is complete. (Additional benefit from this is there is no visible smoke trail to identify the incoming missile. In the case of a A-A missile, it will often only activate its internal radar in the terminal phase to make detection that much bit harder)
ph1l5 said:
Whilst watching "Behind enemy lines " the other night I had to wonder about missiles and range. Now in the film the pilot flies on for another 5 mins being chased by a pair. How much range does an average missile have, it flies pretty quick so I would imagine it to run out of juice after a few miles ?
It's fun Hollywood popcorn for the brain, but in real life, utter chod, I'm afraid. The missile in question is a short range IR missile, fired from what looks like an SA-13. Max range is about 5000m. Once launched, any target would need to stay inside the missile's (fairly narrow) field of view. Typical engagement times are really just a few seconds.Zulu 10 said:
Using words like “agile” and “manoeuvrable” to define a missile's capability is all very well, but tends to ignore the fact that during its time of flight the missile has a finite, and decaying, combination of potential (height) and kinetic (speed) of energy with which to reach its intended target.
The same as it's target then...mebe said:
A-A Missiles are typically way more agile than their targets - at least an order of magnitude.
S-A would depend on size.
Sure about that?S-A would depend on size.
A Sidewinder flies at mach 2.5, a target say at 500 knots. The target does a 4 g turn. The Sidewinder can pull lots more g say 35g, but because of its greater speed its turning circle is much wider (cant be bothered to work out the sums) and if the target turns one way and then the other the missile will try and lead both times so.....
Penguinracer said:
The SR-71's ability to evade SAMs due to a combination of speed (M3.2+) & altitude (80,000+ ft) proves that missiles could be outrun & out-distanced.
I recall reading somewhere that over 4,000 missiles had been unsuccessfully launched against the SR-71.
An A-12 was hit by a by a missile over N Vietnam in '67. It didn't down it obviously but probably raised a few eyebrows. I recall reading somewhere that over 4,000 missiles had been unsuccessfully launched against the SR-71.
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