Re: FT: Missiles and Gas Tanks

Phillip E. Pournelle wrote:

> >What do you military guys say - can an air-to-air missile run out of
> >fuel? How radical maneuvers is it capable of?

OK, and omitting all classy data (exact ranges, velocities etc)

The Nato Sea Sparrow Missile (RIM-7H) has the following profile:
In the first A seconds, the primary booster accelerates it up to B
m/sec. The sustainer then cuts in at the range of C, where it has enough
energy to tackle a target pulling D gee. The speed changes slowly to E,
at a range of F, when it can tackle a target pulling G gee. Finally, the
sustainer cuts out at a range of H, whereupon the missile decelerates to
I at a range of J, when it only has enough energy to hit a target
pulling K gee. After that, it's deemed to be pretty much inneffective
except against a slow, non-manouvering target.

Source: Raytheon publicity brochure illustration. The actual figurtes
depend on air temperature, pressure, altitude of target etc as well.

As the RIM-7H is basically a modified AIM-7H (ie an Air-to-Air missile)
the same principles apply. The big difference is that at sea-level, the
air is much thicker than at 30,000 ft, so the speed and range is
accordingly reduced.
 
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