AIM-9 sidewinder usage

[fulcrum28]

if I want to use AIM-9 missile manually,
first I need to assign the weapon to the target with SHIF+F1 key and after that, and because the effective range is 10nm or less,
I should manually move the aircraft to the rear to the target aircraft within 10nm then the missile automatically should ignite and start tracking the heat of the target?

[KnightHawk75]

Yup to you.
You don't have to manually assign it first, before you move the attacking aircraft where want it for the shot. You certainly could, and if NOT trying to micromanage the shot you can as shift-f1 is a manual attack order (all other things being equal - ie one of many doctrine setting is not otherwise restricting it from engaging). If you do, know however the first moment it's in-range and the dlz check is green it'll fire - no matter if your in the best position yet for the shot or not. Generally if I want to wait for specific location to make the shot from I'll wait till I micro the attacker into position before shift-f1'ing. If however I don't care where the shot is made from and I just want an attack using said weapons asap then I'll shift-f1 and pre-allocate so they go off the rail at the first available opportunity.

[Schr75]

I might also add that newer versions of the AIM-9 are all aspect, meaning that they can be fired at any angle to the target.

[fulcrum28]

thanks for your kind replies. Very useful information!