SAM kills 15nm past "max" range

[maverick3320]

Playing the scenario Polar Glory. I just had a Mig-25 Foxbat shot down by a MIM-14b Nike Hercules SAM 15nm past the maximum range as stated in game data and on the screen.

Bug or feature? Save attached.

[maverick3320]

So I re-loaded the 20 sec autoplay, replayed it...and the SAM proceeded to kill the Foxbat 26nm past it's stated range.

[Dimitris]

(AFK so cannot check the save ATM)

Feature

All AAW missiles can travel slightly further away than their nominal range, especially against a cooperative target (high, fast, incoming, non-maneuvering etc.). They don't just drop from the sky once they reach an arbitrary range value (looking at you, many oh so many modern warfare-themed games); they still have some kinetic energy at their disposal in order to defeat the target's evasion attempt.

They do have a built-in endurance limit, not only from their stall speed but also the duration of their internal consumables (battery, hydraulics, lubrication etc.), which takes this "nominal plus a little bit" flight duration into account.

If anyone sees something else wierd, do let us know.

[maverick3320]

(AFK so cannot check the save ATM)

Feature

All AAW missiles can travel slightly further away than their nominal range, especially against a cooperative target (high, fast, incoming, non-maneuvering etc.). They don't just drop from the sky once they reach an arbitrary range value (looking at you, many oh so many modern warfare-themed games); they still have some kinetic energy at their disposal in order to defeat the target's evasion attempt.

They do have a built-in endurance limit, not only from their stall speed but also the duration of their internal consumables (battery, hydraulics, lubrication etc.), which takes this "nominal plus a little bit" flight duration into account.

If anyone sees something else wierd, do let us know.

Sure, I understand....but I feel like this is a bit, exceptional? The stated range is 80nm, and at 95nm from the launcher the missile was still traveling at 1500+ knots at a target running away at full burner (920kts?). I re-loaded and enabled auto defensive maneuvers, and the SAM, even at 20nm past stated range, maneuvered tightly by changing it's heading by 200 degrees and then hit the Fulcrum, which was turning tightly in a defensive circle.

If the explanation is the Nike Hercules missile is somehow built differently than other missiles, I guess I can buy that. But watching a 60's-era SAM have a 50% hit probability well outside of it's range, and still able to maneuver, while AMRAAM Ds seem to have less than 50% of their "game" range, is a bit tough to swallow.

[Dimitris]

Is the save you uploaded "after the fact", per chance? I am not seeing the shot that you are describing.

[PN79]

In my opinion the problem with Nike Hercules is that in game it works as SARH missile but in reality it is command guided.

These guidances behaves significantly differently at longer ranges so while Nike Hercules can be quite precise at short range it loses its precision very significantly with more distance to the target and at its maximum range is completely unusable unless atomic warhead is used.

SARH on the other hand is much more consistent with its precision even at longer ranges.

But the only solution to this would be adding proper SAM command guidance. This would also bring changes in a way jamming of command guided missiles work.