Issue Shooting at Supersonic Targets

[DWReese]

I have two units with Aster 30 SAAM FR/IT, slightly off-center, protecting a hanger, and shooting at CH-SSC-13 Splinter CJ-100.

If the SAMs are lined up perfectly with the target (in other words the incoming missiles are heading for the target and the SAM is directly in line) then everything works great. Since the targets are coming directly toward the SAM (and the target), this is fine.

But, in the example that I have provided, the SAM units are slightly off-center from the target. When this happens, it rarely (if ever) works. As you will see, the SAMs just fly right on by.

I have tried to vary the firing distances to see if a shorter distance would make a difference. It doesn't. The only way that it works is if it is in direct line missile to target, with SAM in between.

As you can see, the SAMs fire, and fly toward the incoming missiles, but they don't engage. They fly right on by

Missed.zip

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[DWReese]

One of the issues that I see with this is the fact that a missed SAM shot (which never engaged) continues to fly beyond the target missiles, and this continued existence of the SAMs restricts the SAM launcher from firing any more weapons until the original group of SAMs has run out of fuel.

I believe that this is true for all of the SAMs in the game.

[tylerblakebrandon]

To paraphrase Dr. Alex Clarke (check out his YouTube). We've spent decades building missile systems that protect you and the thing right behind you. The Red Sea actions have shown that we haven't done so well building missile systems that protect that thing over there.

[thewood1]

Its all about angles. The devs have said years ago that deflection shooting is murder in ABM engagements. And real world testing has shown that to be absolutely true.

[DWReese]

Thanks for the feedback.

Just to be clear, this wasn't an ABM issue. These were supersonic missiles (traveling at 3000kt) and coming in straight, but they were relatively level and at about 5000 feet. The problem was not what the SAMs were shooting at. It's true they were fast, but the problem was the attempts to engage the targets once the SAMs arrived.

If the SAM isn't on the same perpendicular axis as the incoming missile, then the angle is slightly off. If so, then the bullseye appears to be misplaced. When the SAMs arrive at the bullseye, there are no incoming missiles present, usually because they have passed that location.

If, however, the SAM is on the same perpendicular axis, then it can acquire the target properly from the beginning. I have also noticed that this particular SAM has a maximum distance of 60nm, and if you withhold fire until it is 30 nms or less, then you have a much better chance of hitting something. The further away that the missile is, the less chance that the SAM has of acquiring it.

The problem with employing that tactic is, by withholding fire, you then only get off one shot (engagement), and if you didn't kill all of the missiles, then you're dead.

SAM engagements made from the same perpendicular axis will usually destroy all 8 missiles. SAM engagements made from off of the perpendicular axis will be lucky to hit even one, and that results in 7 hits on your defended position.

This is likely a speed-enhanced issue as far as targeting is concerned. As you pointed out, it does have the same characteristics as those ABM intercept issues from before, but this occurs much closer to the ground. It's the same concept, though. Speed kills, as they say.

[DWReese]

A work around is to place the SAM unit directly on top of the target. By doing this, all of the attacks are made in the same axis as the incoming track unless, of course, you had multiple shooters from two different locations. By placing the SAM on top of the target, it works almost every time.