AFIntel
Posts: 157
Joined: 7/23/2002 From: Saginaw, TX Status: offline
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I know I'm late to the discussion and I think it was determined that an SA-8 didn't take out the HARM. The primary reasons why an SA-8 cannot target a HARM is: a. The radar cross section (RCS) of the HARM is generally too small for the LAND ROLL TTR to accurately track; and b. The GECKO missile is Radar Command Line of Sight (RCLOS)-guided. There is no seeker in the missile - it is guided via datalink. The radar and datalink use the same line of sight to the target. This means that at any point in the engagement, a straight line can be drawn from the radar, through the missile, to the target. The higher the target speed, the greater the G's the missile would have to pull to hit the target. As an analogy - think of a quarterback throwing a football to a crossing receiver at a full run 30 yards away. The QB throws at where the receiver WILL be when the ball arrives. With RCLOS, the QB would need a "magic football" because he would throw the ball to the spot where the receiver IS NOW, and have to steer the football as it approaches the receiver. If you traced the path of the ball, it would be a giant arc that increases its curve as it approaches the receiver. But, like I said, I think y'all already determined it wasn't a GECKO. We now return to our regularly scheduled forum post, already in progress... quote:
ORIGINAL: mikeCK I have a mechanical question. I sent a flight of F-18s and and EA-6B to take out a Sam radar. I fired about 4 HARM missles. As they approached, the SAM site started firing SAM missiles at the HARMs and destroyed all of them. I wasn't aware that there was a land based SAM That was capable of taking out a small missile moving that fast. I mean, the HARM isn't a cruise missile or harpoon. It's small and fast. I just don't think that should be possible....am I wrong? Not sure what type of SAM it was...gecko maybe?
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