| in a small article on either JED or Janes, there was a short one or two sentences that said Raytheon is developing a lock on after launch mode for the Sidewinder.
What would be the benefits of this? With a missile designed for high off boresight engagements, combined with a helmet mounted cue, you would already have the capability for a first hit at a passing target, and a second hit should the target evade it.
Would a LOAL mode allow for a scenario such as, within visual range, as a target aircraft is approaching, the missile leaves the rail and is basically lingering in the air a ways away, neutral, until the pilot locks it on to the passing aircraft, at which point it makes its high G turn back at the target? Does the pilot have the ability to acquire a lock once its gone? Or is it merely an addition to give the Sidewinder extra range: fire it out there in the general direction of an approaching target and let it find the aircraft on its own, turning it into another BVR weapon?
Would a LOAL mode give the new Sidewinder a slight edge over the Python 4?? |
