Close missile evasion
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Checking the tape of my last flights wingman missile, i don’t know whether AI had luck or skill.
The manoever and the timing is really awesome, follow the AIM-120C of Panther 12 (my AI wingman).
The missile gets launched around 1:54. it is 2000ft away from target (Su27) at 2:43 and ends at 2:57https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzHyxtkk-Tj_eEpVME01aXh6MG8/view?usp=sharing
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The missile was clearly separated from your wingman at 18.2 NM from the Su-27. The Su-27 wasn’t flying directly at your wingman the entire time and once the missile got to just under 7 NM the Su-27 went to actively defending the missile. The Su-27 only depended on chaff, engine muscle, and the last second pull up to defeat the missile versus adding in an S turn as well so combine a low PK shot from your wingman and a small bit of luck for the Su-27 (never pointing directly at your wingman for reduced range) for a failed intercept.
Also at 2:43 the missile was 2,516 feet away from the Su-27 and it’s speed was already down to 706 knots CAS and dropping while the Su-27 was at 568 knots CAS and climbing. By the time the Su-27 really got into the vertical and the AMRAAM tried to follow the maneuver the Su-27 was already moving faster than the AMRAAM.
So yeah the title of “close missile evasion” isn’t actually correct in this case. I’ve watched enemy AI pull this last second climb into the vertical stunt thousands of times. If your AI had waited longer for a higher PK shot it would have worked. Any time I’ve made a Rtr distance shot and the AI has tried this evade it never works. Obviously you don’t need to drive all the way in to Rtr range for the missile to have enough energy to still score a kill. 20+ miles away from a fighter that, at least partially, correctly responded to the threat isn’t going to cut it though.