Missiles Kinematics – Part I: Time Factor and Loft

One of the issues of making a video based mostly on charts, is how the details can be lost due to the size of the screens. To help you with this, I have collected all the charts I created in two articles, so you can expand them, and check their details.

Part I: The Time Factor

This video introduces the reasoning behind observing the kinematic properties of missiles against time, rather than distance.

Impact Speed [kts] vs Range [nm]

Extract from the WEZ Tool I released in February. More information in this article.

Time [s] vs Speed [kts]

Time [s] vs Distance [nm]

Part II: AIM-7s, AIM-54, AIM-120C-5, and Loft

The second video focused on versions of the AIM-7 Sparrow, the AIM-54 Phoenix and the most recent version of the AMRAAM available in DCS: the AIM-120C-5.
In particular, the videos show how the AIM-120C-5 is enabled at medium range by manual loft, making it more performant than the AIM-54 Phoenix up to 50nm.
The latter part of the video shows whether increasing speed or increasing altitude have the greatest effect on missiles’ performance.

AIM-120C-5, Standard Employment.

No loft, comparison with the AIM-54C Phoenix. Speed [kts] / Distance [kts] vs Time [s].

AIM-120C-5, Manual Loft.

15° manual loft, comparison with the AIM-54C Phoenix. Speed [kts] / Distance [kts] vs Time [s].

AIM-120C-5, High and Fast.

Test to show the effects of higher altitude and speed on the envelope: 45,000ft; M1.21.
Speed [kts] / Distance [kts] vs Time [s].

AIM-7 E2/F/P, Standard Employment

The E-2 version had a solid rocket motor, the F and P a dual-thrust solid rocket motor. Moreover, in DCS, MH/P have the best CM resistance, followed by F/M, and eventually the E-2.
Speed [kts] / Distance [kts] vs Time [s].

AIM-7 E2/F/P vs AIM-54

The AIM-54, with its rocket motor more or less dating back to the AIM-7E-2 era, is considered a slow missile. This chart compares the AIM-7s vs an AIM-54 launched within 20nm.
Speed [kts] / Distance [kts] vs Time [s].

AIM-54C, Loft Effect

Tested at 60nm, these charts show the effects of lofting the AIM-54.
Speed [kts] / Distance [kts] vs Time [s].

AIM-54C, Higher Launch Speed

These charts show the effects of employing at M1.15 rather than M1. Speed [kts] / Distance [kts] vs Time [s].

AIM-54C, Higher And Faster

Combining high altitude (45,000ft) and higher speed, has drastic effects on the Phoenix. However, since the target is still flying at 35,000ft, a considerable amount of energy is wasted in the dive.
Speed [kts] / Distance [kts] vs Time [s].

AIM-54C, Long-Range Employment

In this scenario, the target is 80nm from the launching F-14. The difference in employing at 40,000ft vs 35,000ft is clearly shown by these charts.
Speed [kts] / Distance [kts] vs Time [s].