AMRAAM Pilot Guide

Published on March 13th, 2010 21:06

When Should You Chuck Your Spears?

The goal when you shoot an AIM-120 is to be able to preserve range while
maintaining the highest probability of kill. To do so, you will have to use all
the tools at your disposal and a bit of sound logic! When talking about tools,
Im referring to the AMRAAM Dynamic Launch Zone (DLZ) and the Head-Up
Display (HUD) symbology modeled in BMS which is simulating current F-16
software.
1. A Bit of Theory
Before going into details about the avionics itself and the tactics to be
employed Ill give you first some theory about the AMRAAM and active
missiles in general.
The AMRAAM is an active missile which is considered to be
fire and forget. Thats not exactly true. The AIM-120 has its
own radar but this one is much smaller than the one of the
launching aircraft. So the range at which the missile will be able
to detect and lock a target will be smaller than the radar
detection range of the aircraft. However, the missile can be
launched from further away than its detection range. In this
case, the launching aircraft will have to send information to the
AMRAAM via datalink (or support the missile) about the target
position, aspect angle and speed until its own radar is able to
detect it by itself (missile becoming finally active). Once the
missile is active, you will be able to break track of the target
(which is called a 'snip') however thats not mandatory! Why
continue to support the missile if its active? Accuracy when
having 2 radars is always better than one!
The AIM-120 has 2 active states: HPRF (High Pulse
Repetition Frequency) and MPRF (Medium Pulse Repetition
Frequency). I wont go into details about these right here (it is
described below) but only know that HPRF will be used from
further away than MPRF and is less accurate concerning the
information about the target location. Anyway, you can snip the
target as soon as the missile is HPRF active or choose to
continue until MPRF active. This choice will depend on the
tactical situation and will be discussed later on.

When launching an AIM-120, this missile can end up with 2

different termination criteria. Whats a termination criteria? It
describes the kinetic energy and the maneuverability potential
the missile has to successfully intercept the target and
destroy/damage it. It can have High Termination Criteria
orNominal Termination Criteria. The latter means the
missile will have less energy and maneuverability thus less
probability to hit the target.
Sometimes, you will have to loft the missile to increase its
effectiveness. Lofting will be done via a small pitch up
maneuver of generally 30 to 40 just like when you want to
throw a stone the furthest away.
2. Hud Symbology: The Dynamic Launch Zone (DLZ)
What does it look like and whats the use of all these numbers and symbols?

RAERO (Range Aerodynamic): Represents the max kinematic range of the

missile thus the longest range shot having a chance to hit the target. This is
assuming the target won't maneuver, the pilot performs optimal loft/steering

and will result in Nominal Termination Criteria.

ROPT (Range Optimal): Basically the same as RAERO but with High
Termination Criteria this time.
RPI (Range Probability of Intercept): Same as ROPT but without having to loft
or make azimuth change. We still assume the target is non-maneuvering.
RTR (Range Turn and Run): Represents the max range shot assuming the
target turns away from you aircraft to tail aspect at launch.
RMIN (Range Minimum): Self-explanatory!
A-POLE: Range from your aircraft to the target when the missile will go
active (HPRF).
M-POLE: Same as A-POLE but MPRF active.
F-POLE: Range from your aircraft to the target when the missile will impact
the target.
DMC (Digital Maneuvering Cue): Represents the heading change the
target has to make to degrade the AMRAAM from high termination criteria to
nominal. This value will never exceed the AA (Aspect Angle) and the RTR cue
will grow up to this value.
For example:

Lets see all the possibilities we can encounter in flight.

When the target is beyond 125% of RAERO (unexpanded DLZ)

When the target is within 125% of RAERO (expanded DLZ :

Raero grows up to the former tick mark)

When the target is within ROPT

When the target is within high termination criteria of the

AMRAAM (RPI)

When the target is within the no-escape zone of the AMRAAM

(RTR)

Once youve launched a missile, the M-pole or F-pole of the missile in-flight
(depending if the missile is already MPRF active or not) as well as the Time to
HPRF active or Time to MPRF active or Time to Impact will appear below the
DLZ. This is a dynamic countdown that will be updated if the target or your
aircraft maneuvers. Consider a shot taken at Ropt then you fly straight ahead
to the (maneuvering) target.

3. HUD Symbology: ASEC/ASC

Allowable Steering Error Circle (ASEC) The ASEC is a variable diameter circle
displayed on the HUD and MFD when an AIM-120 is the selected weapon,
sighting option is Slave, and a bugged target exists. The weapon status must
be RDY or SIM (Master ARM in ARM or SIM) in order for the ASEC/ASC and
DLZ to appear. If there is no bugged target, the AIM-120 Boresight reticle will
be displayed. The ASEC is an aid for positioning the attack steering cue in
order to take the best shot possible based on the steering. At target ranges

from outside Raero to Ropt, the ASEC is its smallest size, 11mr radius. At
Ropt, the ASEC begins to grow in size until target range reaches Rpi where it
reaches its maximum size (the ASEC represents 45 degrees of allowable
steering error at Rpi). From Rpi to midpoint Rtr, the ASEC remains its largest
size, at which point it begins to shrink again until it reaches minimum size at
Rmin. The ASEC flashes when the target range is within the maneuver zone.
The ASECs variable radius varies from 11mr to 56mr with a slaved target. For
a bore shot, the radius is static at 131mr (262mr diameter). The ASEC on the
MFD is identical in function.
Attack Steering Cue (ASC) The ASC (8 mr diameter circle in the HUD, 10
pixel radius circle on the MFD) provides several types of steering: horizontal
aircraft steering, a blend of aircraft and missile steering, optimal missile
steering (with horizontal and vertical missile steering), or Rmin steering
(shortest LOS to the target). The type of steering provided is a function of
range to the target. Horizontal aircraft steering is provided against targets
beyond 1.2 X Raero (where Raero is the maximum kinematic range of the
missile) and is based on the limits of the ASEC and a 45 degress LOS to target
limit. Blended aircraft and missile steering is provided for target ranges
between 1.2 Raero and Raero. Inside Raero, the steering provides optimal
horizontal and vertical missile steering. Once inside mid-point Rtr (half-way in
the maneuver zone), the ASC provides Rmin steering. The pilot follows the
ASC cue by rolling until the cue is on the HUD centerline above the center
position of the ASEC and then pulls the aircraft (if commanded) to put the
ASC in the center of the ASEC. When the target range is greater than Raero, a
limit cross (X) is displayed inside the ASC to indicate that an AIM-120 shot
does not exist even if the pilot performed a loft maneuver. The limit cross will
also be displayed when the required lead angle exceeds 60 degrees, even if
the target is nominally in range. Neither the ASEC nor ASC are displayed on
the HUD in DGFT mode.
The following diagram sums ASC/ASEC relationship to the DLZ and the type of
steering provided.

4. HPRF vs MPRF, A/F-pole cues & Missile Datalink

This version of BMS features a major revision of the AMRAAM DLZ A/F-pole
cues and associated range and timing readouts. HUD, HMS and FCR displays
now all include updated A/F pole cues. In addition, the AMRAAM loft cue was
moved (look above Raero caret) to make room for the new Digital
Manuevering Cue (DMC) (shown above the target closure value by the range
indicator >). The radar model for AMRAAMs now includes HPRF (Husky) mode
for favorable target geometries. The missile will activate the seeker well
before the normal MPRF (Pitbull) range and attempt to track. HPRF is better
at tracking high aspect targets with high closing range rate. Datalink guidance
will continue up to MPRF unless the pilot commands a snip (drops the radar
track) before that time. During HPRF with host (aircraft) DL guidance, the
missile will use the best tracking solution available (either seeker or host DL
guidance). HPRF and MPRF activation are now entirely based on range to
target (it used to be time-to-run based). Ranges coded are rough guesses for
the AIM-120B. Other (active radar) missiles will need specific dat file edits
(the AA-12 has been done already).

The pilot can now select the RCS size on the AMRAAM's SMS page. Options
are small, medium, large or unknown. Note: you can select SMALL in the SMS
page but doing so doesn't make a lot of sense in Falcon 4 since this is
apparently intended for targeting small RCS targets although it might be
useful against helicopters. If you do choose small, MPRF ranges are reduced
by around a third compared to MED.
HUD A/F pole cues are provided for pre-launch and post-launch. Post-launch
cues are relative to winning Missile-Of-Interest (MOI) for the current bugged
target. Changing the bug in TTS or TWS will provide A/F pole cues for the
MOI for each if missiles are in flight to both. Time remaining cues are
provided for the MOI for the current bugged target. This can show "A" (time
to HPRF), "M" (time to MPRF), "T" (time to intercept) or "L" (time to
termination; basically missile time of flight remaining). Note that this timer is
more persistent than before. Its dynamic for bugged target and a winning
MOI. For a winning missile where you lost track or snipped, the count
becomes a simple stop watch. One note of caution: its not a bug that the
timer doesn't count down in linear fashion for a bugged target with an active
DL missile. The time to intercept is calculated dynamically and takes target
maneuver into account so its perfectly reasonable for that count to increase
even in some cases.
Missile datalink has been fixed to allow you to support up to six missiles in
flight. AMRAAMs may be fired on up to two targets (TTS) or up to six targets
(TWS). You can get A/F pole and time remaining data for all six missiles if you
have six in flight and provided that their intended targets are still present on
the FCR as track files.
There is also a bug fix for bogus clearing of target when you flip between
override modes or SMS changes from one missile type to another while you
have a bugged target now the lock is maintained. There is also a fix for

datalink previously last slammer was never provided with any datalink
guidance making it significantly worse in performance compared to a missile
fired with more of the same (slammer) type left on the rail.
5. Tactics - Some Basics
This section is not intended to go into a full BVR employment discussion, but
at least provide you with some very basics on how to tactically apply the tools
you learned above. Lets see what you can do to maximize the probability of kill
while staying alive! Lets play it safe by learning first how to survive the threat. For
this purpose well take as example a Mig-29A playing the threat equipped with AA10A missiles. Let's assume the maximum kinematic range of this missile while
launched around 25,000 ft and subsonic is around 18 NM against a head-on fighter.
Less aspect angle will subsequently decrease the first launch opportunity (FLO). To
survive this missile launch, the simplest solution is simply to avoid this max
kinematic range by turning away from the MiG.
Does it mean that you have to turn @ 18 nm from the MiG? No! The kinematic
range takes into account that the fighter will continue straight ahead until missile
impact. So the distance the missile will have to fly will be less than 18 nm. Actually,
if you turn away from the MiG at or beyond 13 NM, the missile will never catch you
and will fall behind you. This distance at which you have to turn cold (13 NM in this
example) is called MAR - Minimum Abort Range.

The way you have to abort is simple: you obviously want to avoid being hit by the
missile so put your nose down and try to keep the maximum speed you can while
turning away from the threat as fast as you can. A split-S maneuver can also work,
but there could be consequences for trading too much altitude for airspeed (for
example you may not want to do this if there is a MANPAD threat at lower altitudes).
Anyway, watch your Gs and dont over-g your aircraft! Gs should be around 5 to 6.
This will give you a good turn rate while preserving some speed.
Still alive? OK then we continue! From the theory we learned, we know that the
maximum probability of kill of the AMRAAM happens when its launched as close as
possible from RTR (or even within RTR) and when the missile is MPRF active. The
goal will then be to have an AMRAAM in flight MPRF active before 13 NM as we will
abort at that range if we are spiked or shot at. How do we do that? We will look to
the Pre-launch M-pole displayed on the left of the DLZ when inside Ropt and shoot

not later than 13M! When approaching 13 NM from the MiG, the Time to MPRF
Active should read M00 meaning the missile is MPRF active. So you can snip the
target (break radar lock) and perform the abort.
Happy Chucking!
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