In coordination with my own testing of the New Trilogy Air Rules, I went beyond simple dogfights and cobbled together a old soviet-style attack on a battle group. In this case a squadron of 12x MiG-29 (4x R-77, 2x R-73) is attempting to sweep away opposition for a squadron of 12x Su-34, in the ASuW role.

 

I made a number of assumptions:

 

that the carrier's E-2C (high altitude) APS-138 would detect the "small" incoming MiG's (high altitude) @ 130nm.

 

that at least 4x F/A-18C would be vectored in to intercept.

 

that with the guidance of the E-2C, the F/A-18C's would get the "long range drop" on the MiG's with 1x AIM-120 per F/A-18C being launched first, at relative maximum range of at/close to 40nm.

 

that the MiG's would only detect the F/A-18's and their missiles in the next detection phase, everyone would move again (2nd Movement Phase), then the MiG's would let loose a salvo of R-77's, for arguments sake - 8x R-77.

 

While, per H4.1 Annex B, F-14's "can engage six different targets at once with AIM-54 Phoenix. Launch limited to two missiles per phase", I do not see any such explicit capability for the F/A-18C/APG-73/AIM-120 combo.

 

Now here comes the question; does/would the F/A-18C have the ability to engage multiple targets as the Tomcat could?

 

Thanks

I could be wrong, Pete, but I think "multiple simultaneous target" capability will come with the APG-79. The APG-73 now aboard the F/A-18C/D can engage multiple targets with the AIM-120 AMRAAM, but I don't think simultaneously. In other words, they can shoot one missile after another at sequential targets, relying on the AMRAAM's "fire and forget" capability.

I could be wrong, Pete, but I think "multiple simultaneous target" capability will come with the APG-79. The APG-73 now aboard the F/A-18C/D can engage multiple targets with the AIM-120 AMRAAM, but I don't think simultaneously. In other words, they can shoot one missile after another at sequential targets, relying on the AMRAAM's "fire and forget" capability.

 

So each of the four F/A-18C's can fire, for example, one, or two AIM-120 at a single specific or designated target, then in the next fire phase, can launch a second AIM-120 at a different oncoming target.

 

Thanks Brad.

Received via email direct from L. Bond.

 

"Pete, AFAIK the APG-65 and upgraded APG-73 can engage only one target at a time. But AMRAAM has a launch and leave capability, which allows a plane to launch one missile every 15 seconds (two missiles per 30-second move phase), and each missile can be sent against a different target. Once in the air, the missiles would receive updates from the radar, and as stated in High Tide, the guidance system can handle 8 airborne missiles at once.

 

I hope this helps. Let me know how the scenario goes.

 

Larry"

 

Boy this may change the dynamic!

Isn't that what I said ?

Isn't that what I said ?

 

Yes, but while you may be a "harpoon admiral" in our eyes, he is "CNO".

ROFL. Right you are, sir, right you are.