Depends on the situation. Might start around 20km to force them defensive early. Depends on what they’re doing and how many other targets are around them.
The weaker engines of the Su-30SM tend to put you behind your faster teammates, so also depends on what your teammates are doing.
Inside 20km if there’s room to breathe.
And then sometimes they get in early outside that 20km and plans have to change, have to retaliate and defend, before turning back in. Which can mean the R-27 is the 3rd missile instead of the 2nd.
Sometimes they turn around and run, so swap to IRST if you can and run them down.
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On 20km R-77-1 does not suffer from inferior range.
I would say that AIM-120 is not pulling past R-77-1 on those ranges…
If the target is notching properly it is safe. If it doesn’t it is dead either way.
20Km is nothing.
The motor burns out after around ~5km, where its very easy to bleed of all its speed by defensive flying.
If they aren’t defending, then they’re afk. Or worse.
But again, its not there to kill them, its there to make them vulnerable to the R-27’s.
Not really an issue at a mere 20km.
Biggest advantage of R-77-1 is being able to pressure people at 35+ km just like AIM-120 while being a pretty much guaranteed kill at shorter ranges where AIM-120 wont be able to compete.
Yes … Yes … But I’m gonna do it anyways because it’s fun …
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Which part is not an issue?
You are really doing something wrong.
The burn time of the motor.
Killing enemies the “wrong” way is certainly an interesting take
The issue is you telling me R-77-1 has range issues because you do not rely on them on range but favour using R-27ER which on that range can easily get you shot down.
R-27ER having the best range does not mean R-77-1 is doing worse than AIM-120 in any way.
In the end we are talking about efficiency. There certainly are ways to be less efficient.
It has energy issues, everyone knows that.
I am using them at range. And at those ranges they can be easily countered. And by countering them, the enemy is putting themselves in vulnerable states against other missiles like R-27’s.
Which because of the stronger source radar and mid-course correction via the datalink, not as easy to notch/chaff as the Fox3’s.
Sure, you could followup with another R-77-1, and they can counter that. And another, which they can counter. Until you’re close enough for an R-73. But you save a lot of time by just killing them with an R-27.
At 20Km a AIM-7F is dangerous…
Your scope is off.
We were talking about AIM-120 what does R-27ER have to do with it?
If they dodge R-77-1 at 20Km they could dodge R-27 as well. It all depends wether someone is shooting back at you.
The point is 20Km is way below the ranges were you would have to wonder wether R-77-1 or AIM-10A/B have more enegery.
There’s also the added benefit of hiding the R-27ER launch warning behind the R-77’s launch warning.
You should try it.
Like I said, 20km is if there’s room to breathe to get in close. No point firing too far away if you can get closer safely.
Fire too early and you’re too far away to really press the advantage, so you have to keep firing to keep them defensive as you close the distance.
I’m not saying it wont work but it has little to do with the compasison we were making.
Additionally it depends wether you could kill more aircraft with R-77-1 only than with using R-27ER as well as R-77-1 on a single target.
You might secure this kill with another R-77-1 if needed or just use it for another target while also staying more safe.
You lose on oppdoetunities because you waste to much killing potential on a single aircraft which you might not even have to do while exposing your aircraft due to the pd lock you habe to keep going.
This is a topic of it’s own of course.
BTW, recently been using Kh-38MTs and I feel like they can lock and track tanks through smoke.
Haven’t done proper testing in custom battles though.
@MythicPi Perhaps something you can do if you have someone to test it with …
Personally 20Km is not the range at which I pressure people. I do it earlier. At 20km you are getting close to not being able to dodge.
Once again the same discussion guys? XD