True, it is much harder to notch/avoid at closer ranges due to the faster acceleration, higher top speed and better maneuverability, but it will always be worse at BVR than the AIM120.
The grid fins should give better low speed responsiveness, bit that doesn’t have much use unless the missile is at the edge of its envelope (speeds below mach 1) and the target aircraft evades at the last moment. Any other missile would be reliant on the aircraft flying Into the misisle, whereas the R77 could still make one more effective manuver to hit the target.
I don’t think that is currently modeled in warthunder.
Yep, which is why I believe the grid fins have the drag modeled, but the missile lacks the benefit of effective low speed maneuverability it should have.
I didn’t quote out of context, I just agreed that it should perform better in those conditions. It currently doesn’t.
Your post is literally above mine. I only quoted part of your post because quoting the whole thing deletes the whole quote and leaves it as just a reply for some reason if posted…
The booster doesn’t use tbe grid fins except for re-entry and landing.
The grid fins help slow it down from high suborbital speeds and at high angles of attack. This prevents them from needing as much fuel to slow down before landing. Grid fins also require smaller actuators, saving weight. The other benefit is accuracy. The grid fins provide very high precision for ordnance such as the MOAB or R-77, and likewise allow SpaceX to land the booster on a boat in the water.
The use of the fin as an airbrake and to slow the rocket down demanded different grid shape than what is seen on the R-77 which benefits much in the same way - but optimized the grid for low drag rather than higher drag.
In response to a question about the future of American spaceflight, Elon Musk said that Boeing and Lockheed have relied too much on the Russian RD-180 engine.
