Disclaimer: This will continue to be a WIP, any feedback is gladly accepted. I will be adding all possible data missile by missile.
IR Guided (In game)
RB-24:
Sister-model: AIM-9B
Firing aspect: Rear-Aspect
Burn time: 2-2.5 seconds
G-Overload: 10G
Max speed (ground level flight): Mach 1.7
Ideal firing range (Supersonic target): 1km
Ideal firing range (Subsonic target/compressed/low energy): 2-2.5km
History:
The RB-24 is a direct copy of the AIM-9B sidewinder, being bought, studied, then produced under license in the 1950’s and produced by SAAB for their aircraft. The most notable airframes being the J29F Tunnan, the J32B Lansen, J35 Adam and David Draken. These were also usable on the later Viggen models, however, in a wartime scenario, the RB-24J’s would be favored on later Draken and Viggen models.
Seems like it wasn’t ever even mocked up, as Sweden left the project in 87’ but I can add it. It was a SAAB private venture, after the FMV left the project.
But if Id hazard a guess. I would say that the RB73 was ARH given that it was being developed alongside the Active version of the regular Skyflash. But that could be competely wrong
Possibly, I mean, historically speaking, for the size of the missile and tech, it would have been extremely advanced for a missile at the time, the AIM-120 only entered service in 1991, which isn’t even hypersonic.
It would also make sense considering it ended in the production of the Meteor. Issue is, did it start as the SARH seeker, they realized, even though the missile is fast, making it actively homed would make it more reliable and hands off for the pilot, allowing the engagement of multiple targets, then made that change later in development.
Which means it was probably in developed throughout the 1980s. Much the same time as the RB71/RB73. iirc, it had some advantages over the AMRAAM in terms of seeker performance.
Was the RB73 Hypersonic?
It was probably always intended to be ARH, it was pretty clear that was the way BVRAAMs would be going.
The better question is: Was the RB73, the Skyflash with Ramjet prototype specifically equipped with an ARH seeker or not. It might have been a regular SARH skyflash modified into a Ramjet for the purposes of testing the engine and not the seeker. With the seeker being tested/developed independently of the Ramjet. Once both were ready, then combine them together
Arguable considering, at least to public knowledge, never been built or fired, and any statistics are buried or not released. I’d have to assume if its ramjet powered similar to the meteor, even if it’s not true hypersonic, it still probably screams.
Not necessarily. Ramjet optimal speed is around Mach 3.5-4.5. The advantage of the Ramjet over conventional solid rocket booster is that you dont need to carry any oxidizer. Meaning a lot more space for just fuel and it can burn for a lot longer.
So whilst it might be an overall slower missile in short ranges. It maintains that speed for most of its flight
As for the seeker, it’s still purely speculation, either way it ended with the Meteor and that’s really all that matters in the scheme of all things, considering it wasn’t sadly built.
Would have been a really cool Viggen weapon alongside the RB-72. Too bad government funding from the FMV got cut to go towards the Gripen.
