4: Minimum Abort Range

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Sharpe

4: Minimum Abort Range

Post by Sharpe »

Taken Directly from the exceptional ‘How to chuck spears’ section of the ‘Falcon BMS Avionics and nonnuclear delivery flight manual’ (TO BMS 1F-16CM-34-1-1).

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. Let’s see what you can do to maximize the probability of kill while staying alive! Let’s play it safe by learning first how to survive the threat. For this purpose, we’ll take as example a Mig-29A playing the threat equipped with AA-10A Semi-Active (SA) missiles. Let's assume the maximum kinematic range of this missile when 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 or a slice back manoeuvre 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). Watch your G’s and don’t over-g your aircraft! G’s should be around 5 to 6. This will give you a good turn rate while preserving some speed.

Still alive? Then continue!

See image of a full MAR abort below:
MAR.png
MAR.png (75.31 KiB) Viewed 1232 times

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