Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!cbnews!military From: edat!root@uunet.UU.NET (Superuser) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: AGM-130 Message-ID: <1990Jul23.202026.5785@cbnews.att.com> Date: 23 Jul 90 20:20:26 GMT References: <1990Jul17.031957.22887@cbnews.att.com> Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: Electronic Data Technologies, Inc. Lines: 78 Approved: military@att.att.com From: edat!root@uunet.UU.NET (Superuser) In article <1990Jul17.031957.22887@cbnews.att.com> scott%sting.Berkeley.EDU@ (Scott Silvey) writes: > > >From: scott%sting.Berkeley.EDU@ (Scott Silvey) > >Also, about the Maverick, does anyone know how accurate the "smart" > ones are (the ones that track IR emissions)? They're pretty good, depending on the target. > Can they hit a tank moving at 40+ knots? Yes, it probably could, especially at night with IR, or daytime across a desert with the camera. > I assume they won't track on a tank that is parked with it's engine > off and cool, is this correct? The camera could in a middle of a field in daytime could. In the bushes, probably not. At night the IR might pick it up in the bushes, depending on how long hes been cool, and the surrounding temperatures. In winter time you stand a good chance, a heater might be enough. The camera and IR work off of contrast. That is the target versus its surroundings. Therefore there are no absolutes as to when it will or when it won't. In the afternoon, shadows get long and a camera version could mistake the shadow for the target and bury it nose next to it. If a tank is rear vented exhaust and you approach head, you may never see the target to even lock on. That's why pilots need so much training. > If so, how does the pilot know whether or not the missile will lock on > and hit a potential target he is aiming at? >For the "TV" guided versions, how does this system work and how > involved is the pilot in the guidance procedure? Depends on what your flying. Different airplanes have different target acquisition systems. Generally speaking, they all provide an image (camera, IR, I hear even Radar now) to pilot and cross hairs. The Pilot triggers, holds, then has a fine tuner to put the target in the box. Triggers the fine, releases the trigger, and lock is iniitiated. His HUD gives him a count down, and at optimum firing point, he pickles and missle a way. I understand 16Cs have software to compute optimum and will automaticaly fire. This has caused more than one pilot a bit of swearing, but it does work. > >For the laser designated versions, how does the pilot keep a target > designated? I guess there are a number of laser-designator systems > around, so I'm asking about how this is generally done. Does the > pilot have to guide the laser beam by hand using some sort of > joystick or does a computer manage to keep the spot tracking the > target despite aircraft movement? Mavericks are fire and forget. I think about all that is necessary is he keep the belly of the plane towards the target, but I may be wrong. Some systems require that, others have top and bottom mounted designators that can handle inverted flight, others the missle itself has everything it needs to do the designation. Just remember, everything depends on what the mission, and conditions hence its all shades of gray. "I speak only for myself and for as long as I can, regardless of what Florida politicians and legislators think" Brian Douglass Electronic Data Technologies 1085 Palms Airport Drive Las Vegas, NV 89119-3715 Voice: 702-361-1510 X311 FAX #: 702-361-2545 uunet!edat!brian