Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!xanth!ukma!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!osu-cis!att!cbnews!kluksdah@enuxha.eas.asu.edu
From: kluksdah@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Norman C. Kluksdahl)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Rearward-firing missiles (Re: Another 2 Libyan jets)
Message-ID: <3502@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 26 Jan 89 14:51:47 GMT
References: <3461@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Arizona State Univ, Tempe
Lines: 28
Approved: military@att.att.com

From: kluksdah@enuxha.eas.asu.edu (Norman C. Kluksdahl)

In article <3461@cbnews.ATT.COM>, gudeman@arizona.edu (David Gudeman) writes:
: Here's a thought from someone with a stronger background in
: imagination than in engineering. How about a forward-pointing
: heat-seeking missle with a drag chute?  
:   After a delay the missile looks for a heat source.
: When it finds one, it fires up, releases the chute, and homes in on
: the enemy tailpipe.
: 
: Rather than a time delay, a better strategy might be for the missile
: to immediately lock onto the plane it was fired from, and to not take
: off until it senses a stronger heat source than the one it is locked
: on to. 
 
And what happens when a well-trained opponent sees the missile being 
released, and breaks off pursuit, or lays back?  Or if he isn't quite
close enough and the missile starts actively seeking before he passes
it?

I know that I wouldn't pop such a missile, knowing that there is a finite
probability that the sucker is going up MY pipe!!!!!!!!!!


Norman Kluksdahl              Arizona State University
            ..ncar!noao!asuvax!enuxha!kluksdah

standard disclaimer implied