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From: aws@vax3.iti.org (Allen W. Sherzer)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Sparrow miss rate off Libya
Message-ID: <5671@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 15 Apr 89 04:19:00 GMT
References: <5588@cbnews.ATT.COM>
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From: aws@vax3.iti.org (Allen W. Sherzer)

In article <5588@cbnews.ATT.COM> henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes:
>A letter in the Feb 13 Aviation Week (yes, I know I'm behind on my
>reading...) observes that in the skirmish off Libya a few months ago,
>the first two Sparrows fired, one at a range of 12 miles and one at
>10, missed.  At least the third one connected.  "One would think
>pilots in Soviet ready rooms are smiling over a 1-for-3 Sparrow
>success rate from America's best."

That assessment may be a little hasty. There are 2 factors I know
of which affect this.

1. Missiles can be evaded *IF* the pilot has the energy and he
   knows the missile is on the way.

2. Sometimes a pilot will take an out of envelope shot at an
   oppent even if he knows the shot will miss. This is to make
   the bandit sweat a bit. It can also prevent the bandit from
   pressing an attack. This is because he will need to enter the
   missile envelope to press which can get him shot down.

   Allen

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|   Allen Sherzer                         | DON'T BUILD MORE NUKES         |
|   aws@iti.org                           | until we use the ones we have. |
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