Max vertical range of SAMs

[+strahi 982]

I am interested in the maximum range of SA missiles. Does the increase in the altitude of the launch site increase the maximum range of the rocket?

[Snailman 517]

What do you mean altitude of the launch site?

Range is primarily determined by missile ballistics. Usually that's the most neglected factor - so missiles are just given launch window... max range, max radar alt whatever, but they can't fly that long  OR fly with 8-10 Machs.

You need a proper radar, set accurately - that can see, and see only as far as it is supposed to see. Range, strength, altitude settings etc etc.

IF that works as it should, then you can set the SAME data into the launchers and the missile as well.

Missiles usually have no problem with altitude, they are even too good at vertical accelerating -  that's why the radar has to be limited NOT TO launch the missile to unreal heights.

[+strahi 982]

3 hours ago, Snailman said:

What do you mean altitude of the launch site?

Range is primarily determined by missile ballistics. Usually that's the most neglected factor - so missiles are just given launch window... max range, max radar alt whatever, but they can't fly that long  OR fly with 8-10 Machs.

You need a proper radar, set accurately - that can see, and see only as far as it is supposed to see. Range, strength, altitude settings etc etc.

IF that works as it should, then you can set the SAME data into the launchers and the missile as well.

Missiles usually have no problem with altitude, they are even too good at vertical accelerating -  that's why the radar has to be limited NOT TO launch the missile to unreal heights.

 

[tiopilotos 2,504]

There are two factors which you need to determine in order to set your desired max vertical range. 

1. Missile's max range: a missile with a maximum range of 15 km in level and straight flight is obviously not able to reach an altitude of 20 km when fired from a large angle. Even if the missile had 20 km range in level and straight flight probably it would not be able to reach the 20 km alt  when fired from a large angle (like in your image) because the gravity force would resist to missile's thrust throughout the flight. So let's suppose that you need a missile capable of reaching at least 20 km altitude. You should edit the missile to have a max range of at least 5-10 km longer than your desired altitude limit (20 + 5/10 = 25/30 km). Keep in mind that the higher the angle of missile flight the higher the resistance from gravity force. It's just physics.

2. You need a fire control radar which will be able to guide missiles to the desired altitude. Open radar's data.ini and find this line:

RadarMaximumAlt=

and set your desired value. Remeber, this is the radar's maximum alt which means that in higher altitude the radar can not see, can not track and can not guide missiles. Above this limit guided missiles become ballistic missiles.

 

 

Edited March 10, 2018 by tiopilotos

[+strahi 982]

2 hours ago, tiopilotos said:

There are two factors which you need to determine in order to set your desired max vertical range. 

1. Missile's max range: a missile with a maximum range of 15 km in level and straight flight is obviously not able to reach an altitude of 20 km when fired from a large angle. Even if the missile had 20 km range in level and straight flight probably it would not be able to reach the 20 km alt  when fired from a large angle (like in your image) because the gravity force would resist to missile's thrust throughout the flight. So let's suppose that you need a missile capable of reaching at least 20 km altitude. You should edit the missile to have a max range of at least 5-10 km longer than your desired altitude limit (20 + 5/10 = 25/30 km). Keep in mind that the higher the angle of missile flight the higher the resistance from gravity force. It's just physics.

2. You need a fire control radar which will be able to guide missiles to the desired altitude. Open radar's data.ini and find this line:

RadarMaximumAlt=

and set your desired value. Remeber, this is the radar's maximum alt which means that in higher altitude the radar can not see, can not track and can not guide missiles. Above this limit guided missiles become ballistic missiles.

 

 

And what about in real life, does that mean that if the launcher is installed on the mountain, the rocket will have a higher altitude?

[tiopilotos 2,504]

It happens in real life! That's how radars work. Doesn't matter the altitude of the SAM site. Either your site is on the top of a mountain either at sea level your missile will be guided as long as the fire control radar can track the target. For long range SAMs such as SA-5, MIM-14, Bloodhound etc you need to have "stronger" radar beam because radiation strength becomes less "stronger" in longer distances. In simple words the greater the distance, the higher the possibility to loose track. 

Obviously a SAM site located on the top of a mountain will be able to send a missile at higher altitude but it will be guided only as long as it flies within the radar's maximum altitude. 

[+strahi 982]

3 minutes ago, tiopilotos said:

It happens in real life! That's how radars work. Doesn't matter the altitude of the SAM site. Either your site is on the top of a mountain either at sea level your missile will be guided as long as the fire control radar can track the target. For long range SAMs such as SA-5, MIM-14, Bloodhound etc you need to have "stronger" radar beam because radiation strength becomes less "stronger" in longer distances. In simple words the greater the distance, the higher the possibility to loose track. 

Obviously a SAM site located on the top of a mountain will be able to send a missile at higher altitude but it will be guided only as long as it flies within the radar's maximum altitude. 

Ok, I understand the point, but can you say that for, for example, those who are fired from the shoulders, Stinger and Strela? Will it get higher altitude, the one that is fired at the top of a mountain than the one in the bottom?

[tiopilotos 2,504]

Obviously yes. These missiles are IR guided. They will fly an interecpt path to the impact point as long as their seeker can track the target until they run out of fuel.