Very valid posts by Jliu and Shehbazi.
The one interesting aspect about all this BVR talk is that the theoretical ranges are totally blown out of the water when you take into consideration the appropriate WEZ (Weapons Engagement Zone) in air combat situations (with WEZ being the area around the target where the missile can reach and destroy the target). Theoretically speaking, the ranges being talked about are assumed to be straight on, face shot (with adversary moving into your direction) when most engagements involving aircraft with 360 degree MAWS/RWR sensors will not carry on the head on approach against another aircraft equipped with extended range BVRAAM. As soon as the aircraft starts maneuvering, this engagement zone changes drastically and most of the time ends up considerably reducing the range of effective employment. Add to this other points made by Shehbazi and you can see that a 50-60 km MICA/IR vs. a 70-80 km AIM-120C vs an AA-12 have no sure shot way of killing their targets at their theoretical max. ranges. While its less risk with AA-12 to have the ability to lose a few and run off, the western solutions (AIM-120 and MICA) provide pretty good range.
Without the Meteor the Rafale is almost dead against a Su-30MKI due to lack of AMRAAM (and all other BVRAAM integration). MICA @50-60km doesn't cut it against a ~80km AA-12 when given the fact that the Bars-M the IAF possesses at cruising altitude ~15,000km has a claimed detection range of 300km (I instead rely on the tracking range as a true est-200km) v the "track 40 and engage 8" of the RBE-2 (unless the French cut numbers and/or win export comps they are never going to get an AESA version as the CAPTOR-E/CAESAR is out of the question). Based on those figures and extensive consultation I say the tracking range of the French radar is a paltry 60-100km. Now while the RG MICA is not to be underestimated I would hate to be on the recieving end of 3-4 AA-12s coming my way.
The one interesting aspect about all this BVR talk is that the theoretical ranges are totally blown out of the water when you take into consideration the appropriate WEZ (Weapons Engagement Zone) in air combat situations (with WEZ being the area around the target where the missile can reach and destroy the target). Theoretically speaking, the ranges being talked about are assumed to be straight on, face shot (with adversary moving into your direction) when most engagements involving aircraft with 360 degree MAWS/RWR sensors will not carry on the head on approach against another aircraft equipped with extended range BVRAAM. As soon as the aircraft starts maneuvering, this engagement zone changes drastically and most of the time ends up considerably reducing the range of effective employment. Add to this other points made by Shehbazi and you can see that a 50-60 km MICA/IR vs. a 70-80 km AIM-120C vs an AA-12 have no sure shot way of killing their targets at their theoretical max. ranges. While its less risk with AA-12 to have the ability to lose a few and run off, the western solutions (AIM-120 and MICA) provide pretty good range.
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