3.2 – AIM-9M sidewinder
3.2.1 – Introduction to the Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder has two main modes of operation: BORE Aperture and SLAVE Affiliation.
Bore Diameter (BORE) mode:
When the HMCS (Tip System on the Helmet) has no power, the missile seeker "looks forward" on the plane's aperture line.
When HMCS is powered on, the seeker is aligned with the crosshair of the helmet display. This is very useful when using the AIM-9X for HOBS (High Off-Axis) shooting.
SLAVE mode:
When radar lock is obtained, the missile seeker is driven to the FCR (Fire Control Radar)
When the radar lock is not obtained, the seeker is guided to the rifling of the aircraft
There are three main ways to choose the AIM-9 missile:
Press the outer fighting switch (DGFT). The AIM-9 missile will be automatically selected.
Press the inboard fighting switch (MSL OVRD/Missile Overcontroller). Then, from the SMS page, select the desired missile.
Press the A-A button to select the space-to-air master mode. Then, from the SMS page, select the desired missile.
Note: Missiles can be selected via AAM (Air-to-Air Missile Mode), DGFT (Combat Overcontrolled Mode) or MSL OVRD (Missile Overcontrolled Mode). In this case, we will use the AAM mode.
1. Press the A-A (air-to-air) main mode button and select AAM (air-to-air missile mode).
2. Set The Main Weapon Switch – Gear (Up)
3. If you don't want to use the FCR (Fire Control Radar) to lock the target, set the RF (Radio Frequency) switch to mute (bottom).
4. On the SMS (Storage Management Settings) page, press OSB (Option Selection Button) next to the current missile type to switch to the 9LM (AIM-9M_) missile. Alternatively, you can switch missile types by pressing the NWS/MSL STEP button on the stick for more than 0.5 seconds (long).
5. Press the NWS/MSL stepper button on the stick for 0.5 seconds (short) to select the desired missile station.
6. Press the OSB next to SPOT/SCAN to select the desired missile field of view
SPOT: Narrow field of view and increased detection range
SCAN: Wide field of view, narrow detection range
7. Press the OSB next to SLAVE/BORE to select the desired missile line of sight parameters. In this case, select "BORE Well".
BORE: The missile follows the plane's line of aim
SLAVE: Missile tracking radar sight
8. Activate the missile seeker argon cooling by setting the cooling state to "COOL Cooling" (press the OSB next to "WARM/COOL Warm/Cold"). It will increase the detection sensitivity of the missile.
Note: When entering DGFT or MSL overcontrollment, "Cooling" is automatically selected. The duration of the argon supply depends on the outside air temperature, pressure and the amount of bottling at the time of installation, but the average duration is 90 minutes.
9. Maneuver until the target enters the missile launch zone
10. The missile flies over the target on a heads-up display. If the missile detects sufficient infrared energy from the target, the target detection will be indicated by the audio missile detection tone (roar).
11. When the AIM-9 seeker detects the target, press the "Cage/Uncage Cage/Unseal" button on the throttle to open it. This will allow the seeker to lock in and track targets within the field of view of the missile seeker.
12. When the missile tracks the heat signal, the missile diamond locks on the target, and the missile roar will become high-pitched.
13. Press the Weapon Release (RALT+SPACE) button to launch the missile.
NWS A/R DISC & MSL STEP按钮
MSL (Missile) Step Short: Switch missile stations
MSL (Missile) Step: Switches the missile type