Heads-Up Display Modes 35 - Metaboli

124 Air Combat Basics
hIf the missile doesn’t make constant corrective actions after you begin
beaming, it probably is tracking someone else.
Be sure to release chaff and flares while maintaining this turn, especially as the
missile gets closer. If you start too early, the missile will not be spoofed. Each
press of the Q key releases one chaff (effective against radar-guided missiles) and
two flares (effective against heat-seeking missiles) from the APP-50 dispenser in
the tail boom. The system releases both since pilots rarely know exactly which
type of missile is approaching. These decoys may present a more attractive target
in the middle of the seeker’s field of view. The missile may turn toward them,
allowing you to pass out of its field of view. Modern missiles are fairly smart,
though, and can often tell the difference between a quickly-decelerating bundle of
chaff and your aircraft.
How Chaff/flares Spoof Missiles
Flying a steady flight path, followed by a high-g break turn at the last second
before missile impact, probably won’t work. When the missile realizes it’s
overshooting the target, it will detonate and (depending on the missile’s blast
radius) seriously damage your aircraft. Instead, make the missile work all the way
and give it a generous number of chaff/flare decoys to sort through.
hDon’t fly into your own decoy. Although the decoy will drift somewhat,
it remains relatively stationary compared to the speed of your jet. If you
continue a steady turn after releasing chaff/flares, you’ll eventually fly full
circle, right back around to it. Since you’re trying to spoof the missile, put
as much distance between you and the decoy as possible. Also, after
firing a flare, disengage afterburner if practicable.This will make the flare
appear an even brighter and better target than your aircraft.
Jamming
ECM Active jamming, also called Electronic Counter Measures (ECM), is designed
to confuse inbound missiles by presenting them with false radar information.
Jamming attempts to transmit signals in the appropriate frequency band, which
overpower and mask the normal radar returns reflected by the target. If the radar
source closes on the target, it will eventually reach “burn-through” range, at which
point the reflected energy from the target is stronger than the false signals sent
from its ECM gear.
The ECM gear doesn’t actually make the missile go madly off into the wild blue
yonder. Instead, it generally increases the distance between the missile and
the target when the missile detonates. By sending false signals, the ECM gear
may make the missile think it’s closer than it actually is. By manipulating the