Experience with the F-22 has shown that launching BVR AAMs while at supercruise and high altitude will increase range by 50%. Similar improvements in performance are expected with other supercruise-capable aircraft such as Rafale (with Mica) and Eurofighter (AMRAAM and Meteor). In Harpoon, missile ranges have always assumed a launch at high subsonic speed. Missile range is actually highly dependent on the speed of the launch platform. As a working rule, if the shooter is moving at less than Mach 0.5 (330 kts at Low altitude and 290 kts at Medium and above), halve the AAMs range. If the shooter is flying faster than Mach 1.5 at High or VHigh Altitude (860 kts), increase the range by 50%. Thanks to Stuart Machin. BT Back to The Naval Sitrep #22 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history and related articles are available at http://www.magweb.com