F/A-18 Maverick locking

[SpaceMonkey037]

Hello! I am trying to get better at the hornet, and I now trying to use the IR Mavericks. When I try to lock ground units I need to get really close. For reference, when using missiles in the frogfoot however, I get a lock way faster, and I get launch authority when I am within range. Is there something I might be doing wrong? And if is there a maximum/minimum range for the mavericks?

Hope someone knows the answers for this, thx in advance.

[Gurke]

If you place the targets on an open field they should be pretty easy to lock on. It's harder in a city

[SpaceMonkey037]

I am just having a hard time anywhere. I feel like I have to be within a range of 10 nm to the target before I can get a lock. Is this just simply because the Mavericks dont have perfect senors so they just work within that range?

[Vilab]

the "true" maverick-like missiles on the frofoot ( KH-29T ) don't lock at 10nm either

what you call locking in the su-25t is locking the targeting sensor of the plane to the ground / on a target, and that allows to fire laser guided missiles

[fikmeinshizer]

You DO need to be within 10nm of the target. IR lock should occur at around 7-8nm depending on IR contrast. Open fields will give you better contrast than urban areas. Smoke, fire, fog and cloud will all reduce the possible lock range.

[SpaceMonkey037]

thx for the feedback. Might struggle a little less now :)

[StarLightPL]

I know it's a necrothread, but I landed here from google trying to figure out what is the minimum range for AGM-65E *LASER* Maverick. It seems that it won't lock to targets closer than around 3nm from the aircraft, so don't bother trying, build some separation first. Then your Maverick will lock and allow you to fire it off the rail. Otherwise you won't get MAV LKD indication and the solid square on the maverick format page.

[Adler4]

Yep you need to get close that's why i prefere laser guided 😊