What's the rang of AGM65?

[seabiscuit1985]

When I use TGP to lock on a target first then switch to maverick, it indicates on the left side of the maverick camera that the target is within range which is 8 nautical miles, but I usually can't lock on the target with AGM 65H unless the range becomes less than 4 nautical miles. Is there something wrong or it's just normal? Thanks.

[Goldham]

The CCD mavericks can only lock on to a target at about 4.5 miles in perfect conditions. At night or in poor weather the IR Mavericks are much better. They can generally lock at 7 to 8 miles depending on the target's contrast.

[seabiscuit1985]

Originally posted by Goldham:

The CCD mavericks can only lock on to a target at about 4.5 miles in perfect conditions. At night or in poor weather the IR Mavericks are much better. They can generally lock at 7 to 8 miles depending on the target's contrast.

Thanks. But what the longest range any agm 65 can reach?

[Goldham]

Aerodynamically they can probably reach around 10 miles, the limitations in the seeker head mean that it can only be fired at around 7.5 miles maximum with a 65D

[GorillaRoyale]

As I understand it all Maverick missles have similar motor and a range of somewhere around 10-12nm, but are mostly limited by there seeker lock-on which is around 7nm.

The AGM-65D / AGM-65G, with an infrared-seeker locks onto the contrast form a "hot spot" in the seeker-image like a tank or something else that is big enough and emits enough heat and thus, infra-red light.

The AGM-65H / AGM-65K use a CCD-seeker that, without getting too technical, actually "sees" the target optically, rather than just picking up the IR-radiation and thus locks on much sooner and at greater range in equal conditions.

[Derbysieger]

Originally posted by GorillaRoyale:

The AGM-65H / AGM-65K use a CCD-seeker that, without getting too technical, actually "sees" the target optically, rather than just picking up the IR-radiation and thus locks on much sooner and at greater range in equal conditions.

While this might be true for the real CCD Sensor, in DCS CCD Mavs have considerably worse tracking range than the IR Mavs (4-5NM vs 7-8NM).

[Chameleon_Silk]

Originally posted by Derbysieger:

Originally posted by GorillaRoyale:

The AGM-65H / AGM-65K use a CCD-seeker that, without getting too technical, actually "sees" the target optically, rather than just picking up the IR-radiation and thus locks on much sooner and at greater range in equal conditions.

While this might be true for the real CCD Sensor, in DCS CCD Mavs have considerably worse tracking range than the IR Mavs (4-5NM vs 7-8NM).

You can put a Mav into force correlate mode with TMS aft short, the D does not have this mode the G and the K should then be able to fire at greater range then what your reporting.

tbh not sure about the H.

further digging also: Maverick D replaced the electro-optical guidance with an imaging infrared system which doubled the practical firing distance and allowed for its use at night and during bad weather.

not that 5NM is bad or anything.

[GorillaRoyale]

To clarify the CCD-seeker in the AGM-65H/K variants is not an electro-optical seeker like the one in the original AGM-65A that isnt in use anymore. The AGM-65D replaced the AGM-65A guidance system with the heat seeing IR-seeker.

CCD-seeker Mavericks are, the way i understand it, a specialised variant for use in hi-infrared background environments like the desert, where a tanks heat signature wouldnt stand out much against a hot background.

I would assume that a contrast-based guidance system would have trouble in an environment like the caucasus. But that is just my 0,02$

[=AiR FORCE=]

The range of AGM-65 type of a missile, as with any missile, depends on several factors.
In this case, the most limiting factor is the seeker. The AGM-65D with an IR seeker has the longest range, depending on conditions, it's up to 9nm.

But, a skilled pilot/operator can use Force Correlate to release the AGM-65H upon a target at a significantly longer range (about 14nm).