Dealing with A-10 missiles.

[Blue]

Title.

Currently playing the Harrier GR.3

No idea how to avoid these missiles. Chaff and flares don't seem to do anything and they're 30G missiles.

Advice.

[55]

dont have ur engine at full throttle when flaring

[Blue]

I'll try that. Not sure if it will work the same with the harriers nozzles and all but no harm in trying.

[Aegis270]

Flares aren't a magic "Go away missile" button. You need to use them correctly.

Flares work by causing the seeker of the missile to lock on to it instead of the plane that fired it. So if you're flying in a straight line, the missile is coming from right behind you, and you flare without maneuvering, the missile will fly through the flares, reacquire you and kill you anyways.

Instead, you need to by flying at an angle to the missile. If it was fired from straight behind you, pull as much as you can without dumping speed to make it start trying to lead you. Once you judge it is close enough that if it pulls to aim for the flares instead of you, it won't be able to pull back on to you, flare. This is easier the more perpendicular you are to the missile, as it has to lead more to hit you. If you get the timing exact, you'll only need one. However, since the AIM-9L can pull 30Gs, the timing is very specific, so if you're struggling dump a few with 1-1.5 second delays. That maximizes the chance that they'll distracted.

If you're too close for that to work, you can still attempt to evade by hard pulling. Depending on the plane, flares will be ejected (usually) from above or below the aircraft. If you're at point blank range, flare then immediately pull hard in the opposite direction that your flares went. Again, this is hard to do against 30 G missiles, but this can save you. However, you might dump a lot of speed doing so, so it's always a last resort.

One other thing to note is that AIM-9Ls are all aspect, and these moves likely won't save you in a headon. So just don't headon an A-10. Stay well above them instead, they won't have the energy to pull up on you if you play your cards right.

[Blue]

Originally posted by Aegis270:

Flares aren't a magic "Go away missile" button. You need to use them correctly.

Flares work by causing the seeker of the missile to lock on to it instead of the plane that fired it. So if you're flying in a straight line, the missile is coming from right behind you, and you flare without maneuvering, the missile will fly through the flares, reacquire you and kill you anyways.

Instead, you need to by flying at an angle to the missile. If it was fired from straight behind you, pull as much as you can without dumping speed to make it start trying to lead you. Once you judge it is close enough that if it pulls to aim for the flares instead of you, it won't be able to pull back on to you, flare. This is easier the more perpendicular you are to the missile, as it has to lead more to hit you. If you get the timing exact, you'll only need one. However, since the AIM-9L can pull 30Gs, the timing is very specific, so if you're struggling dump a few with 1-1.5 second delays. That maximizes the chance that they'll distracted.

If you're too close for that to work, you can still attempt to evade by hard pulling. Depending on the plane, flares will be ejected (usually) from above or below the aircraft. If you're at point blank range, flare then immediately pull hard in the opposite direction that your flares went. Again, this is hard to do against 30 G missiles, but this can save you. However, you might dump a lot of speed doing so, so it's always a last resort.

One other thing to note is that AIM-9Ls are all aspect, and these moves likely won't save you in a headon. So just don't headon an A-10. Stay well above them instead, they won't have the energy to pull up on you if you play your cards right.

Pulling up is a death sentence in the Harrier. No maneuverability at low speeds and basically a free kill for any A10 with the bare minimum of energy to lob a missile.

I'm not stupid I would never fly in straight lines and spam flares. And I'd never headon an A10 with a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ Harrier lmao.

Hard pulling against 30G won't work in this aircraft so it looks like my only option is either learn this annoyingly narrow timing window for flares or die.

Cheers.

[Aegis270]

Originally posted by DUST:

Originally posted by Aegis270:

Flares aren't a magic "Go away missile" button. You need to use them correctly.

Flares work by causing the seeker of the missile to lock on to it instead of the plane that fired it. So if you're flying in a straight line, the missile is coming from right behind you, and you flare without maneuvering, the missile will fly through the flares, reacquire you and kill you anyways.

Instead, you need to by flying at an angle to the missile. If it was fired from straight behind you, pull as much as you can without dumping speed to make it start trying to lead you. Once you judge it is close enough that if it pulls to aim for the flares instead of you, it won't be able to pull back on to you, flare. This is easier the more perpendicular you are to the missile, as it has to lead more to hit you. If you get the timing exact, you'll only need one. However, since the AIM-9L can pull 30Gs, the timing is very specific, so if you're struggling dump a few with 1-1.5 second delays. That maximizes the chance that they'll distracted.

If you're too close for that to work, you can still attempt to evade by hard pulling. Depending on the plane, flares will be ejected (usually) from above or below the aircraft. If you're at point blank range, flare then immediately pull hard in the opposite direction that your flares went. Again, this is hard to do against 30 G missiles, but this can save you. However, you might dump a lot of speed doing so, so it's always a last resort.

One other thing to note is that AIM-9Ls are all aspect, and these moves likely won't save you in a headon. So just don't headon an A-10. Stay well above them instead, they won't have the energy to pull up on you if you play your cards right.

Pulling up is a death sentence in the Harrier. No maneuverability at low speeds and basically a free kill for any A10 with the bare minimum of energy to lob a missile.

I'm not stupid I would never fly in straight lines and spam flares. And I'd never headon an A10 with a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ Harrier lmao.

Hard pulling against 30G won't work in this aircraft so it looks like my only option is either learn this annoyingly narrow timing window for flares or die.

Cheers.

With Harriers specifically, you can out-energy A-10s constantly if you play your cards right. You can never allow them to get into position to get a decent missile shot. By the time they hit the field, you should have a least 3km of altitude advantage over them and plenty of excess speed. From this position, you can make high speed passes on them with relative impunity. If they're in a pack as is common, either make runs on the one in the back, wait for them to split up, for wait for backup.

If on your approach, they pull away and you aren't confident you can get the kill, pull opposite them and speed away. By the time they turn 180 degrees, you should have enough distance and energy to dodge the missile they throw at you. Meanwhile, they've blown a ton of energy, and A-10s don't have great acceleration. Making your next approach that much easier.

You can even pre-flare if you aren't worried about your flare supply. Just dump a flare every couple of seconds if you think they're trying to lock you. They'll lock the flare instead, and be prevented from launching the missile. Harriers have a decent supply of flares so you can do this for at least a couple of passes without too much concern.

Also, don't be too concerned about dumping speed in a Harrier. Your bonkers acceleration will get it back for you very quickly. You obviously don't want to be doing it right in front of the enemy, but if he's 4km out after launching a missile, a hard pull evasion is absolutely possible without putting you at serious risk. Especially against A-10s, who you'd probably still be faster than even after a hard evasion.

[Blue]

Originally posted by Aegis270:

Originally posted by DUST:

Pulling up is a death sentence in the Harrier. No maneuverability at low speeds and basically a free kill for any A10 with the bare minimum of energy to lob a missile.

I'm not stupid I would never fly in straight lines and spam flares. And I'd never headon an A10 with a ♥♥♥♥♥♥ Harrier lmao.

Hard pulling against 30G won't work in this aircraft so it looks like my only option is either learn this annoyingly narrow timing window for flares or die.

Cheers.

With Harriers specifically, you can out-energy A-10s constantly if you play your cards right. You can never allow them to get into position to get a decent missile shot. By the time they hit the field, you should have a least 3km of altitude advantage over them and plenty of excess speed. From this position, you can make high speed passes on them with relative impunity. If they're in a pack as is common, either make runs on the one in the back, wait for them to split up, for wait for backup.

If on your approach, they pull away and you aren't confident you can get the kill, pull opposite them and speed away. By the time they turn 180 degrees, you should have enough distance and energy to dodge the missile they throw at you. Meanwhile, they've blown a ton of energy, and A-10s don't have great acceleration. Making your next approach that much easier.

You can even pre-flare if you aren't worried about your flare supply. Just dump a flare every couple of seconds if you think they're trying to lock you. They'll lock the flare instead, and be prevented from launching the missile. Harriers have a decent supply of flares so you can do this for at least a couple of passes without too much concern.

Also, don't be too concerned about dumping speed in a Harrier. Your bonkers acceleration will get it back for you very quickly. You obviously don't want to be doing it right in front of the enemy, but if he's 4km out after launching a missile, a hard pull evasion is absolutely possible without putting you at serious risk. Especially against A-10s, who you'd probably still be faster than even after a hard evasion.

I'll give it a try. Thanks.