What Does it mean when I hear "Pitbull"?

[A.C.I]

I know I may be a tad dumb here, but its always happened after I've fired a missle. So does it mean you hit the target? or something else.

[醉仙望月]

The AIM-120 missiles carry their own radar system to track their target. However, the small size of the radar limits its range which typically means such missiles often rely on the mid-course update from the launching aircraft to get close to the target.
At a predetermined point the missile's radar is activated (go "pitbull"), and the missile then homes in on the target.
If the launching aircraft loses track of the target before the missile goes pitbull, then it will go dumb and miss the target.

[Quantify]

Originally posted by 醉仙望月:

The AIM-120 is a semi-active radar guided missile.
After launch, it needs the launching aircraft's radar to track the target until it goes pitbull, that is, it activates its own radar to homing to the target.
If the launching aircraft loses track of the target before the missile goes pitbull, then it will go dumb and miss the target.

Small discrepancy here. The AIM-120 is active radar guidance, as it only receives information on the target via datalink rather than homing on an offset radar reflection akin to a Sparrow.

[ZbuffeR]

Originally posted by 醉仙望月:

If the launching aircraft loses track of the target before the missile goes pitbull, then it will go dumb and miss the target.

Does this mean we need to keep active lock, or simply maintaining the target aircraft seen by our radar is enough ?

[Quantify]

Originally posted by ZbuffeR:

Originally posted by 醉仙望月:

If the launching aircraft loses track of the target before the missile goes pitbull, then it will go dumb and miss the target.

Does this mean we need to keep active lock, or simply maintaining the target aircraft seen by our radar is enough ?

All that's needed is a radar track, not a full lock.

[ZbuffeR]

Thank you, I was not sure for quite some time :)

[A.C.I]

Thanks all,

[comm@ndo]

It generally means there is a large dog behind you chasing you

[A.C.I]

Originally posted by comm@ndo:

It generally means there is a large dog behind you chasing you

Never thought of that

[Werwolf]

Just to clarify: Pitbull means the missile has gone fully active. You no longer need to have the track on radar when you hear "Pitbull". Once you hear that, you are free to turn and skate out. The missile is using its own onboard radar and no longer requires mid course correction from the launching radar platform.

[A.C.I]

Originally posted by Werwolf:

Just to clarify: Pitbull means the missile has gone fully active. You no longer need to have the track on radar when you hear "Pitbull". Once you hear that, you are free to turn and skate out. The missile is using its own onboard radar and no longer requires mid course correction from the launching radar platform.

and I also assume it means there is a large dog behind me

[Lurch]

Small discrepancy here. The AIM-120 is active radar guidance, as it only receives information on the target via datalink rather than homing on an offset radar reflection akin to a Sparrow.

Small discrepancy here, AMRAAM is semi active guided. The missile goes off the rail using active guidance from the aircraft radar before going vertical (hides the launch plume from the enemy aircraft). The missile then enters a glide phase toward the enemy using TWiS info from the targeting radar removing the lock tone from the enemy. When the missile is within the targeting area it goes active with auto sort. A quick scan, lock and engage.

Always carry a big stick!

[Quantify]

Uh, no. Semi-active radar guidance means the missile is relying on an offset radar reflection from the launching aircraft throughout the entire flight. The AMRAAM does *not* use this. Having an internal radar projector defines the missile as using active radar guidance.

Also, the ballistic loft is to increase terminal energy.

http://www.ausairpower.net/TE-Radar-AAMs.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-active_radar_homing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_radar_homing

[A.C.I]

I think we can stop explaining lmao, I thought this question in april, I got my answer lol

[Lurch]

Having an internal radar projector defines the missile as using active radar guidance.

My apologies, you are quite correct. I was muddling it up.

[AdmiralTigerclaw]

Originally posted by Lurch:

Having an internal radar projector defines the missile as using active radar guidance.

My apologies, you are quite correct. I was muddling it up.

You probably mixed the AMRAAM with the AIM-7 Sparrow, seeing as they tend to look similar or even identical in various game media.