How to make your missiles unnotchable
Alpha to Omega
Welcome to Complementary Aspect Launch, the real-world tactic that makes notching a loser's game. Though technically it is rocket science, CAL isn't that hard. All it really means is that launching two SARH missiles at the same target gives two independent receivers for your target illumination radar. If you launch them at widely different angles to the target's true bearing, they will approach it from different angles. What is critical to remember here is that it is the missile, not your plane, that the enemy needs to evade. They will turn side to you, trying to force you to lose PD tracking. However, even after you "lose" the target, there are still a lot of your radar emissions bouncing off that target, and it is not going perpendicular to two missiles that are coming in at plus and minus 15 or 20 degrees. You will want to be well within the normal launch envelope, since you will be intentionally launching both missiles as far off-bore as their seeker heads can handle. Unless your missiles are still far from the target, do not give up when you get the lock loss indication. Just because you can't see him doesn't mean one or both of your missiles isn't still tracking him. Get used to your "missile view" hotkey, it can tell you instantly if your missile is still on the scent. That's about all there is to it. Obviously, there are tons of details not covered, but they will be mostly dependent on the particulars of your radar, your missiles, and your enemies. How many Sparrow kills have you gotten when your lock reticle had drifted to the other side of the screen? I'd like to hear others' thoughts on this. I never hear anyone discussing this tactic, which is absolutely basic in real air combat. A few later SARH missiles have a datalink that changes things slightly, but in practical terms it does not change gameplay meaningfully. Enjoy.
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