War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Air-to-ground missiles

2024-09-28T01:15:49Z

U109280623: AJ 168 is currently only available on the British tree, so the flag has been changed from the French flag to the British one.

== Overview ==
Air-to-ground missiles (AGMs) were added to the game in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]] with the [[AGM-12B Bullpup]]. The first of this type of weapon were used in the Vietnam War. In-game, they are a potent weapon to have at your disposal, allowing you to destroy enemy ground or naval targets from several kilometres away. They allow the ability to steer the projectile to engage even moving targets.

Several different types of AGMs exist: ''Manual Command to Line of Sight'' (MCLOS) also known as ''command guided'', ''Semi Automatic Command to Line of Sight'' (SACLOS), ''Television guided'' (TV), ''Infrared guided'' (IR), ''Laser guided'', and ''Beam riding''. Note that in-game these guidance systems might work differently than their respective real counterparts or the missiles might use a different guidance system than in reality.

=== Helicopter guidance ===
[[File:Helicopter laser rangefinder.jpg|thumb|350px|The gunner view of a helicopter, displaying sight stabilization (the diagonal lines around the crosshair) and the range to the point around which it is stabilized.]]
With the exception of self-guiding missiles, all helicopter-launched air-to-ground missiles are guided by the cursor (much like aircraft SACLOS missiles). Most helicopters also feature a gunner view, in which the missile can be directed separately to the helicopter. This can also often be set to centre automatically on a designated point on the ground (the "sight stabilization" keybind), which accounts for the relative motion of the helicopter and maintains the image in the gunner view, thus allowing for smooth guidance of the missile even when the helicopter is performing extreme manoeuvres. Enabling sight stabilization will also display the range to the target in the gunner view. Some more advanced helicopters have the additional option of locking the stabilized sight to a moving target, thus allowing semi-autonomous guidance of the missile.

Attack drones feature a similar view. The maximum range of the missile can be seen in the lower part of the view, in the example it is 3,500 m, and the bigger bar below it shows the range of the currently aimed point.

== Manual Command to Line of Sight (MCLOS) ==
MCLOS guided missiles are typically guided either by physical connection to the launch platform by a wire, or by radio waves. In the case of wire-guided missiles, the wire is unspun from the missile as it flies towards the target. After a missile of this type is launched, the gunner or pilot watches the motor or tracer components of the missile and sends correcting guidance commands to keep the projectile on target.

=== MCLOS controls ===
{{main|Air-to-air missiles#Command guided missile controls}}
Without steering input from the player, the missile will behave like a simple unguided rocket. It is recommended to check your surroundings and ensure that there are no enemies in the vicinity, as it can be significantly more difficult to attempt to control both missile and aircraft at the same time. The default keybinds for manual missile guidance will prevent you from manoeuvring your aircraft with the keyboard at the same time.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | Command guided missile controls
|-
! Control name
! Default Keybind <br> (PC keyboard & mouse)
! Description
|-
| Yaw axis for aim weapons || {{key press|Shift|A}} / {{key press|Shift|D}} || Keys to control the yaw (side to side) movement of the missile
|-
| Pitch axis for aim weapons || {{key press|Shift|W}} / {{key press|Shift|S}} ||Keys to control the pitch (up and down) movement of the missile
|-
| Fire air-to-ground missile || {{key press|Space}} || Fire the command guided missile
|-
|}

=== List of MCLOS AGMs ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | Command guided missiles
|-
! Missile || Country || Max guidance range
|-
| [[AGM-12B Bullpup]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 8 km
|-
| [[AGM-12C Bullpup]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 16 km
|-
| [[AS-20 Nord]] || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 8 km
|-
| [[AS-30 Nord]] || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
| [[Kh-23M]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
| [[Ki-148 I-Go Model 1B]] || [[File:Japan_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 12 km
|-
| [[Rb05A]] || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 8 km
|-
|}

== Semi Automatic Command to Line of Sight (SACLOS) ==
The SACLOS guidance system improves on MCLOS by having a device that calculates correction commands such that the gunner only has to point the sight of the targeting device at the target, and the appropriate correction commands will be performed by the device. Connection to the missile can be by wire or radio waves. The targeting device often features a significantly zoomed-in view which makes target acquisition easier. All this makes targeting and guidance much easier and even allows for moderate changes of aircraft movement at the same time.

=== SACLOS controls ===
When launched from an aircraft, the SACLOS guided missile will fly towards the direction in which the aircraft's nose is pointing. This can allow for much easier and more accurate targeting than MCLOS missiles with fine adjustments using the mouse, but means that ample time should be given to allow the aircraft to pull up after the missile has struck.

=== List of SACLOS AGMs ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | SACLOS guided missiles
|-
! Missile || Country || Max guidance range
|-
| [[9M14-2 Malyutka-2]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3 km
|-
| [[9M14M Malyutka]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3 km
|-
| [[9M17M Falanga]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 4 km
|-
| [[9M114 Shturm]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 5 km
|-
| [[9M120 Ataka]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 6 km
|-
| [[AGM-12B Bullpup]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 11 km
|-
| [[AGM-22]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3.5 km
|-
| [[AS.11]] || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3.5 km
|-
| [[AS.12]] || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 7 km
|-
| [[BGM-71C Improved TOW]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3.75 km
|-
| [[BGM-71D TOW-2]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3.75 km
|-
| [[HJ-8A]] || [[File:China_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3 km
|-
| [[HJ-8C]] || [[File:China_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3 km
|-
| [[HJ-8E]] || [[File:China_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 4 km
|-
| [[HJ-8H]] || [[File:China_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 4 km
|-
| [[HOT-1]] || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 4 km
|-
| [[HOT-2 TOW]] || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 4 km
|-
| [[HOT-3]] || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 4 km
|-
| [[Kh-66]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
| [[RB 52 A]] || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3.5 km
|-
| [[RB 53 Bantam]] || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 2 km
|-
| [[RB 55B Heli TOW]] || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3.75 km
|-
| [[RB 55C Heli TOW]] || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 3.75 km
|-
|}

== Television ==
In War Thunder, television-guided missiles refer to a class of missile guided by "optical contrast seekers". These missiles have a camera in the nose that transmits a greyscale image to the pilot, allowing them to select and lock onto a high contrast static or moving target. The missile will guide itself towards the target, leaving the pilot free to manoeuvre the aircraft and evade any anti-air defences. As the camera does not provide any infrared information, it may sometimes be accidentally locked onto high contrast objects in the vicinity of the intended target instead, which can cause a miss if the target subsequently moves away from the area. Television guided missiles are also unable to be used at night and in other low visibility conditions such as adverse weather. Some planes and AGMs however have IR or thermal imaging and can be used at night and have better targeting quality. Often an additional targeting pod is needed for this, which will take up one pylon.


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | TV guided missile controls
|-
! Control name
! Default Keybind <br> (PC keyboard & mouse)
! Description
|-
| Optical Seeker View || ? || Switch to the TV targeting view. It is not necessary to use this, but it has better zoom usually than 3rd person view.
|-
| Weapon lock (air-to-ground) || ? || First press: Turn Seeker on. Second press: Try to lock on target.
|-
| Fire air-to-ground missile || ? || Fire missile. If no lock is activated it will first turn the seeker and target locking mode on.
|-
| Activate Target point || ? || Lock TV camera to a point in world space. It is not a weapon lock! It will always try to look at it. You can use it to lock a area from 3rd person view look around so it will later be easier to fine tune your target lock.
|-
| Deactivate Target point || ? || If target point is not used always deactivate it to not have the TV camera point there.
|-
|}
<gallery>
TV seeker view.jpg|thumb|Seeker view from the AGM-65A. No target is locked.
TV seeker locked.jpg|thumb|TV seeker view from the AGM-65A with a locked target. Fire your weapon now.
TV 3rd person target aquisition.jpg|thumb|You can also acquire a target from 3rd person view, see the orange rectangle (Not the red one). But its much harder to acquire the wanted target. The seeker will easily lock on some high contrast object near the target.
Active target point.jpg|thumb|The red rectangle is the activated target point. If you go into TV seeker view now it will try to look there automatically and makes target acquisition easier if you set it up from a distance.
</gallery>

=== List of TV guided missiles ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | TV guided missiles
|-
! Missile || Country || Max guidance range
|-
| [[AGM-65A]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 23 km
|-
| [[AGM-65B]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 23 km
|-
| [[AGM-65H]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 23 km
|-
| [[AJ.168]] || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 45 km
|-
| [[Flz Lwf LB 82]] || [[File:Switzerland_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 23 km
|-
| [[Kh-29T]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 13 km
|-
| [[Kh-29TD]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 35 km
|-
| [[Kh-29TE]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 30 km
|-
| [[RB 75]] || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 23 km
|-
| [[RB 75T]] || [[File:Sweden_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 23 km
|-
|}

==IR==
Infrared homing missiles are similar in use to TV guided missiles, but feature an infrared imaging system instead of the optical camera, allowing heat sources (such as tanks) to be more easily differentiated and locked onto in cluttered environments and under low optical visibility conditions such as night-time.
[[File:IR TV AGM-65D.jpg|thumb|The IR targeting view makes it very easy to see the hot targets.]]



=== List of IR guided AGMs ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | IR guided missiles
|-
! Missile || Country || Max guidance range
|-
| [[AGM-65D]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 23 km
|-
| [[AGM-65G]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 23 km
|-
| [[Kh-38MT]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 40 km
|-
| [[PARS 3 LR]] || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 7 km
|-
| [[Spike ER]] || [[File:Israel_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 8 km
|-
|}

== Laser ==
The aircraft points a target-illuminating laser onto the desired target and when the missiles is fired it will fly automatically towards the laser point on the target. Advanced laser guided missiles can operate even when the laser illumination is stopped and will continue its flight path on inertial guidance. If the laser illumination lights up again they will proceed to follow the laser light.


=== List of laser guided AGMs ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | Laser guided missiles
|-
! Missile || Country || Max guidance range
|-
| [[AGM-65L]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 23 km
|-
| [[AGM-114B Hellfire]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 8 km
|-
| [[AGM-114K Hellfire II]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 8 km
|-
| [[AGM-123 Skipper]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 20 km
|-
| [[AKD-9]] || [[File:China_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 6 km
|-
| [[AKD-10]] || [[File:China_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
| [[APKWS II (M151)]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 11 km
|-
| [[APKWS II (M282)]] || [[File:USA_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 11 km
|-
| [[AS-30L Nord]] || [[File:France_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 12 km
|-
| [[Blue Arrow 9]] || [[File:China_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 6 km
|-
| [[CIRIT]] || [[File:Turkey_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
| [[GATR]] || [[File:Israel_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
| [[Kh-25]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 7 km
|-
| [[Kh-25ML]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
| [[Kh-29L]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
| [[Kh-38ML]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 40 km
|-
| [[L-UMTAS]] || [[File:Turkey_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 8 km
|-
| [[S-25L]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
| [[ZT-6 Mokopa]] || [[File:South_Africa_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
|}

== Beam riding ==
Beam riding missiles are operated using a radar or laser beam to guide them to the target. Once launched, the missile will attempt to keep itself in the centre of the beam that is projected out from the launch platform.

This differs from other laser-guided missiles, in that the missile is guided by the laser beam itself rather than guiding towards the reflection of the laser on the target.

=== List of beam riding AGMs ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | Beam riding missiles
|-
! Missile || Country || Max guidance range
|-
| [[9K127 Vikhr]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 10 km
|-
| [[9M120-1 Ataka]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 6 km
|-
| [[9M123 Khrizantema]] || [[File:USSR_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 6 km
|-
| [[Starstreak]] || [[File:Britain_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 7 km
|-
|}

==Active Radar Homing ==
Active radar homing (ARH) missiles have a radar emitter built in so that they don't have to rely on target illumination by the aircraft that fired it, making them fire-and-forget weapons. Unfortunately, this is only true to an extent: ARH mode is only available when the missile is coming close to the target, as the range of the built-in radar is limited by its size, which needs to fit inside the compact missile. During the first stage of the flight, the missile has to either rely on inertial guidance, act like a SARH missile, or be course-corrected by Datalink from the aircraft.

=== List of active radar homing AGMs ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" | ARH missiles
|-
! Missile || Country || Max guidance range
|-
| [[AS.34 Kormoran]] || [[File:Germany_flag.png|40px|link=]] || 32 km
|-
|}

== Media ==


;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|iaDMyKEW5Vc|'''Air To Ground Weapons: The Complete Guide''' - ''Tims Variety'' (AGM section starts at 13:49).|y1jSd1RLCnI|'''The Shooting Range #323''' - ''Tactics & Strategy'' section at 06:42 discusses air-to-surface guided munitions.|gSun_ErSSJA|'''The Shooting Range #304''' - ''Triathlon'' section at 07:37 compares early guided air-to-ground missiles.}}

== See also ==


* [[Template:Missiles|Missiles]]
* [[Anti-tank guided missiles]]
* [[Air-to-air missiles]]

== External links ==


;Devblogs

* [[wt:en/news/8311-development-missile-duels-fair-play-en|[Devblog] Missile duels: fair play]]
* [[wt:en/news/7084-development-new-features-upcoming-with-the-ixwa-strike-update-en|[Devblog] New features upcoming with the "Ixwa Strike" update - Tactical air-to-surface missiles]]
* [[wt:en/news/5722-development-agm-12b-bullpup-they-can-t-dodge-en|[Devblog] AGM-12B Bullpup: They can't dodge]]

;Wikipedia

* [[wikipedia:Command_guidance|[Wikipedia] Command guidance]]
* [[wikipedia:Beam_riding|[Wikipedia] Beam riding]]
* [[wikipedia:Infrared_homing|[Wikipedia] Infrared homing]]
* [[wikipedia:Television_guidance|[Wikipedia] Television guidance]]
* [[wikipedia:Laser_guidance|[Wikipedia] Laser guidance]]

[[Category:Game mechanics]]
[[Category:Armaments]]

RB24

2024-03-03T15:50:46Z

U109280623: /* Description */

{{About
| about = Swedish air-to-air '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the other version
| link = RB24J
}}
[[File:Rb24 Launch.png|thumbnail|right|x250px|]]
== Description ==

[[File:WeaponImage AIM-9B Sidewinder.png|thumb|left|420px|The RB24 (AIM-9B) missile (scale is approximate)]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a Swedish [[Air-to-air_missiles#Infrared_homing_.28heat-seeking.29_missiles|infrared homing air-to-air missile]]. It was introduced in [[Update 1.95 "Northern Wind"]]. The RB24 is a license built version of the [[AIM-9B Sidewinder]] missile and performs identically to it. The missile is effective at short ranges but lacks the general ability to manoeuvre well.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Jet fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|saab_j29f}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|saab_j32b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|hunter_f50_sweden}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|saab_ja37}}

{{Navigation-Line|SAAB 35}}{{Specs-Link|saab_j35a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|saab_j35d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|saab_j35xs}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Strike aircraft'''}}{{Specs-Link|saab_aj37}}

{{Navigation-Line|SAAB 105}}{{Specs-Link|saab_105g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|saab_105oe}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" | Missile characteristics
|-
| '''Mass''' || 72 kg
|-
| '''Guidance''' || IR
|-
| '''Aspect''' || Rear-Aspect
|-
| '''Lock range in rear-aspect''' || 4 km
|-
| '''Launch range''' || 10 km
|-
| '''Maximum speed''' || 1.7 M
|-
| '''Maximum overload''' || 10 G
|-
| '''Missile guidance time''' || 20 secs
|-
| '''Explosive mass''' || 7.62 kg TNTeq
|-
|}

=== Effective damage ===

The RB24 is a Swedish version of the AIM-9B and can be expected to be played the same way. This missile is an excellent tool for intercepting bombers, or unsuspecting players. The missile has a good range but suffers from bad tracking and mobility, making it easy to avoid in regular situations. Despite the many downsides, the Swedish "Robot" missile comes quite handy in most matches, giving the player more options to fight back.

=== Comparison with analogues ===

The RB24 is the first missile unlockable in the Swedish tech-tree, just like the AIM-9B in the US tech-tree. Both missiles are very early designs and suffer from older problems. Both missiles are equal in every way and are used in the same situations. These missiles work best when chasing opponents flying straight since the seeker is quite small. Once launched, however, the missiles can guarantee a kill on certain planes. With a 10G overload, heavier targets won't stand a chance. And when used at a higher altitude, the missiles will eliminate almost anyone within reach.

The [[AIM-9E Sidewinder|AIM-9E]] might perform the same as the RB24, but has a higher chance of a successful launch thanks to the improved seeker. This gives the AIM-9E the ability to lead the missile towards the opponent before launch. This helps the missile, which also suffers from bad manoeuvrability.

== Usage in battles ==

To launch the missile in a favourable situation, altitude is recommended. Since planes equipped with the RB24 boast large amounts of force, they handle favourably at these altitudes. The higher altitude helps the missile follow opponents more easily since their manoeuvrability becomes worse at height. Higher altitude also gives the option to intercept jet bombers with limited mobility, which are much easier to kill.

Launching the missile should be done between 0.7 - 3 km of distance. This distance is large enough for the missile to accelerate and short enough for the missile to contain fuel throughout the entire trip. Locked targets should be alone, since several heat sources will confuse the missile and send it off course, losing sight of the target. Taking this into consideration, a heat-seeking missile such as the RB24 should '''never''' be fired behind teammates. This puts them at high risk of accidentally getting targeted, which could lead to friendly fire.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Effective against larger opponents
* Decent effective range
* 10G maximum overload - Enough to eliminate most opponents at altitude

'''Cons:'''

* Easily avoidable
* Bad tracker - Difficult to get a good lock-on
* Tracks poorly - Missile gets easily confused when several heat sources are present

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[RB24J]]

;Similar-performing missiles

* [[AIM-9B Sidewinder]]
* [[AIM-9E Sidewinder]]
* [[R-3S]]

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.''

{{Missiles}}

[[Category:Suspended armaments]]