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AIM-7E Sparrow

2023-03-02T17:17:42Z

U112392164: /* Pros and cons */

[[File:FGR 2 with sparrows.jpg|thumb|500px|Phantom FGR.2 carrying AIM-7E Sparrows]]

== Description ==

[[File:WeaponImage AIM-7E Sparrow.png|thumb|left|420px|The AIM-7E Sparrow missile (scale is approximate)]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is an American [[Air-to-air_missiles#Semi-Active_Radar_Homing_.28SARH.29_missiles|semi-active radar-homing air-to-air missile]]. It was introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]]

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|f-104s}}
* {{Specs-Link|f-4e}}
* {{Specs-Link|f-4e_iaf}}
* {{Specs-Link|f-4ej}}
* {{Specs-Link|f-4ej_kai}}
* {{Specs-Link|f-4k}}
* {{Specs-Link|f-4m_fgr2}}

== General info ==

The AIM-7E has a new propulsion system based on a solid-fueled rocket which increased its range and performance compared to previous variants. The missile needs 1.8s after the launch to start tracking its target, then it needs 2.7s to become fully manoeuvrable. It can pull up to 25G.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" | Missile characteristics
|-
| '''Mass''' || 205 kg
|-
| '''Guidance''' || SARH
|-
| '''Signal''' || CW
|-
| '''Lock range''' || 25 km
|-
| '''Launch range''' || 50 km
|-
| '''Maximum speed''' || 4 M
|-
| '''Maximum overload''' || 25 G
|-
| '''Missile guidance time''' || 40 secs
|-
| '''Explosive mass''' || 11.52 kg TNTeq
|-
|}

=== Effective damage ===

The AIM-7E has a 30 kg (65 lb) MK 38 MOD 0 continuous rod warhead with 9 kg of PBXN-4 high explosive. It is capable of destroying fighter-sized targets with a single hit in most cases.

=== Comparison with analogues ===


The AIM-7E Sparrow is one of the better SARH missiles in the game with decent range. It's comparable to the Soviet R-23R missile, both need almost 5s to get full manoeuvrability after launching them, but the Sparrow has longer range and can pull 5G more. The Soviet missile is also heavier, but with more of explosive.

== Usage in battles ==


The ideal time to use this weapon will depend on the target's speed altitude and if the target has a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR) or not. Targets without RWR can often be attacked with the missile from considerable range since they will usually not be aware of the impending attack. In general, lower, faster and more aware targets require you to be closer to the target. If you get too close (anywhere less than 4 km usually), the missile begins to lose effectiveness as at these closer ranges it does not have time to accelerate to its top speed. The stated range on the stat card is an ideal range against a high altitude target that is unaware and heading towards you, more realistic engagement ranges tend to be closer to 8-12 km. Hits beyond 20 km are practical but only under ideal circumstances. A squadron of Phantoms with 4 AIM-7E Sparrows each can dominate the high altitude realm very well.

When engaging other Sparrow-equipped aircraft, a good knowledge of manoeuvres such as the F-Pole will serve you well.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Long lock-on range (up to 25km)
* Being radar-guided, it can attack a target from any direction
* With a 25G max overload, it has good turning capability
* Can achieve very high speeds (up to Mach 4)

'''Cons:'''

* Travels in a straight line once launched and only begins tracking after 1.8s after launch and gets fully manoeuvrable 3 seconds after that; this makes close-range launches difficult
* Has a chance to not hit.
* Sometimes fails to lock on successfully
* Not good within ∼2km

== 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

* [[AIM-7C Sparrow]]
* [[AIM-7D Sparrow]]
* [[AIM-7E-2 Sparrow]]
* [[AIM-7F Sparrow]]

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

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

{{Missiles}}

[[Category:Suspended armaments]]

AIM-7F Sparrow

2022-12-09T19:47:46Z

U112392164: /* Pros and cons */

== Description ==

The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is an American [[Air-to-air_missiles#Semi-Active_Radar_Homing_.28SARH.29_missiles|semi-active radar-homing air-to-air missile]]. It was introduced in [[Update "Winged Lions"]]

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|f-4ej_kai}}
* {{Specs-Link|f-4j}}
* {{Specs-Link|f_14a_early}}

== General info ==

The AIM-7F is a long-range air-to-air missile equipped with a sustainer motor. It is capable of engaging targets at over 30 km away and can reliably hit manoeuvring targets at ranges of 15 km.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" | Missile characteristics
|-
| '''Mass''' || 231 kg
|-
| '''Guidance''' || SARH
|-
| '''Signal''' || CW
|-
| '''Lock range''' || 40 km
|-
| '''Launch range''' || 100 km
|-
| '''Maximum speed''' || 2.9 M
|-
| '''Maximum overload''' || 25 G
|-
| '''Missile guidance time''' || 75 secs
|-
| '''Explosive mass''' || 15.09 kg TNTeq
|-
|}

=== Effective damage ===

The AIM-7F is equipped with a 4 kg TNT warhead, capable of destroying aircraft it hits or detonates next to.

=== Comparison with analogues ===

The AIM-7F compares favourably against the [[AIM-7E]] and is on slightly better footing than the [[Skyflash]] and [[AIM-7E-2]] once range exceeds 6 km. With a 25G pull that can be sustained for nearly the entire flight thanks to the sustainer motor, the manoeuvrability of the AIM-7F is unparalleled. The AIM-7F is approximately 40 kg heavier than the E-2, however, so acceleration is slightly lower, along with turning capability.

== Usage in battles ==

The AIM-7F is best suited to high-altitude, long-range engagements and can be launched from over 15 km. Thanks to the sustainer motor, overall travel time is short and the missile is capable of a higher top speed in all but the most extreme situations. Additionally, the missile is able to retain its speed for far longer, meaning it keeps its 25G manoeuvring capability, often until the target gets hit. However, the AIM-7F can generally be used in any situation where the E-2 can be used, save for extremely close range shots.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Extremely long range (over 35 km in good conditions)
* Sustaining motor, so it keeps its speed and manoeuvrability at long ranges
* Very manoeuvrable, second only to the AIM-7E-2 and Skyflash in their first few seconds of flight
* Very long tracking time (75 seconds)
* Large warhead (>15 kg of TNT)
* Manoeuvres straight off the rails, so no leading is required like the AIM-7E

'''Cons:'''

* Slightly lower acceleration than contemporaries
* Heavier than previous missiles, 4 AIM-7Fs will weigh almost 160 kg more than 4 AIM-7-E2s
* Very long burn time, so the red diamond will be visible for a very long time, giving enemies ample time to notice it
* Glides less than the AIM-7-E2
* Not fire and forget have to keep radar lock until missile hits enemy

== 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 ==


;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="250">
File:AIM-7F and AIM-7E Sparrow variants cutaway.png|<small>A cutaway diagram comparing the AIM-7E and AIM-7F Sparrow</small>
</gallery>

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[AIM-7C Sparrow]]
* [[AIM-7D Sparrow]]
* [[AIM-7E Sparrow]]
* [[AIM-7E-2 Sparrow]]

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

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

{{Missiles}}

[[Category:Suspended armaments]]

AIM-7E-2 Sparrow

2022-12-09T19:31:20Z

U112392164: /* Usage in battles */

== Description ==

[[File:WeaponImage AIM-7E Sparrow.png|thumb|left|420px|The AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missile (scale is approximate)]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is an American [[Air-to-air_missiles#Semi-Active_Radar_Homing_.28SARH.29_missiles|semi-active radar-homing air-to-air missile]]. It was introduced in [[Update "Direct Hit"]]. It is an upgraded variant of the original AIM-7E Sparrow.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|f-4e}}
* {{Specs-Link|f-4e_iaf}}
* {{Specs-Link|f-4j}}
* {{Specs-Link|f_14a_early}}

== General info ==


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" | Missile characteristics
|-
| '''Mass''' || 193 kg
|-
| '''Guidance''' || SARH
|-
| '''Signal''' || CW
|-
| '''Lock range''' || 25 km
|-
| '''Launch range''' || 50 km
|-
| '''Maximum speed''' || 4 M
|-
| '''Maximum overload''' || 25 G
|-
| '''Missile guidance time''' || 40 secs
|-
| '''Explosive mass''' || 11.52 kg TNTeq
|-
|}

=== Effective damage ===

The AIM-7E-2 has a 30 kg (65 lb) MK 38 MOD 0 continuous rod warhead with 9 kg of PBXN-4 high explosive. It is capable of destroying fighter-sized targets with a single hit in most cases.

=== Comparison with analogues ===

The AIM-7E-2 is a significant improvement over the baseline AIM-7E and is comparable to the British Skyflash missile.

== Usage in battles ==

As an immediate upgrade to the original AIM-9E Some sort of air-to-air missile, the AIM-7E-2 improves on a number of the AIM-7E's critical shortcomings. The most notable difference is the vastly improved manoeuvrability of the missile. With a 25G overload, the AIM-7E-2 can reliably engage, track, and defeat targets flying defensively even at close range and lower altitudes. It also features faster target acquisition, allowing the player to launch during limited engagement windows. This allows the AIM-7E-2 to engage targets flying at high speeds and oblique angles, a feat the AIM-7E struggles to perform. Coupled with more advanced radars such as the AN/APG-66J on the F-4EJ Kai Phantom II, the AIM-7E-2 is among the first SARH missiles capable of being reliably used in very low altitude dogfights while retaining the long-range effectiveness of the Sparrow at high altitude.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* All-weather
* All-aspect
* Begins tracking right off the rail
* Good manoeuvrability allows engagement of agile targets at ranges as close as 2 to 4 km
* High supersonic top speed

'''Cons:'''

* Can sometimes fail to track
* Radar lock must be maintained for the entire duration of the missile's flight
* Missile potential can be limited by radars with no look-down/shoot-down (LD/SD) capability

== 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

* [[AIM-7C Sparrow]]
* [[AIM-7D Sparrow]]
* [[AIM-7E Sparrow]]
* [[AIM-7F Sparrow]]

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

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

{{Missiles}}

[[Category:Suspended armaments]]