FAS suggests a range of 40km for the R-73Vympel wrote:No, the R-73 is a WVR missile, just like the AIM-9 (though the latest marks of the R-73- the R-73M2, has a far superior seeker/FOV as well as a kinematic range of 40km). You were mentioning that an F-16 turns faster than a MiG-21, so naturally I assumed you were talking about a dogfight. No F-16 will ever fight a MiG-21 though (unless the Israelis have done it ...). The MiG-21 has served for a long time, but it's time is now up.Howedar wrote:You're giving the MiG-21 medium range missiles, and the F-16 short range ones. Of course the aircraft with the longer range weapons is going to win.Vympel wrote: *picturing culture mind piloted aircraft ....*
Anyway, it depends on what the F-16 is armed with. If the fight gets within visual range and the F-16 is armed with older generation AIM-9s, and not the new AIM-9X, if the MiG-21 snaps off an R-73 with a helmet-moutned sight off boresight shot, it's dead. This is what would happen in a fight between India and Pakistan- the only realistic MiG-21 versus F-16 scenario.
Thing is, thats the F-16.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/miss ... /aa-11.htm
I have no reason to believe they're wrong.
AIM-9L 'winders have a range of much less than that.