Jimmy

I'm actually very skeptical about the credibility of that image anyway. I have a hard time believing it comes from a credible source at all. Python 4...an Israeli weapon. Being launched by a Hornet? A Hornet that happens to be equipped with a HMS system? Uhh...yeah. A Python 4 should've been launched from an F-15I, F-16, KFIR or something, equipped with a DASH. The OBS angle is clearly greater than 90* and I think the 9G sustained turn flattens where it should curve sharper (due to airspeed bleedoff).

Minor details? Perhaps. But that's one way to differentiate professional/reliable work from...other work.

GGTharos

60deg OBA can be radar-cued (this is the OBA presented in the image)

Lastly there is no time delineation or range metric which is probably confusing to a lot of people. This isn't a particularely unlikely scenario - the aircraft launching the missile isn't important, just the OBA and the fact that the missile can turn on its tail, which TVC equipped missiles can do. There's an example or real life high OBA firing of this weapon caught on tape.

Mind you, I don't think Python 4 is TVC-equipped, but I don't really recall well... in any case, I suppose a bit of aerodynamical trickery might give you that much maneuverability too, though its not the same thing - the particular circumstances of this shot are probably pretty tight ... a little closer and you're in R-min and you'll gimbal the seeker out.

hello

I don't think the AMRAAM can be launched while the F-22 is inverted. It has to fall away before its motor fires. However, the Sidewinder can be launched inverted on it's rail-launcher. The F-22 would have to dive and throw the missile out the bay in order to pull off an inverted AMRAAM launch.

The only reason I see for the Flanker to keep turning left is if the launch plane has kept flying forward or made a left turn and is now running away(and the Flanker pilot wants to pursue it). Otherwise, it could've just reversed it's turn and dived for the launch plane after the first miss. I doubt that the missile will have enough energy left over after that climb to stay in pursuit. By the way, what happened to that Pythons proximity fuse?

Jimmy

I hadnt actually watched the video in quite a while, but you may be right. The invert-fired missiles were obviously Sidewinders.

My analysis of why the Flanker stayed in the left turn assumed the Hornet followed his missile. The lack of follow-up on what the shooter actually did is just another example of the half-assedness demonstrated by that diagram.