F-16 won the first air duel: experts told about a rocket that struck SU-34

AIM-9X is known for high mortality and gives an advantage in air duels, can attack enemy goals from high angles and in close scenarios. F-16 Fighting Falcon of Ukrainian AFs are known for wide combat capabilities: advanced avionic, radar systems and various accurate missiles. One of its distinctive features is the radar An/APG-66 (V2), which tracks different goals at the same time with high accuracy.

The F-16 can carry a number of air-air-air missiles, including AIM-120 Amraam to fight the battlefield outside the visibility line and AIM-9x Sidewinder-for melee. The ability to capture the target outside the direct visibility area AIM-9x makes it especially deadly in melee. This combination of radar and infrared guidance gives the F-16 advantage in both distant and nearby battles.

Compared to other modern fighters such as Russian Su-35 and MiG-31, the F-16 higher maneuverability and the capabilities of the HRS. The SU-35 also has excellent long-range radars and missile systems, the authors of the publication note, but the F-16 compensates for the expense of excellent maneuverability and integrated HRS systems, such as an integrated Pylon distribution system (PIDS). This system uses countermeasures to evade threats with radar.

This, in combination with the advanced tanks of target, allows pilots to hit goals, simply looking at them, which is important in the melee. AIM-9x Sidewinder is a modern air-air weapon that has made a revolution in modern air battles. The infrared guidance system allows you to detect and capture the thermal signature of an enemy aircraft, usually from engines, which makes it highly effective against fast moving goals.

AIM-9x is different from previous versions of the "high deviation from the line of sight". Thus, the pilot does not need to be directly face to the enemy for firing; The rocket can be aimed and affected by the aircraft even at the extreme angles about the flight trajectory. All this is complemented by a system of cheerful sight and allows the pilot to simply look at the target and direct the rocket.