sprstdlyscottsmn wrote:yes.
Okay, for the sake of discussion I will fire up my latest stable version of my missile guidance and performance simulator. For this discussion all shots will be head on at 36,000ft with shooter and target moving 0.9M.
I will start with the standard AIM-120C-5 Motor as I know it (135lb fuel, 265ISP) and give it an 8 second burn (gives 4,470lb thrust) and a 0 degree loft. (link to the atk site is a dead link, but with it having been referenced I will accept that it was true) I will check what launch ranges result in the missile still moving Mach 1+ at impact.
0 deg loft
a 41nm shot gives a final speed of 1.01M, peak speed of 4.85M, and a final distance of 28.4nm.
5 deg loft
a 44nm shot gives a final speed of 1.02M, peak speed of 4.87M, and a final distance of 31.5nm.
10 deg loft
a 53nm shot gives a final speed of 1.03M, peak speed of 4.85M, and a final distance of 38.2nm.
15 deg loft
a 71nm shot gives a final speed of 1.00M, peak speed of 4.84M, and a final distance of 51.0nm.
20 deg loft
a 95nm shot gives a final speed of 1.01M, peak speed of 4.81M, and a final distance of 68.7nm.
The AIM-120D setup I was using was 150lb propellant, 3s boost (at 2.6:1 ratio) and 14 sec sustain with a 19deg loft. Using the above firing scenario gives a 124nm shot gives a final speed of 1.02M, peak speed of 4.92M, and a final distance of 92.5nm.
I was "calibrating" it with a 33,000ft shot from 1.02 to a 33,000ft 0.83M target (effectively the MINIZAP setup) which yielded a 111nm shot for a 1.0M finish (I was looking for a 1.2M finish in calibration)
I have some questions:
1- Why does 95nm shot has the final distance of 68.7 nm? is it the final distance when the missiles still maintain altitude above 33,000 ft?
2- Is the new burn time for AIM-120D change anything about Meteor estimation?
3- According to your estimation, Meteor with 3 degrees loft and 10:1 adjustable ratio throttle, Meteor can fly 250nm compared to 68.7 nm with 20 degrees loft. Does that mean an F-35 launched Meteor from 33,000ft and Mach 1, its missiles will fly further than AIM-12D launched by F-22 from 60,000 ft and Mach 1.7? Is the advantage of ramjet engine that significant?
sprstdlyscottsmn wrote:Back to the drawing board. Thank you eloise for challenging my assertions and assumptions. Not only can max range drastically increase, but the range at which the missile still has high speed increases as well.

I learn a lot from your analyzing as well.