DCS Reference/Missile Ranges

All numbers in these tables are based on vague intelligence estimates and/or PR posturing and will not be even remotely accurate. For a more sane and realistic estimate of actual effective ranges, divide all numbers by 2 or 3. In addition, all numbers will be reduced further when dealing with a manoeuvring and/or cold-aspect target, especially at lower altitudes (i.e. anything below 25,000').

At best, some of the wire- or laser-guided air-to-ground missiles have proper ranges since they are limited by the wire length and laser coherence, which are fairly well-known entities, more than by aerodynamics and propulsion capacity. Even then, however, guiding the missile on an odd path will reduce the effective range accordingly.

Air-to-Air Missiles

Name	Models and ranges								Note
AIM-7 “Sparrow”	E		F		M		MH		MH variant offers improved loft logic that allows for more efficient use of the flight energy and longer effective range.
	24nm		37nm
	45km		70km
AIM-9 “Sidewinder”	B	J	L	M	P	P5	X		X variant offers over-the-shoulder launching that significantly reduces effective range.
	2.5nm	10nm					20nm
	4.5km	18km					37km
AIM-54 “Phoenix”	A Mk47		A Mk60		C Mk47		C		The Mk60 engine offers higher acceleration and speed, and thus lower time on target, but also lower manoeuvrability.
	100nm+
	180km+
AIM-120 AMRAAM	B				C				C variant has clipped wings for internal carry on the F-22, resulting in slightly lowered manoeuvrability.
	40nm				57nm
	75km				105km
MICA	IR				RF				Offers over-the-shoulder launching that significantly reduces effective range.
	43nm
	80km
Mistral	3.5nm
	6km
R-3 / R-13	M		M1		R		S		All variants are based on the same K-13 platform reverse-engineered from the GAR-8 (AIM-9B).
	8nm				4.5nm		4nm
	15km				8km		7km
R-24	R				T
	27nm				8mn
	50km				15km
R-27	ER		ET		R		T		Guidance logic allows for a maximum vertical separation of ±10km (32k ft) for the R/T variants and ±12km (39k ft) for the ER/ET.
	35nm		28nm		23nm		18nm
	65km		52km		42km		33km
R-33	110nm+
	200km+
R-40	R				T
	43nm				10nm
	80km				20km
R-55 / RS-2US	3.5nm								All variants are based on the same K-5 platform, only with different seeker heads.
	6km
R-60	base model				M				The M variant has an 20° wider seeker FoV and significantly lower minimum range.
	4.5nm
	8km
R-73	16nm								Offers over-the-shoulder launching that significantly reduces effective range.
	30km
R-77	54nm
	100km
R.550 Magic 2 (Matra Magic II)	8nm
	15km
Super 530D	20nm
	37km