Unknown missile behaviour

[Ours]

I've hard a strange encounter. I had 2 Russian Air Sup fighters flying high with radar on to watch one of my South flank during the Russian SEADS mission. A bit away are the Western ships that my sub is engaging.

Out of the blue pops a missile at very close range from my aircraft. For one thing I have no idea where it came (I responded immediately to the missile warning) but the oddest part was the reaction of the fighters: they fired AA against the missile while it was classified as "unknown". It actually hit the missile. Another missile popup up and because the planes where taking evasive manoeuvres they had time to identify it as a SM-2 which later took out one of my planes.

So in short, a plane shot down a SM-2 before he knew what kind of missile it was an killed it. This doesn't looks normal.

[JanH]

It takes a little bit of time from the IDing happens in the logic and until you see the update on your screen. I suspect that is what happened.

[Ours]

So it's normal a Grippen can shoot down an SM-2. I was surprised to learn that as most SAMs can't be intercepted by fighters.

[Radioshow]

No. While it is technically possible to target a Standard Missile, actually engaging one and hitting it is another matter. Too fast for radar most likely, except maybe for AESA. IR might get a track on it but only a AIM9X could maybe!! hit it.
Would never happen though. Fighters would be busy going defensive and would never try to engage a SAM, and anyone would have to be VERY close to it to get a shot. SM-2/3 are very fast as well, and the missile may never be able to get close enough.

I don't think you should be able to target SAM's and their ship-based relatives. Too fast, specially when coming at you. Like hitting a bullet with a BB.

[JanH]

We let weapons be able to target SMs because they can also target surface ships. Otherwise we'd have an invincible weapon. This causes the AI to get a bit stupid and start shooting at SMs far more than it should. I noticed an Su-35 engage incoming SM2s instead of running away. A sad mistake.

[Ours]

I confirm that trying to fight a SM-2 didn't go well with my Russian fighters. I'd rather they reacted like any other SAM missile fired at them with the option to manually engage if I choose to do so.

[JanH]

I agree. Will tweak.