Falcon 4 has a cunning system for using SAMs, and you can use this to make your missions more interesting. The aim is to provide a challenging opponent for pilots flying your custom mission.

Unlike Jane's F-15 Mission Builder, where the Integrated Air Defence System (IADS) net had to be set by hand, Falcon 4 automates this process. Large SAM sites are assumed to have large search radar and effective processing facilities, handing off targets to smaller sites, who do not need to switch on their own search radar.

In our example we will use an SA-2 site to act as the IADS HQ and we will site it at an enemy airbase. A small depot nearby is protected by an SA-8 unit. The SA-8 is excellent for our purposes, as each launch vehicle carries its own targetting radar, so the whole unit cannot be neutralised with a single AGM-88 HARM.

Shortly after take-off we will be tagged by the SA-2 system, as can be seen on the HARM Targetting System. The SA-2 radar will continue to search, with the SA-8 launchers only activating their radar when they are about to fire. There is little time to lock and launch the HARM, although its high speed will help in the first duel. But if you continue inbound you will most likely be shot down. If playing with Labels set to Off the SA-8s will almost always win.

Download the Example Mission