“China isn’t making any, and that includes the medium-range SD-10”
no, china isnt mass producing any SD10s to the best of our knowledge, but she has definately made some (SD10s) already, and mass production only looks like a matter of time (months not years).
anyhow, back to the original topic. super long ranged AAMs are valuble to AFs in the sence that they allow pilots that have them to take a better hold of any air engagements and tips the odds in their favour (as Vympel already explained). however, i wouldnt expect the current front line AAMs in this catagory to be much good at getting high percentage kills against a good opponent (in terms of equipment and training).
do remeber when the R33 and AIM-54 were designed and deployed. sure they would have been upgraded over time, but the limitations that their older design imposes on them are still subatantual. – big AAMs like the AIM54 rely on high speed as oppsed to superior manoverability to hit targets. however, ECMs have evolved a great deal since the 70s and 80s, and the chances of a successful jamming of the enemy is subatntaully increased.
the shere range of the missiles themselves may also cause a problem as u may alert the enemy to ur presence with ur radar lock before he had seen u with his radar. the extended flight time of the missiles also allows greater time and opportunity for enemy countermeasure to take effect.
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