More questions. Why is Amraam has shorter ranger than the Aim-7M,L that it was replaced? So as the russian missiles, the active guided missile have shorter range than semi-one. and the french too. Does it have to do with radar tracking range?

I remember see a picture of Mig 29 having a wingtip missile. It didn’t have any big change on the wings except it had a TVC.

[QUOTE=Distiller]@ Rearward vision: Fighters operate in groups of two or four, they check six mutually, but it sure is preferable to see large parts of your own aircraft and the surrounding airspace.

If a fighter is approaching from the rear and from below, with a background of the landscape. I just wonder how far the nake eyes can detect the incoming fighter. Longer than a short range missile range?
Can you put an infrared search/track sensor or a small radar on the rear and eliminate the rearward vision?

Another question:
Is the mechanical vector thrusting better than a fluid one? how much thrust does the fluid vector thrusting nozzle lost?