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I’ve always wondered what happens to a missile like the AIM-120, AIM-9, or AIM-7 when it misses it’s target? Does it fall to the ground still active and would it explode if say a truck drove close enough? Does it self-destruct? What happens when one misses?

Generally speaking, they are active until they explode. Granted, I've been out of the field for awhile, but I've never heard of any missile with a self distruct. Once they launch, they either hit and destroy the target, or in the case of a miss, hit and destroy the ground. I saw a Mavrick once at Gila Bend, that lost it's lock, and smacked the ground flat so that it broke up and the warhead never detonated. But on that same day, another one lost it's lock, and shot straight up into the sky, then exploded several miles away when it ran out of fuel and fell back to earth.

AIM-9's have their Influence Fuse, should they miss but come close enough for the light sensors to pick up the target. When they go, they'll still shower the target with schrapnel like a AAA round.

Best as I know, thats how they still work to this day.

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Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

Nearly all A2A missles have a proximity fuse and a contact fuse should it have a near miss or a direct hit. I do not however know if ANY of these fuses work once the battery has died or how long the battery lasts ( not very long ).

The LASER Maveric has an inerting feature should it lose it's LASER lock, this lets it be used in VERY close proximity to friendly forces. If the lock is lost the warhead wont go off, if the pilot or ground dezers realize a targeting mistake has been made they can turn off the LASER and hopefully mitigate a tragedy.

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The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

Thanks boomer, looks like they have made some changes.

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Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option

\"I saw a Mavrick once at Gila Bend, that lost it's lock......\" Frank, I think we went on the same blue bird ride. I remember the same thing happening.

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Gravity's not just a good idea.......its the LAW!

Thanks for the info guys...just one of those things that make you go hummmmm.

Yeah Mark, seems I remember you on that hill too. That was a great day. I remember that the demo started with the O-2's marking some targets, and we could hear the pilots talking on a loudspeaker. The first A-10 that opened up, flew up the back side of the hill we were on. We were sitting there watching the smoke from the O-2's Rockets, when we heard the familiar whine behind us as the A-10 popped up behind us then opened up with the gun right above us. By the time his rounds were stredding the trucks below, he'd already dove back in behind the next hill. Scared the BEJEEZZZUS out of me.

You just heard, \"wwwhhiiiiIIIIINNNNEEE BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTT!\" What a way to open a show. I remember thinking to my self, \"I sure am glad they're on our side!\"

I still have some of the pics I took that day. I'll try to dig them up, scan them in and post them when I can.

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Slow is Fast, Fast is Slow
Violence may not be the best option, but it IS an option