I recently read an article about the SU27 flanker extended family, and how they carry 8-12 BVR missiles so that in the opening phase of an engagement they can fire multi missile salvos with Radar, anti-radiation and IR homing to make escape very difficult. This has always been the case with Russian/Soviet AAMs.
In contrast modern Western AAMs are basically pigeon-holed radar for BVR and IR for WVR. However this wasn't always the case; the AIM4 Faclon came in SARH and IR, the AIM9C was the short lived SARH Sidewinder, the Matra R530 came in SARH and IR and a SARH Red Top was proposed called the Blue Dolphin.
So what if Western AAMs continued along this inital trend? Would the air battles from the 60s onwards be different if western fighters fired AAMs in pairs, IR and SARH. Would fighter design be different to accomodate the extra AAM rounds?
In contrast modern Western AAMs are basically pigeon-holed radar for BVR and IR for WVR. However this wasn't always the case; the AIM4 Faclon came in SARH and IR, the AIM9C was the short lived SARH Sidewinder, the Matra R530 came in SARH and IR and a SARH Red Top was proposed called the Blue Dolphin.
So what if Western AAMs continued along this inital trend? Would the air battles from the 60s onwards be different if western fighters fired AAMs in pairs, IR and SARH. Would fighter design be different to accomodate the extra AAM rounds?