During missions I have the feeling the RWR also warns for missiles that have been fired by friendlies. Am I feeling this right?

You are correct.

Yeah, the RWR's missile warning system "sees" missle plumes when they are launched. It has no friend or foe capability.

I too panicked until realising the warning was a maverick launched by my wingman.

It isn't the RWR - it is the MLWS. Two different systems with two very different functions, both displaying things on your IT-1390 (IIRC the display instrument number)

You are right GreyGhost.
But it shows up on the RWR right???
I'm just a civilian you know.

It displays on the instrument generalized as the RWR, but in fact combines sensor info from multiple sources. So yeah, RWR is fine.

No, it doesn't. The display is NOT the RWR. The display shows you data from the RWR and MLWS, and in the olden times you'd call it 'the RWR' because it was the only instrument it took input from. It's just a display though.

The RWR is a bunch of hardware boxes with associated software that are connected to the IP1310 (I got the designation wrong before). The MLWS is also connected to the IP1310. The IP1310 is what you refer to as 'the RWR', but that isn't what it is. It's just a display unit. The RWR and MLWS are completely separate pieces of equipment from it.

As I said before, it was sort of ok to call it the same thing before because only the RWR gave input to the IP1310 (which may actually not be true. The F-15's warning display receives input from the jammer for example).

But these days, you have to know which piece of equipment is whowing you something on that display and why, since the RWR and MLWS function very, very differently.

A MiG-29S fired an R-77 at me and it also comes up as an "M" on the RWR (err... I mean IP1310). Its confusing because I can't tell whether the MLWS has detected a smoke plume or the RWR is telling me about the active homing radar lock.

It can be both in this case. One way or the other, with a fighter launching a weapon at you, if you get an 'M' and it's inside the inner ring, do something about it or else

So wait... there are two systems and it's important to know the difference between the two, but when there's a missile being fired at you, you can't tell if it's an R-77 radar missile launched by a Mig, or a SA-6 from the ground...??

Hypothesis:

A missile launch warning shows up as a M in a circle and has a single short high pitch tone associated with it.
An active radar lock shows as a diamond (or is it a square?) with a flashing letter (M?) and there is a repetitive tone associated with it.

I haven't tested this and I'm at work at the moment, but it should be straight forward to test.

Nevermind, I've found the answer to my own question in the manual:

"A symbol can have three states on the display:

• If a symbol is displayed with no circle around it, it indicates that the radar is in acquisition/search mode. When a new emitter is detected, a new threat tone will be heard.
• If a symbol has a steady circle around it, it indicates that the radar is tracking/locked on to your aircraft. When being tracked by an engagement radar, you will be provided a radar lock tone.
• If a symbol has a flashing circle around it, it indicates that the radar is supporting a missile that has been launched at you. When being launched on by a radar-guided missile, you will hear a missile launch tone. When a missile launch has occurred, the Missile Launch (ML) light on the CMSC will turn on. A detected missile will be displayed as an M symbol with a flashing circle around it."

On a side note, in the manual, the display is also called RWR: "The RWR is a circular-shaped display on the left of the front dash that provides you a visual representation of radar emitters, detected missile launches, and laser illumination around your aircraft."

It makes it easy to say 'it appears on the RWR', and I'll put this particular point to rest.

As far as the missile detection goes, you don't really need to know whether it's a radar missile or a heat-seeker - you look in the direction that the threat has been presented at. You follow the standard practice required to defeat all missiles, and pump out both types of counter-measures.

The difference here is that you have an advantage in that you can detect the launch of passively guided missiles.

Further, in RL an RWR couldn't really tell you when someone was launching a missile anyway, unless that involved altering the waveform to something very specific, which is by no means a necessary condition to guide a radar guided missile to its target. The RWR should signal a missile launch the moment a given threat is 'inside lethal range'.

Case in point: One F-15C went straight into defense with countermeasures when locked on to by a MiG-29 within about 5nm. He didn't bother looking for the missile launch or what kind of missile it was: The RWR detected an STT track, found it to be of sufficient power to be in lethal range for the aircraft that carries that type of radar, and issued the warning. The pilot reacted immediately by beaming and dispensing countermeasures, and his wingman did as well - by putting an AIM-7 in that MiG.

You have an additional tool: The MLWS. It will react to an actual missile launch and tell you a rocket has been fired. You know that something is in the air for certain (barring false positives from certain interesting sources like arc-welders ... ) . You might find yourself wondering if a SAM volcano has opened up if you happen to overfly an MLRS battery while it's doing its thing though

The question is --- would you rather find out it WASN'T fired at you or stare at the incoming missiles 0.5 seconds before impact?

IME, it's better to engage defensive as soon as a threat is in the air. Heck, I even do so when a radar lock is established (ie, looking right at me) --- I don't want the bad guy knowing I'm in the area.

However, this makes it very important for wingmen (esp in MP) to call out maverick launches --- it'll save you a lot of "exciting moments" and your blood pressure will appreciate it too!

And for the best defensive measures, you need to see the missile

Don't you just beam the launching platform? I know that in Falcon or LOMAC, you are advised to "turn into" the missile once you track it (for reasons that escape me at the moment, most likely energy), but in the slow Hog, aren't you just asking for trouble?

Correct - if you turn into the missile, you're dead.

With the MANPAD's, if you do not see the launch, you're dead. They tend to fire within the NEZ, so you have to be pretty aggressive with maneuvering and countermeasures to escape.

With the short-range stuff such as OSA and Tor - no excuse as they are all well within MAV range - conduct DEAD flights with the Hog as soon as ID'd.

All the same, with the Hog being so slow it's not sufficient merely to beam the missile - you have to maneuver to bleed the energy of the incoming missile. Not doing so will result in some pretty close calls and the odd 'in the face' scenario dependant on system.

Just kill them all with Mav's - easily done

Yes, you beam the launching platform as a beginning of your defense. You do NOT turn into missiles. That only works for old, not very maneuverable SAMs. Any modern missile will waste you for the effort.

Following the beam, you still try to acquire the missile and if you cannot, you do your best last-ditch maneuver blindly while dispensing countermeasures.

Erm, I just beam the launching platform, deploy CMs, and dive for the deck. Worked for me so far.

That's why I don't take my Hog past Angels 8 if I can help it, at least not in hostile territory.

And yes, each air threat deserves a Mav shoved down its throat! I reserve my bombs for when I own the skies.