The Semi-Active Air-to-Air Missile (SAAM) is a long-range air-to-air missile present in most Ace Combat games since Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
Overview
The SAAM utilizes a missile guidance system known as semi-active radar homing. After being selected in flight, a large green reticle appears on the aircraft's Head-up display. After firing the missile at a specific target, the target must be kept inside of the reticle for the missile to continue tracking until it makes impact. This data transfer is what classifies the SAAM as "semi-active," in that it requires a consistent data transfer between itself and the launch aircraft.
One SAAM is powerful enough to destroy most enemy aircraft; as such, it is the weapon of choice for long-range assaults on a single aerial target. SAAMs are best utilized at their maximum range, since the target's angle of evasion is minimal and the risk of counterattack is low. However, the launch aircraft is vulnerable to counterattacks from other aircraft (or even the target aircraft) while it is still transmitting data to the missile. In one example, the target aircraft or other pilots in the same flight could be equipped with missiles that have an equal range to the SAAM, and are free to counterattack (and sometimes perform maneuvers if their long-range missiles are fully guided rather than semi-active).
If the target leaves the reticle after the SAAM has been fired, the player can reposition themselves to bring the target within the reticle again and the missile will continue its tracking from where it lost lock if not too much time has elapsed. If multiple SAAMs are launched separately at different vectors and the player then focuses the reticle on one target, all of the SAAMs will vector towards that target at different angles. SAAMs can also be used against multiple targets at once, as long as the player can keep all targets inside the reticle.
Game Analysis
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
- "Semi-active long-range homing air-to-air missiles. Once a missile is fired, the pilot needs to keep the target in their sights until impact."
- ― Hangar
Aircraft
Gallery
American SAAM (AIM-7M Sparrow)
Russian SAAM (R-27ER, AA-10 Alamo-C)
MiG-31 SAAM (R-40RD, AA-6 Acrid)
Ace Combat Infinity
A comparison of the SAAM's targeting circles in
Infinity, taking levels and parts into account
- "An air-to-air missile that homes in using semi-active radar. After firing, there is a requirement to keep the target inside the steering circle on your aircraft's display in order to maintain homing capabilities, but this allows the missile to be guided to the target with extremely high accuracy. It also offers long range, making it very effective over long distances."
- ― Hangar
Aircraft
| Lv.
|
Cst
|
A2A
|
A2G
|
HOM
|
DIS
|
DMG
|
REL
|
Price
|
| 1
|
10
|
E+
|
F
|
S+
|
C+
|
F
|
B+
|
0
|
| 2
|
24
|
E+
|
F
|
S+
|
C+
|
F
|
B+
|
22,200
|
| 3
|
32
|
D
|
F
|
S+
|
C+
|
F
|
B+
|
86,400
|
| 4
|
58
|
D
|
F
|
S++
|
B
|
F
|
A
|
339,000
|
| 5
|
84
|
D+
|
F
|
S++
|
B
|
F
|
A
|
739,500
|
| Total Credit Price from Lv.0 to Lv.5
|
1,187,100
|
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy
- "Air-to-air missile with high accuracy and long range. Once fired, the target must be kept inside the missile's steering circle"
- ― Hangar
Statistics
Gallery
Ace Combat: Assault Horizon
- "An air-to-air missile with semi-active radar tracking. After firing, keep the target within the steering circle for more accurate guidance. Its long-range attacks also deal massive damage."
- ― Hangar
Aircraft
Gallery
American SAAM (AIM-7M Sparrow)
Russian aircraft SAAM (R-27ER, AA-10 Alamo-C)
Russian SAAM for Ka-50 Hokum (R-27ER, AA-10 Alamo-C)
Ace Combat: Joint Assault
- "Air-to-air missile with high accuracy and long range.
Once fired, the target must be kept inside the missile's steering circle."
- ― Hangar
Cost
- The SAAM costs 30 credits per use.
Aircraft
Gallery
Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
- "Although highly accurate, the target must be kept inside the SAAM's steering circle once it is fired. The SAAM is guided via the aircraft's onboard radar, meaning it must be continually controlled until it has impacted with the target. However, this independent guidance system increases manoeuvrability while lowering production costs."
- ― Hangar
Aircraft
Gallery
F/A-18F SAAM (AIM-7M Sparrow)
Su-47 SAAM (R-27ER, AA-10 Alamo-C)
F-14D SAAM (AIM-120C AMRAAM)
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
- "Air-to-air missile with high accuracy and long range.
Once fired, the target must be kept inside the missile's steering circle."
- ― Hangar
Aircraft
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War
- "Air-to-air missile with high accuracy and long range. Once fired, the target must be kept inside the missile's steering circle."
- ― Hangar
Aircraft
Gallery
Russian SAAM (R-27ER, AA-10 Alamo-C)
American SAAM (AIM-7M Sparrow)
Swedish SAAM (Rb.27/AIM-26B Falcon, manufactured in Sweden)
Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War
- "Air-to-air missile with high accuracy and long range. Once fired, the target must be kept inside the missile's steering circle."
- ― Hangar
Aircraft
References
American SAAM (AIM-7M Sparrow)
Russian SAAM (R-27ER, AA-10 Alamo-C)
MiG-31 SAAM (R-40RD, AA-6 Acrid)
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