Semi-Active Air-to-Air Missile

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).

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

Aircraft	Price (MRP)	Ammo (base amount)	Ammo (Takeoff Weight Augmentation (Sp. W) Lv. 1)	Ammo (Takeoff Weight Augmentation (Sp. W) Lv. 2)
F-104C Starfighter	0	18	26	34
MiG-21bis Fishbed	0	18	26	34
F-15J	40,000	26	34	42
MiG-31B Foxhound	30,000	24	32	40
Su-47 Berkut	0	30	38	46

Ace Combat Infinity

SAAM Circle Comparison — 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

	Cst	A2A	A2G	HOM	DIS	DMG	REL	Price
Lv.1	10	E+	F	S+	C+	F	B+	0
Lv.2	24	E+	F	S+	C+	F	B+	22,200
Lv.3	32	D	F	S+	C+	F	B+	86,400
Lv.4	58	D	F	S++	B	F	A	339,000
Lv.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

Aircraft	Price	Ammo
F-15S/MTD	Starting weapon	8
F-35C Lightning II	Starting weapon	8
MiG-21-93 Fishbed	Starting weapon	8
MiG-31 Foxhound	23,000	8
Su-47 Berkut	30,400	8
Typhoon	Starting weapon	8

Statistics

Gallery

Hangar view

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

Aircraft

Gallery

Russian SAAM
American SAAM
SAAM for F-4E Phantom II
SAAM for F-15C Eagle
SAAM for F-15 S/MTD
SAAM for F/A-18F Super Hornet
SAAM for YF-23A Black Widow II
SAAM for MiG-21bis Fishbed
SAAM for Su-33 Flanker-D
SAAM for Ka-50 Hokum

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

Aircraft	Price	Ammo
F-14D Super Tomcat	Starting weapon	9
F-16C Fighting Falcon	8,000	12
F-16XL	12,600	13
JA 37 Viggen	7,600	11
F-15E Strike Eagle	Starting weapon	15
Su-27 Flanker-B	14,200	12
MiG-31 Foxhound	Starting weapon	21
MiG-29A Fulcrum	14,100	12
MiG-21-93 Fishbed	Starting weapon	8
S-32	Starting weapon	12

Gallery

Stats

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

Aircraft	Price	Ammo
F/A-18F Super Hornet		18
F-14D Super Tomcat		25
Rafale M		35
Su-47 Berkut		40

Gallery

SAAM, used by the Su-47
SAAM, used by the Rafale M
SAAM, used by the F-14 and F/A-18F

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

Aircraft	Price	Ammo
F-4E Phantom II	2,600	8
JA 37 Viggen	2,500	8
MiG-29A Fulcrum	6,500	10
MiG-21-93 Fishbed	Starting weapon	8
MiG-31 Foxhound	Starting weapon	8
Tornado F3	10,400	12
F-15E Strike Eagle	10,400	10
F-16XL	14,000	10
Su-47 Berkut	Starting weapon	14

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

Aircraft	Price	Ammo
F-4E Phantom II	Starting weapon	6
F-15E Strike Eagle	39,900	10
F-16XL	32,300	10
F/A-18C Hornet	14,400	8
F-20A Tigershark	Starting weapon	10
J35J Draken	Starting weapon	8
MiG-29A Fulcrum	Starting weapon	12
Su-47 Berkut	Starting weapon	14

Gallery

Russian missile R-27RE (AA-10 Alamo)
US missile AIM-7 Sparrow
Swedish missile Rb.28 (license-manufactured in Sweden US missile AIM-4 Falcon)

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

Aircraft	Ammo
F-20A Tigershark	10
Mirage 2000	8
F-14A Tomcat	10
MiG-31 Foxhound	14
F-15C Eagle	10
Su-27 Flanker	10
Su-47 Berkut	14

Trivia

The SAAM combines the range and damage of the Advanced Long-Range Air-to-Air Missile with the maneuverability of the Quick Maneuver Air-to-Air Missile.
After firing an SAAM, if the target leaves the reticle, the player can position themselves to have the target back inside the reticle once more, and the missile will continue its tracking from where it left off if not too much time has elapsed.
- If multiple SAAMs are launched separately at different vectors, and the player then focuses the targeting reticle on one target, all of the SAAMs will speed towards that target at their different angles.
SAAMs can be used at multiple targets at once, as long as the player can keep all targets inside the reticle.
The F-20A Tigershark, F-14A Tomcat, and F-15C Eagle utilize the AIM-7 Sparrow as their SAAM. The Mirage 2000 uses the Super 530D, the MiG-31 Foxhound uses the R-40R, and the Su-27 Flanker and Su-47 Berkut use the R-27RE.
In the real world, MiG-31 cannot use radar guided missiles R-40R, only infrared guided missiles R-40TD.

Semi-Active Air-to-Air Missile

Contents

Overview

Game Analysis

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

Ace Combat Infinity

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Legacy

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

Ace Combat: Joint Assault

Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation

Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception

Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War

Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War

Trivia

References

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