The A2A missiles of the Vietnam Era are not even comparable in capabilities or reliability. Todays AMRAMM hits 95% of the time and the AIM-9X does too. Also modern A2A radar guided missiles are fire and forget, the pilot fires it and them missile hunts down the target with its own radar. In the Vietnam Era a pilot would have to fire the missile then keep the nose of his aircraft pointed at the target so the missile could home in on the reflected radar returns.
Dear fatman,
It seems that you have searched wikipedia for your missile technology moment, MAYBE.
re: “In the Vietnam Era a pilot would have to fire the missile then keep the nose of his aircraft pointed at the target so the missile could home in on the reflected radar returns.”
As a Viet vet, and a Phantom Fixer, you are misled. The ‘radar dish’ was NOT transfixed to a ‘zero/zero’ permanency.
I suggest you do research on the Janes’ site, typing:
APQ-109; APQ-120, in the search bar.