Which IR AAM rule corresponds to All Aspect, LOAL (Lock on after launch)?

• A. IR-3
• B. IR-1
• C. IR-2
• D. IR-4

Answer: (A)

All aspect means the infrared seeker on the missile can detect and track a target from any angle, not just from the rear. Lock on after launch means you can launch the missile without a prior lock, and the seeker will acquire the target in flight and guide the missile to it. When you combine those two capabilities, you get a rule that specifically describes an IR air-to-air missile that can be launched without a prelock and can home in from any aspect. That combination is the IR-3 rule. So IR-3 is the correct match for All Aspect, LOAL. Other IR rules describe different engagement envelopes (different combinations of when a lock is required and from which aspects the seeker can detect the target), which is why they don’t fit this pairing.