Actually, this I wondered: how did wing commander saga create a “true” heat seeking missile (those in FS are more like “fire and forget”)? Their heat seeker was noteworthy in only locking and maintaining lock on engines (it was a no go if they were non facing).
How was that behaviour implemented into FS?
Try the JAVELIN homing type
I was wondering this myself. However since even present day heat seeking missiles such as the AIM-9X sidewinder can detect even the small amount of heat generated by the plan's hull
due to friction with the air and can thus track it from any aspect the FS method is more realistic - unless we were to assume the future missile guidance technology in the WC universe is significantly worse than what we have now.
Fun-factoid - heat seekers from say the 60s, 70s and possibly the 80s were pure heat-seekers - they just homed in on what was hottest object in their 'view cone'. Their detectors and imaging software just saw a blob of heat. This is why flares were pretty effective against them.
Modern 'heat seeking' missiles have 'imaging infrared detectors' - the missile 'sees' the target in the same way we do when looking through Thermal Imaging cameras. This is why flares are less effective because the missile can plainly see that a flare looks nothing like a plane and the onboard computer / limited A.I. is smart enough to know the difference.
The AM-9X has a 180 degree detection 'cone' and is hyper-manoeuvrable due to being steered by thrust vectoring instead of the fins used on earlier Sidewinders. When paired with a Joint Head Mouted Queuing System the plane can basically fire the sidewinder sideways.
Some modern missiles are capable of lock on after launch - if a bandit is behind you - fire your missile,
then turn to face the bandit and target it. The missile you just launched will the turn around and chase down your bandit. Scary stuff.
Of course the Russian equivalent is to mount a second raydome on the rear of their planes so it can target anyone coming up behind them. In theroy then the missile could be launched then pull a 180 to engage the bandit behind whilst the launching plane could concentrate on evading the bandit behind it. Not sure how risky this would be - there might be a risk of the missile turning around and hitting the launch aircraft. Or you could just fire the missile backwards in the first place
http://www.aero-farm.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Number=221766