Lesson 32 — Threat Geometry: SAM Rings, MEZ/LEZ#
A threat ring is not a circle — it depends on where you point your nose and how high you fly. The detection contour is the R⁴ law at the aspect each bearing produces, the radar horizon d = 4.12(√h_r + √h_t) bounds it from outside, and the missile's reach runs from the MEZ, (v_m + v_t)·t_max against a closing target, down to the LEZ, (v_m − v_t)·t_max, where turning away no longer saves you.
Threat Geometry
The aspect-dependent detection contour, the radar horizon and which bound binds, the MEZ and the LEZ, and the overlaps, gaps and seams of a layered laydown.
FlashcardsReview deck
Key terms and relations from the lesson, in a self-test deck.
Pre-flightPre-flight quiz
Five questions to work before class — anyone can be called to the board.
SlidesLesson slides
The deck we work through in class — an HTML deck you can annotate in the browser, with a print view for saving a PDF.
DemoThreat Laydown
Swing the B-21's heading and watch a SAM site's ring turn into a cross, drop to the deck and let the horizon cut it, then open a layered laydown and find the gap.