Final planning, online campaign

[KODIAK]

Jeez! Well maybe you are right now that you mention those figures, but I'd have to say it probably is the bottom of the preferred weapons list given that you have to light yourself up the whole way down the pipe, given that the AIM-120 is semi-autonomous.

[Jedi Master]

One factor is carry time. A missile can spend so many hours flying around under a plane before it's considered "expired." The missiles shot in live fire exercises are often missiles at this point in their life. So if they don't get shot then, they'll NEVER get shot.
There's also lethality. It's not often mentioned, but I know the Sparrow weighs a LOT more than a 120. They can put 120's on F-16 wingtip rails, but you never Sparrow's anywhere but slung under a wing or fuselage. The hitting power of an AIM-7 is greater, so against targets that can't shoot back, like a transport, bomber, recon, etc, that may not be stopped by a small warhead, there really isn't a disadvantage to using the Sparrow.
I believe standard F-15 loadouts now mix Sparrows and 120s.

[Hammer_other]

Jedi, where do you get some of these great facts from?! I think the bit about 'carry time' is very interesting. Certainly puts a twist on things.

[KODIAK]

Yeah, no kiddin'! I mean, within my environment we do the same thing with MBT ammo, and personal weapon rounds, AP frag grenades etc., But I just never thought to apply the same rule to air weapons Just like the shelf life of a battery for crying out loud, eh?!
And I can see the understanding of carrying a slightly larger warhead missile for exactly the case you state, just didn't know it was larger.