Lethality of SAMs

[hveldenz]

Thanks to Narwan and Marcello. I understand that many of the SAMs are airburst devices, but I was under the impression that Stinger types were direct hits by IR tracking. I have a mental image of a Strela up the tailpipe of an A-10 engine...

Maybe my question is more what air defense will stop an airstike plane on an attack run and break it off or swat it down? I have seen SU-25 Grach's take 4-5 nicks by stingers and still lay down their ZBU's and strafe.

I guess if I were a pilot, my limit of hits would be somewhere under 4-5!

In regards to Marcello - Would actually AA be the better purchase if one knows they will have to defend against a significant number of airstrikes?