[cc438]

AA missiles start with a huge energy disadvantage. They start with a velocity and altitude of 0 so they need an engine powerful enough to catch the fighter and enough fuel to reach it's altitude. More power means more weight, more weight means more fuel, that equation results in a huge missile with minimal maneuverability.

No maneuverability = no hit. Surface to air missiles are intended to target low, slow, or bulky targets and fighters are outside those categories.

[RockyMcNuts]

Sounds like what's needed is a bunch of high altitude blimps or cargo planes with air-to-air missiles.

And enough countermeasures they don't get picked off by ground-to-air missiles.

[cweiss]

Or two-stage AA missiles with large "get it up in the air and fast ASAP" 1st stages and smaller "aim at the baddy" 2nd stages?