" However, it doesn't answer how a blue on blue lock on can...

" However, it doesn't answer how a blue on blue lock on can occur without something more shady happening (this point is missed entirely by your pro neocon bragging as the missiles are not blind or fire and forget)."

Hmmmm. Well, Langers, all military and civilian aircraft have transponders (except for very light aircraft)
You put in your transponder number on startup, and that immediately paints and identifies you to any Air Traffic control or military radar you encounter during flight with all aircraft details. I guess one could put in a false number (belonging to another aircraft. ) Yes, military aircraft have them too. Their transponder squawks would even have the nationality of the aircraft. I IMAGINE serious AA like the s-300, s-400 radars would display transponder ID. Otherwise how would anyone know the ID, nationality, of an aircraft entering their airspace? And we KNOW they can identify Turkish, US, Israeli aircraft...... because their airspace intrusions are noted and reported. I dont know about the s-200 down.
BUT, evil sneaky types can turn them off. Hey, whats the use of "Stealth" aircraft if all they'd have to do is have their radars running, and you would be seen and tracked.
Even in civilian flying, they like to track you. Many years back, on flights to Perth Controlled Airspace from the Goldfields, one had to call Perth Control from abeam about Southern Cross, and request "Airways Clearance" .....you would give your position, they would identify you on radar, tag you so you have a flag on your radar image, that moves as you move......... and from that point in time, THEY would tell you what to do next, all the way to touchdown. And that was without a transponder.
No doubt, the Israelis would turn their transponders off still in Lebanese airspace during their attacks.
So the Syrians should NOT have shot down the Russian plane.
And so, I'm buggered if I know what happened.
Maybe it was the Israelis, but once again, they escape blame.

GZ