Cat peeking out of the bag?

ISTR the 54 had a continuous rod warhead. Dodging a Mach 4 missile
coming down at you from high above seems sort of problematical -
unless it's leaving a smoke trail how do you see it coming? Sure, you
got some radar warning - you hope - but the main defense seems to be
a) the wetware controlling the launch sequence screwed up and b)
system reliability. Employed within proper parameters with a weapons
system maintained within specs - even the Hughes radar Falcon could
hit the target. Glad I'm retired, since similar systems to the 54 are
becoming all too prevalent. W(Way)BVR takes a lot of fun out of the
game.
Walt BJ