Zeus67

Okay folks, here is the deal. I was getting ready to do the Maverick target lock and firing test when I realized something: The TDC is not working as it should. The TDC code was a quick job so we could have a demo for E3, but now I must deal with the real deal: The AV-8B (DA, NA and Radar) does not have one TDC. It actually has TWO! One is called the "Action TDC" and the other one is the "Non-Action TDC" and both TDCs are handled by the same button. If you press the button, you use one and if you don't press the button you use the other one. Confused? It gets better. The AV-8B has at least two sensors (NA and Radar has three). Each sensor has TDC capability. So the aircraft must keep track of which sensor is being used at this time regardless of whatever display you have in the MPCDs. Nice, right? And I'm not even using the TGP yet! Yes, the TGP adds another complexity layer to the whole TDC problem because the aircraft DOES NOT RECOGNIZE the TGP as a sensor. Yes it is a sensor pod, but for the aircraft it is just another load in a pylon. So when you are using the TGP, there are THREE submodes for using the TDC with the TGP and one of those disconnects the aircraft trim!! And all that is without slaving the TGP to an inboard sensor! And now I have a headache and will sort this whole mess on Monday.

Yes. In fact it is SOP for the pilo to set the system's laser code as soon as he is airborne.

No, it does not. My understanding after reading the Technical Manual is that it is mainly used to laser designate a target. The aircraft's onboard sensors see the laser spot and do the rest.

Yep. Those are the tactical manuals we use.

No. There are no targets. It is a video test. Targeting tests will be carried out tomorrow.

I made that comment in answer to another who was stating about the differences in weapons management between the A-10C and the AV-8B. I guess I worded it poorly. As for the AV-8B Radar, or plus if you like but that is not its true name, yes, the NA is more precise in bombing runs than the Radar, specially when using unguided munitions. The USMC knows this but they decided to increase All-Weather capability over precision and thus the AV-8B Radar was born. The APG-65 was optimized for ground attack but it still is capable of air intercepts. The USMC never bothered to demand AIM-120 capability, because they were never interested in making the AV-8B a fighter. AIM-120 capability is something that other AV-8B Radar users requested because they are interested in a Multi-role aircraft not a CAS one. The AV-8B NA handles better than the Radar. It is a bit more agile and I'm told that pilots like it over the Radar. Specially when landing since the weight of the radar equipment makes the AV-8B Radar nose heavy. As for the flame war, I made that comment because I felt that you were a little too confrontational over a perceived disparaging comment about the A-10C. For the record, the A-10 design is older than the AV-8B. something you can see in their respective instruments panels: All the engine gauges that the A-10C has have been replaced by a single page view in any MPCD. Same with the RWR, etc. This is a F-15E pilot's instrument panel as well: So both the AV-8B and the F-15E have a glass cockpit vs. the A-10's steam one. Yes, it has been modernized and kept top of the line but it still remains an older design. As for TPOD interface, I can only use publicly available documents. The only available document for weapons handling and management, including sensors is dated 2002. That's 15 years ago. The aircraft was upgraded in 2010, so it is very likely that TPOD integration is complete and it can directly interface with the weapons. But for me to code that would be nothing more than WAGUESS, so I'd rather use the old document that details how it was done as opposed to guess how it is currently being done.

Tomorrow is target lock and missile firing test day:

Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure but I was aware it used some kind of optical system. I cannot say what is the current integration of the Litening with the AV-8B avionics, but at least in 2002 it was little more than an auxiliary system. The main aiming systems were either radar or dtm. From the tactical manual (emphasis mine): "The TPOD system is employed to assist the pilot in acquisition, recognition and designation of surface targets. The pod's laser designation can be used for both autonomous and buddy delivery of laser guided or general purpose air-to-ground weapons. The TPOD system supports air-to-ground weapons delivery by providing laser designation for laser-guided weapons, performing laser spot detection for targets illuminated by external designators and computing target location from optical tracking by CCD, FLIR or laser spot detector sensors that the pilot can enter into the UFCS to create a system designation." As this paragraphs indicates, the TPOD does not have any kind of direct interaction with the aircraft's targeting systems. It either uses a laser and the DTM tracks it, or the pilot enters the parameters indicated by the TPOD into the system via the UFC.

We were told that is was shown to the press but not to the general public. E3 is ED's marketing program so they are the ones who decided how to show the aircraft. All we were asked was to provide a close-to-beta demo for E3.

AV-8B NA last upgrade as stated by the NATOPS 2011 version was around 2010. All DA were converted into NA. Software was improved in all versions. capabilities remain the same. I am not comparing A-10C vs AV-8B. That what all of you are doing. I am comparing between versions of AV-8B: DA vs NA vs Radar. If you want to see which is the best CAS platform then make another thread and have your flame war there. As for weapon management: Yes, the AV-8B handles weapons differently than the A-10 but that is true of all aircrafts. F/A-18C handles weapons differently from the A-6, AV-8B, A-7, A-10C, F-111, F-117, F-15E. That is why you cannot expect an A-7 pilot to jump into the cockpit of an A-10C and expect him to be an expert on A-10C systems without first undergoing a familiarization process. The reason to mount a radar into the AV-8B was to increase All-Weather performance at the expense of accuracy. The DMT system is nothing new and analogous systems are used by the following aircrafts: SEPECAT Jaguar Harrier I am not sure if the Mig-27 uses an similar device, but it does have the camera on the nose tip. So, the DMT is a very mature high precision targeting system. But, as all optical based systems, it is not capable of being used in all weather conditions. In this case the USMC decided that having an All-Weather version was paramount even if the accuracy was degraded but for to counter that they can always use the TPOD. BTW, the Tactical Manual indicates that the correct nomenclature for the LITENING II Targeting Pod is TPOD. At least for the US Navy and USMC.

Because DCS does not have the F. We will have to make our own but for now it will use the D.

With the DMT laser tracker locked to the spot (designated by anybody) release conditions are easily calculated. Since both the DMT and the bomb are locked on the same spot, the aircraft knows what the bomb is looking at. For unguided bombs, you can even "sweeten the spot" by moving the DMT's TDC to the best position. Basically designating an offset from the laser spot position. The DMT is what makes the Night Attack the best bombing platform of all the AV-8Bs.

No, it is not and that is quite likely how it works. As a bonus, the DMT does not require a laser to designate a target and it can use the INS/GPS to calculate target position coordinates for the JDAM. The laser helps, a lot, but is not required at all.

For AGM-65s, the TGP is not capable of interacting directly with the missile. So the only way for it to work is by indirect means. In this case, you use the TGP's laser to designate the target and either the DMT laser tracker or the missile seeker (if it is an E) will lock the missile to it.

It is a more modern aircraft than the A-10C with better sensors, even the radar less versions.

The following onboard sensors are available: - DMT (Video): (DA and NA only) - DMT (laser tracker): (DA and NA only) - Radar: (Radar only) - INS : (All aircraft) - Missile seeker: (All aircraft) DA can only use the AGM-65E (laser). NA and Radar can use all types. The TGP is not used as a direct target selector. It can be used indirectly as a laser designator so that either the missile seeker, for the E, or the DMT (for Laser/IR/CCD missiles in the NA) track the spot and locks the missile to the target. DMT and radar are the primary target acquisition and designation sensors. INS can be used as a secondary target designation sensor.

The AV-8B can only carry 1 maverick per pylon and only pylons 2, 3, 5, and 6 are enabled to carry them. So at most you can carry 4. There are missile type limitation based on aircraft type: Day Attack can only use AGM-65E (laser) Night Attack and Radar can use all AGM-65 types (laser, IR and CCCD). Day Attack can only use 2 sensors for targeting. Night Attack can use 4 sensors, and Radar can use 3 sensors. In many respects the Night Attack is the best Air-to-Ground platform of the AV-8B series.

IR Maverick (AGM-65D) video test. In the AV-8B NA (and Radar), weapons video can only be displayed on the left MPCD. TPOD (TGP) video can be displayed on both MPCDs.

No, it is not. It is ED's job to provide the tools for us developers to simulate how a system work and its failure. Because Viggen radar is not supported by ED. So any change in DCS can potentially make the Viggen unstable and cause CTD. We'd rather wait for a fully supported tool rather than create our own and then spent the rest of the time worrying if it is going to break on each update. That is not my experience so I cannot comment on these. I always go down whenever a missile hits my aircraft. The problem is with near misses and proximity fuses, yes they do exist in DCS. These are not simulated correctly so what you think is a direct hit could actually be a proximity fuse activating inches from the fuselage instead of touching it.

ED is trying to simulate this effect:

The most complete NATOPS we have is dated 2001-09-15. The latest one publicly available is dated 2011-09-01. The last one detailed the changes to the MPCDs, which are basically the same ones used in the F-18C. Some minor changes to the MPCD menu and the HUD. All the rest basically remained the same. The publicly available tactical manuals are dated 2002 and 1998 respectively. But all of these manuals, except for the 2011 one, refer to the Day Attack, Night Attack and Radar versions. By 2011 all remaining Day Attack were converted to Night Attack although without some features. TAV-8B aircrafts remained in Day Attack configuration: single monochrome MPD, narrow view HUD, etc. Converted Day Attack inherited the Night Attack left over MPCDs. But got part of the software update. So currently there are two Night Attack versions in use: the upgraded Night Attack and the converted Day Attack. The Radar versions just received the MPCDs and software upgrades.

Annotated vertical take-off.

They are all quick checks so they can be performed with battery power alone.

How to do a Cold and Dark engine start.

Folks, we have our 1st hand sources for the AV-8B NA. Don't worry.