Beast

AFT03 was a tough one! So I figured out some problems I was having, 1) The Jammer uses the HOTAS CMS Z axis button to turn on/off when CMSP is set to SEMI. I thought it was linked to the start/stop program function, not so, its a separate switch. 2) I found that defeating SA-9s & SA-18s (9M31 & 9M29 IR missiles) require a smooth high-g maneuver out of plane while dumping flares. Aggressive breaks often just result in a hi speed stall making you a sitting duck and bleed off far too much energy. High-g I would call more than 5g through at least 90 deg out of plane, the more the better. I also avoid going up as this bleeds energy, down uses gravity to your advantage, or level if you are low already. I find that you cant out run the missile, you cant out maneuver the missile, so confusing the missile is the only option. i.e. dump flares and change direction quickly. With the CMSP set to SEMI or AUTO it will pick the best CM program to run, BUT, if you are being painted by AAA radar at the same time that someone fires an IR missile, the CMS will BRIEFLY select a flare program (M), but immediately goes back to a chaff program (A) to fight the AAA radar. If you are not in AUTO mode and you don't select run program while the CMS is briefly in the flare program, all you will be doing is throwing chaff at an IR missile. SO, problems I had before were. I was too aggressive with my break turns, which bleed off all my energy. -you want a max rate turn, not a min radius. (corner speed!) If you hear the chopper tone the next thing you will hear is the sound of impact. Breaking upwards, nice cold air for the IR missile to find me in, gravity sucking all the speed off my jet, no longer at corner speed... dead. Too busy finding the missile and beaming it (3/9 line) and assuming the CMS has selected a flare program for me to run. It did, but then it went back to chaff to fight the AAA radar. by the time I got visual and confirmed it was tracking on me and started to run the CM program, all I was doing was dumping chaff. oh, and fighting AAA is best done in the vertical plane. I literally barrel roll my way through their defenses. Im no expert, but this is what I found helps me run the gauntlet.

Defeating IR missiles So I figured out some problems I was having, 1) The Jammer uses the HOTAS CMS Z axis button to turn on/off when CMSP is set to SEMI. I thought it was linked to the start/stop program function, not so, its a separate switch. 2) I found that defeating SA-9s & SA-18s (9M31 & 9M29 IR missiles) require a smooth high-g maneuver out of plane while dumping flares. Aggressive breaks often just result in a hi speed stall making you a sitting duck and bleed off far too much energy. High-g I would call more than 5g through at least 90 deg out of plane, the more the better. I also avoid going up as this bleeds energy, down uses gravity to your advantage, or level if you are low already. I find that you cant out run the missile, you cant out maneuver the missile, so confusing the missile is the only option. i.e. dump flares and change direction quickly. With the CMSP set to SEMI or AUTO it will pick the best CM program to run, BUT, if you are being painted by AAA radar at the same time that someone fires an IR missile, the CMS will BRIEFLY select a flare program (M), but immediately goes back to a chaff program (A) to fight the AAA radar. If you are not in AUTO mode and you don't select run program while the CMS is briefly in the flare program, all you will be doing is throwing chaff at an IR missile. SO, problems I had before were. I was too aggressive with my break turns, which bleed off all my energy. -you want a max rate turn, not a min radius. (corner speed!) If you hear the chopper tone the next thing you will hear is the sound of impact. Breaking upwards, nice cold air for the IR missile to find me in, gravity sucking all the speed off my jet, no longer at corner speed... dead. Too busy finding the missile and beaming it (3/9 line) and assuming the CMS has selected a flare program for me to run. It did, but then it went back to chaff to fight the AAA radar. by the time I got visual and confirmed it was tracking on me and started to run the CM program, all I was doing was dumping chaff. oh, and fighting AAA is best done in the vertical plane. I literally barrel roll my way through their defenses. Im no expert, but this is what I found helps me run the gauntlet.

Jammer problems. Im currently trying to pass the Maple Flag AAT03 - Countermeasures & threat avoidance mission, but keep getting hit. There are a few things I've notices. 1) With CMSP set to SEMI and the active program running, my ECM does not operate when tracked/locked by radar. Only with my CMSP set to AUTO does the ECM operate when being tracked/locked. Is this correct? 2) SA-9s are a pain in the butt! I cannot make it through. I get the missile launch warning, I activate the CMS program, put the M symbol on my 3/9 line, try visually acquire the missile, if after a second or two and no joy on the missile I turn into the M symbol. I might get lucky with the first, but the second one will get me. Any advice on what else I could do or what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks, that's what I was hoping for! I wasn't aware of the Warehouses.

Testing signature, and does anyone know who I can contact about changing my forum name?

Spoilt for choice of ordinance. Does any one have any idea how I can make my ordinance loadout selection more realistic? Sure I could take AGM65Ks or LGBs until I'm blue in the face but I'm assuming that in RL your loadout actually has something to do with cost/target value or just plain availability of ordinance. I think it was Janes Longbow that had a weapons availability store. You could use up all your expensive precision weapons in he first day, but you would have to wait a week until resupply. Is there any reason why I should go into battle with Mk-82 rather than GBU-12s every time?

Yes it gets the job done, but is it realistic? It's not as much about being able to find a target, though I do battle a bit, but more about it not showing heat. I'm looking for a hot engine in a forest or heat from artillery firing.

What does everyone think about the quality/realism of the FLIR image in DCS? I was playing A-10 the other day and really battling to find the enemy due to the fact that the FLIR in BHOT or WHOT mode doesn't actually show heat but just looks like a normal image with black or white contrast boosted. Take a look at ARMA3s thermal imaging or combat-helo dev. In my opinion if DCS wants to make more products that use FLIR they should consider a redevelopment of the imaging, yes I know that would require a compleat overhaul and heaps of work that might be a bit low on the priority list. Just saying. Combat-helo dev working thought on thermal imaging http://combathelo.blogspot.com/2010/07/light-amplificiation.html