Top Jockey

Sure, I believe I also wrote we are talking about physics you know.

They can lag and sag whatever they do, but this is physics; and with enought height nad speed, eventually they will travel a given distance. Eitherway, my point is that (in DCS at the least) using GBUs seems more 'method restricted' and cumbersome in the Viper than in the Hornet.

Hahaaa ! So was that what happened ! I've done that mission in some hurry yesterday before leaving my PC, and in fact at some point in the F2 external view I've noticed 2 bombs disappeared after a while... so I imagined they could have collided between them or something. Yes, I've noticed I should point the aircraft's nose down a few degrees prior bomb release moment, so that the GBUs seeker could catch the laser. ''Auto drop, don't understand it - I'm doing kind of a 'Manual drop'... On the second bold, I'm mostly using this kind of attack profile, which although not a real scenario one, is merely a personal preference. It's the one which allows for bomb release from altitude and at some distance; the MANUAL is merely the mode which gives the possibility to do the release in those conditions - without delay / release cues and count down timers.

@Chain_1, as promised: Here is the mission track. Droped 4 x GBU-10s with a 950 milisecond interval (didn't go too well)... So maybe 2 of them colided between them and exploded, but the other 2 managed to hit the frigate and caused 47 % damage. - this time released form under 13 nm, and somewhat at 28.000 ft... but they do get to the target. F'A-18C vs Frigate (GBU-10).trk

Hello @Chain_1, Be my guest, I will gladly provide it. As I'm surprised with which might have been the difficulties encountered ? The only thing is it can be a long track as i've never saved one, and so I imagine it will be the complete mission.

Yes, at the bottom info bar in F2 outside view, the GBU-10 pitch tipically shows - 14º if I recal correctly, I'm yet to confirm.

I believe it's roughly 14º or so, with an >400 kts 'true speed', if I recal correctly from yesterday. But I have to get on my PC to confirm it. And yes it's correct - from my prefered attack profile from distance and high altitude, I'm not using CCRP as I'm releasing the GBUs way before an CCRP release cue. (I do it in the Hornet, as in the Viper I've not yet managed to accomplish it so far - I'll try it in a few hours.)

Yes, sure enough I don't question that. The thing with what the 'immediate release' allows for, is just a personal preference of mine - I like the kind of 'standoff profile' of releasing the GBUs on a naval vessel, from 25.000 ft at 13 ~ 14 nm distance. ... without an 'immediate release' possibility (i.e. count down timer; release / delay cue) one is obligated to get closer to the target ... which isn't my prefered attack profile. I've been doing it for a long time in the Hornet, and now I've passed to the Viper as I also enjoy studying it. The thing is: in the Viper some TGP / FLIR modes / functions do appear to be more cumbersome, confusing or still WIP. Didn't understood the part about 'chucking the bomb anywhere within a quarter mile" - isn't this extremely close to the target ? Same as above. Regarding the bold, yes I understand it - hence the necessity of a diving profile prior releasing the GBU, then one can see the count down timer counting faster, than in a level flight. But my 'preference' (not realistic I know), is to deploy the GBU and stay high looking at the situation ... this calls for a more free bomb release possibility - which CCRP doesn't allow from very high and at distances of 13 nm.

Thank you. Ok, I'll try it later and see how it goes, it would be awsome if it does indeed allow for "free" bomb release.

Yes I am. I do keep the laser trigger pressed the entire flight path, otherwise the GBUs may start an early pitch down moment, which would cause to decrease their reach.

In the DCS Hornet, it is easily attainable for the GBU-10 in the following conditions: - level flight at 25.000 ft or higher; - speed roughly Mach 0.9 or above when release time; - target (naval vessel) stationary - 0 kts speed. Certainly the aircraft must be near those airspeeds, otherwise the bombs will not have the kinetic energy to travel those distances.

... that bold does explain some stuff. Sure, what I'm insterested in, is in an alternate method to not be dependent of the delay cue. Ok then, exactly how can I chose and employ a completely bomb "drop at will" release, without any restrictions ? Is it MANUAL or DTOS ?

Very good - that's precisely what I wish to do, but in that case why aren't the bombs dropping when I press the release button ?

Hello again everyone, thank you for your time and answers. Not exactly a stranger to other very famous Viper sims in the past (mostly in Air to Air combat), I've yet a lot to study more thoroughly in the Viper regarding Air to Ground systems. Functions like: Cursor zero, snow plow, etc. seem to not obey / always work when requested... whereas in the Hornet they always respond when their letters are available in the MFD's OSB buttons - that's why I ask if it's still work in progress in the DCS F-16. Don't know why my previous post appeared in dark background, but my main doubts for the viper are: - is the DCS F-16C's GBU-10 / Litening TGP implementation concluded (finished) already, or is it still WIP ? - is the GBU-10 release on the Viper always dependent on a release / steering line and count down timer; or is it also able to release the GBU almost "at will" like in the Hornet ? ... because in the Hornet I can release a GBU-10 from 13 nm, at 25.000 ft, level flight, and hit the naval vessel, whitout the release / steering line profile. ... in the Viper, one is obliged to wait for the release cue - very close to the target; or the bomb isn't released.

By the way: - is the DCS F-16C's GBU-10 / Litening TGP implementation concluded (finished) already, or is it still WIP ? - is the GBU-10 release on the Viper always dependent on a release / steering line and count down timer ?

Hello @Frederf, Thank you for all the thorough insight, I don't even know where to begin. I've only very recently started that type of attack (GBUs against naval vessels) in the Viper; whereas in the Hornet I've been doing it long ago. Also chose the waypoint designation on pre-planed waypoint on stationary naval vessels, as visualy spoting a single ship with the TGP from heights of > 20.000 ft can be difficult. However, after sinking the Frigate, sometimes I proceed to bomb some enemy ground instalations and buildings, and here the simplicity and ease of function of the Hornet come very handy: - without a steerpoint (waypoint) on these targets, Velocity Vector and Snow Plow modes work flawlessly; - one button to lock (stabilize) the TGP, and another to un-lock; no confusion with the same multi-function switch - (SCS in Hornet, or TMS in Viper). Besides the difficulty of getting the several functions to work in the Viper, the biggest one is: - I doesn't release the GBU without some given pre-requisites are satisfied, contrary to the Hornet. I'll see your tracks and try my luck to get to good use the DTOS mode... Thank you!

Hello everyone, I would appreciate all of you people insight, as after experimenting using GBUs in the DCS Viper and in the DCS Hornet (with FLIR from Litening TGP for both), I find the Viper's functions somewhat more restricted and less functional. My experience above is based on: - in the Hornet it is VERY easy to slew and point the TGP cursor; either in Velocity Vector, or in Snow Plow mode - the cursor does move everytime it's needed; - in the Viper it's basically a mess... I'm yet to understand which modes ( CCIP, CCRP, DTOS, LADO, etc.) do allow for free sleewing / pointing the TGP cursor... cursor zero isn't working in an easily understandable fashion also. What I usually do in the Hornet is: - attack the "Rezkiy" Frigate with GBU-10s, comming from 25.000 ft; - waypoint designate it; - select Manual mode instead of CCRP; - slightly drop my nose when in 13 nm from the target and release my GBUs... and keep flying level at height. ... in the Viper I can't do that while maintaining a level course... because the release / steering line would make me drop the GBUs almost directly above the ship (unless I do a tipical dive attack)... causing the GBUs to do a very steep trajectory and missing the target. So I do have 2 questions: - is the DCS F-16C's GBU-10 / Litening TGP implementation concluded (finished) already, or is it still WIP ? - is it possible at all in the Viper, to release the GBU-10 without: a waypoint desgnation, and a release / steering line and the respective CCRP method ? Thank you

But is it featured in DCS ?

Is that feature present in the last open beta DCS F/A-18C ?

Interesting indeed - basically a "radio controlled" missile.

Thank you Harker. Yep, my bad, mentioned 'Pitbul', when it is 'Maddog'. All that is interesting - I would really enjoy to see that implemented. What I would find really interesting, is what I imagine as kind of an AIM-120 'silent shot': something like guiding the missile via Datalink from AWACS (until the missile goes active by itself) with the Hornet's radar on SIL, is something like this possible ?

Thank you guys, I'll try it soon. Being yet a noob regarding the AWACS / Datalink utility in Air-Air warfare, I would appreciate your insight: 1 - at first sight I can only recal its usefullness to: silently gain advantageous positioning on the enemy aircraft and launch an AIM-9 ? (or even an AIM-120 in 'pitbull' mode?) 2 - it's a pitty that AWACS / Datalink contacts aren't portrayed to the HUD; 3 - the only way to engage the enemy aircraft in my previous point 1. would be: > sneak aproach him and get to his 6 o'clock, by navigating with the help of the Datalink info at the SA page > visually locate him with the JHMCS > aim your missiles accordingly and shoot when in range Is this it ? Thank you.

Thank you @Tholozor, Everything seems to be working ok from my experiments - only thing is, I thought the E-2 could detect enemy aircraft sooner. Is there a way to keep the SA page cursor automatically centered at the enemy contact, or select it in some sort ? (So, one doesn't have to be always trying to keep follow it with the TDC ? )

Hello everyone, I'm experimenting with creating custom missions, for Datalink employment, though I have some doubts : - receiving the datalink enemy aircraft contacts from E-2 Hawkeye, is it possible to see those contacts on the HUD ? - is it all it takes when creating a basic mission, to just activate the EPLRS task for the E-2 Hawkeye ? Thank you.

Thank you! I'll look further into it in game.