jojo

What rotation ? :huh:

So he is a little bit passive then :music_whistling:

I would say we are a little bit short on official documentation about Jester. For instance, I don’t know if Jester is moving scan zone elevation up and down to scan the airspace. Jester commands to scan low/ middle low doesn’t tell me how much it’s moving, and if there are gaps ? Does it take into account scan lines number ? I would like to know what Jester is doing with the radar...

Sounds like F-4F :smartass:

Out of range shot probably wouldn’t work against skilful adversary. In fact you need a lot of intel data. IRL there are intel guys doing briefing for specifics threats. Your reaction will depend on missile launch parameters. The higher and the faster the shooter is, the better is missile range. From kinematic point of view: At max range a crank may be enough. At lower range, a crank may be enough. Even lower you may need to make left and right turns to exhaust missile. Past a certain range, 180° turn (pump) may be the only option to survive. Seeker point of view: - the beam is a good option to defeat guidance system. Fox 1 you need to beam fire control radar. With Fox 3 you need to beam the incoming missile. But this is kind of last chance manoeuvre Vs Fox 3, let’s say when it’s too late to pump. You can also try to beam fire control radar before Fox 3 goes active on you. - use chaff during beaming, not while you are “hot” relatively to the target. - go down during beaming to force look down on enemy radar. There is no absolute rule for formation, it depends on the tactical situation, and if you have human wingman or AI. Flying in line formation (wall) will maximise fire power. But a wingman in trail can cover you. Very useful when you try to recommit after a pump. “Grinder” is a useful Fox 3 tactic. The 2 fighters fly an orbit with hot branch toward the threat. When one is hot the other is cold. Yes, firing missiles to disrupt enemy formation is useful. But it will work better if you are in range. Phoenix is great because of its range. In HA it’s already dangerous at from 50Nm. It can be avoided, but the enemy will have to manoeuvre seriously. Currently, since TWS Auto doesn’t work in game, it’s difficult to crank when shooting in TWS. But you can when firing in STT.

I did, but we were noy talking about the same thing. Watching TacView replay, you are right, they start chaff on missile launch, which is weird. But they start defensive manouvres much later, at a point were the Phoenix might be active. More like 20Nm than 10Nm, but I don't know what is AIM-54's seeker range ?

Yes, but you have to understand that 6.5G is peace time rule to enhance airframe service life. Not really relevant in war time. Yet, I would agree that 9G sustained turn may not be the bread and butter of F-14. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/27889/confessions-of-a-navy-f-14-fleet-pilot-turned-f-5-aggressor

Within 15Nm you will be better using PAL mode.:smilewink: Don’t freak out if MiG-23 is firing at you in BVR. Jink from left to right to exhaust the missiles.

I have to disagree. It’s a common practice to put into service a fighter with a G limit, then lower the G limit for peace time training to enhance airframe service life. But if you are engaged in combat, you do what you have to and peace time training rule doesn’t matter much. It’s like over-G to avoid ground collision or dropping external tanks to evade SAM or engage in dogfight. So yeah, maybe you screwed up to get there, but you do what you need to do to live and fight another day.

What you need to check is missile to target range when the target goes defensive. From your video, I would say this is wait I said. Plus rushing hard with full burner after missile launch isn’t a good idea. Vs a single target, a STT lock prior to launch will give you better tracking, possibility to crank (lower closing speed), and follow on shot capacity if first AIM-54 fails.

Thanks :thumbup:

:thumbup: Where did you find this practice target please ?

I didn’t notice AI going defensive when targeted in TWS, not on launching missiles. In past experience, analysing TacView replay, they rather go defensive when missile incoming is within 10Nm. They even don’t go defensive on Fox 1 launch at range > 10 Nm, which can make them vulnerable at high altitude. Didn’t notice any change with Tomcat.

Egyptian SA-6 during Yom Kippur did score pretty well too against Israeli A-4 &F-4E...

Yes, full burner until in formation. Standard DCS AI behavior. But if you wait for him, then go just little less than MIL power, he will stay MIL power with you. :smilewink:

I'm not saying it's a bad design. This is an awesome design, with great range and weapon load. But it's a complex airframe. Even after youth problem, he tells how they had to constantly plan spare planes and how a fighter like the F-16 was much more reliable. And this kind of thing doesn't improve after nearly 30 years of service life...

Really ? Jester does answer positively when you request to turn on jammer...

For fuel management, I would rather say after take off, maintain 300kt at low altitude until wingarm rejoins. Then you can throttle up.

As much as you love the Tomcat, I think this is an eye opener…

Yes, like explained, radar have a minimum resolution cell, both in range and azimuth. Some radar may have Doppler analysis "expand mode" to better see into that cell. You can find data about it in the F-15. Not aware of it with AWG-9.

I didn't tried yet with Tomcat, but something that can work to improvise a kind of "chainsaw" tactic (without dedicated order). - send wingman in trail - take the first shots - pump then order "cover my six" or "engage hostiles" It should keep the bandits busy while you recommit. If you initiate your pump/ notch by right turn, recommit by left turn. With luck it will put you "out of scope" of threats busy with your wingman. If there are fighters + bombers, take out fighters first, your wingman will be less at risk.

Right now it's not working. You can shoot, turn away and the AIM-54 will go active at pre-determined moment. Waiting for new missile API.

The F/A-18A Hornet replaced A-7, so there was more emphasis on AG than the F-16A and superior avionics IMHO (3 MFD, moving map and so on...). Also Hornet did have BVR weapons for AA (AIM-7) which were mostly lacking for F-16A. But both evolved and the F-16 did catch up, to the point that both are doing the same missions with the same weapons but slightly differently.

Isn't it fair to assume that currently, and until the new missile API is patched into DCS World, the AIM-54 in BVR behaves like AIM-120 ?

I would say that Cold War didn't end in the 60'. If you stay away from fancy stuff like AIM-120, AIM-9X, JHMCS, GPS bombs and maybe even laser guided bombs you can expand into the 80'. - M-2000C - F/A-18 - F-15 - Tomcat - MiG-29A - Su-27 - Su-25