Eddie

Exactly, and that is the problem. You need a system where the AI goes through the process of classifying and identifying unknown contacts. As well as what to do should a contact not be classified friendly. The big thing to think about is something that many forget (or don't know in the first place) IFF can only ever confirm friendly, it cannot, and does not determine someone is hostile. You need to have a set of conditions, which can classify a contact as hostile, depending on a chosen RoE. For example., how do you handle a friendly aircraft with an IFF transponder failure, what do you do to prevent it being fired on by its own side's GBAD or CAP?

You've totally missed the way IFF works. Military aircraft use all 7 (or 5 depending on the age of aircraft) modes, so they all need to be modelled. Even aircraft without interrogators (most of them) need the transponder functions modelled, to enable them to be interrogated by others. Then you have to decide how to handle things for the FC3 level aircraft. The big hurdle isn't simply enabling the cockpit controls, but designing and developing a systems for the AI (both air and surface) to use IFF in a tactical sense. There is nothing preventing IFF being modelled from a security classification point of view, what it does and even how it does it is no secret. And there is no need whatsoever to know the protected aspects in order to model it in a sim. The only hurdle really is development resources.

Yep. I'd like to see JDAMs that actually have more than just the 3d model in common with the real JDAM as well. But hey, that's just me. ;) The mere thought of pattern releases gets me all excited.

You mean formation flying isn't just for airshows? Waaaaa? :eek:

Well yes. But to be honest, "we" don't employ them with LASER guidance anywhere near as often as INS/GPS. Especially the EPWIII. So for us, that's the big thing. In fact in 13 years in the RAF I only ever saw EPWIII loaded for a couple of strike missions, and that was in 2011 for Libya. And I tell you what, the TGP footage from that mission was a good watch. 20+ 2000 lb. & 1000 lb. EPWs landing in a complex less than 1 sq/nm makes a bit of a mess.

Yep, and in that case it's even more appropriate, because the Enhanced Paveway III is in fact a GBU-27, albeit with the addition of the enhanced guidance package including INS/GPS guidance. We just don't use US designations for anything in UK, so we don't call it a GBU-27, we call it simply EPW III.

Yes and no, the GBU-27 was cleared for use on the F-16C in 1999 and was actually employed by both the F-16C and the F-117 over Iraq in 2003 as well the over the FRY during Allied Force. The GBU-24 is more commonly used, but both are fundamentally the same weapon, only the aerofoil groups differ between the two.

What do you want to know? Bearing in mind a comprehensive weapon delivery & tactics manual would be longer than the sim manual, so anything given on these forums will be non-exhaustive rule of thumb in nature ).

2+2=42552155

None of the above. Yes more players increases the probability of issues, but what exactly (as in what line(s) of code) is the route cause. That is what needs to be tracked down.

Yep. Entirely defeats the tactical purpose and philosophy behind formations. Such things look good in air shows, but have less than zero tactical use.

;)

Just fly with the AoA indicator in the best cruise band (first white band). Around 220 KIAS at most weights. Best cruise alt will vary depending on weight and drag, so needs to be calculated in advance. But, what GG said.

It should, when an SA-13 is actively tracking you and therefore ranging, yes.

The MWS, and all other aspects of the defensive aids suite we have in DCS have little in common with their real life counterparts. The real systems are far more capable and "intelligent".

MAWS on Typhoon can already do that, and show real time range/position and time to impact, as well as some other "stuff". There are a few different types of MAWS, UV optical is a rather basic low cost type. The MWS on the A-10C is a very basic system with some significant limitations, as is the case with all UV optical systems, although there are things that can be done to reduce false indications IRL even reflections from the sun 'can' cause false alerts.

Maverick polarity selection is not modelled in DCS. But it does mean what you're thinking. In he case of the Mav polarity does not refer to whot/bhot, but the contrast of the target in relation to the background. IRL it's purpose is to tell the Mav if it should be locking onto a light/hot object on a dark/cold background or a dark/cold object on a light/hot background. If you have he wrong polarity set the seeker will not lock on. And it applies to both CCD and IIR Mavericks.

For anyone who's ever been curious what it's like to fly a combat sortie in the 476th, here is a video of a 2 hour Air Interdiction mission flown on the Operation Georgian Storm dedicated server scenario. The video has been edited down to just over one hour in length, with much of the transit and admin portions of the flight removed, it was also necessary to cut out some sections of combat preparation etc. to stop it being even longer, but hopefully not too much. No music, no special effects, and no joining together of multiple takes to make things look good.

That is a Mk-82 Snakeye, which was replaced in service by the Mk-82AIR. Not a Mk-81. The Mk-81 is the smallest of the Mk-80 series and is approximately 250lbs, it was retired from service after Vietnam. The snakeye would be great to have though, if and when we get an aircraft of appropriate vintage to employ it.

It most certainly will. The INS is the primary guidance system. Just as in the A-10C itself (any any other military aircraft for that matter) all the GPS system does is provide position updates to the INS to correct for gyroscopic drift errors. It takes at least 10 seconds from release for JDAM to acquire a valid 3d GPS position. If the time of flight is any less than that, or if GPS jamming is in operation, the weapon guides to the target solely using the INS. WCMD is INS only and does not have any GPS assistance.

They are, as you suspected, two terms for exactly the same thing. JDAMs and WCMDs are both types of IAMs.

Indeed. But the Viper is better though.

There certainly are CM systems that can counter the likes of newer AA-11s, AIM-9X, and ASRAAM. And they are hardly secret, DCS already has a basic inplementaion of an early version of such systems in the form of the IR Jammer on the Frogfoot. Google AIRCM and DIRCM. Such systems are however very costly to deploy, so only the likes of the US, UK, and a few select others have them in operation. And they are the only way to counter the latest gen of IIR AAMs. I can't comment on the AIM-9X or AA-11 with much authority, but I can certainly say that the ASRAAM (UK spec at least) doesn't give two hoots about flare.

True. However, it's worth considering that the airborne frag pattern for a impact detonated Mk-82 is 3000 ft x 3000ft for 30 seconds. Of course much of that is the fragments coming down, but still, frag is a significantly sized part of the weapon effect. Regarding the MK-84 though, it's also worth noting that despite being 4 times the weight of the Mk-82, it has nowhere near 4 times the effective power. To illustrate, the optimum ripple spacing for employment against point targets is the Mk-82 is 75ft, for the Mk-84 it's only 150 ft. Of course it's true that all weapons are in some respect less effective than they are in reality though.

Nope, that there is another DCS inaccuracy. A blinking pointing cross is a bad thing, it means the lock is unlikely to survive launch. What you want is a solid pointing cross, which if you watch the video more closely is what you'll see. And yes, before you ask, it is in the ever lengthening "to be fixed" list. It's also a somewhat of a pity the video start with the Mav set to correct polarity so you don't see that working. Another aspect not modelled in DCS. If you look at this vid from 24 seconds you'll see polarity and keyhole in action, or rather what happens when you forget (even the pros struggle sometimes).