JTAC Flexibility

I've been trying to get the OH-58D to continue feeding me targets but once one target group is completely eliminated the Kiowa won't respond to me anymore. I've tried using all three different FAC Modes in the mission editor with no luck. Perform enroute task / FAC works best for me so far but still won't call me back once one group is completely knocked out. Is this a known issue or am I doing something wrong?

JTAC Flexibility

The currently implemented JTAC, although a bit buggy, is great fun. I'm interested - in the final version how much variation and flexibilty will be available?

For example, will the JTAC ever use laser designation when he doesn't want a LGB - can he lase and then request a AGM-65 or dumb bomb release, with us using the hud LST indications to find the target?

Is the radio verbal 9 line brief always followed by the datalink point data and digital 9 line? Will we ever just get one or the other - I don't know how realistic this is (in RL I'm sure all available communication techniques would be used for redundancy etc), but having just the radio brief would add to the challenge. This could also simulate a FAC without fancy datalink equipment, I'm sure they don't all have datalink.

I'm really looking forward to the audio JTAC, here's hoping a Beta update is on the horizon...

Great ideas, I think the virtual JTAC does have some variation built in. For instance I have had 'Type 2' and 'Type 3' calls depending on the location of friendly forces, different weapons requested for different targets. However I have yet to have a target lased for me.

I am looking forward to the development of the JTAC, especialy in the MP world. Imagine if you could select the post of a JTAC in MP and spawn in a Hummer, drive around the land scape spotting targets and directing A10's overhead and lazing targets, marking with smoke etc. It seems that all of the components exist in the current Beta in one form or another.

Cheers

Tom

To get / force him to lase a target for a GBU-12 I changed the option for weapon type in the 'advanced options' tab thingy in the ME. Change it from AUTO to Guided - Guided Bombs and the JTAC will lase for you.

I'm going now to see if he will lase in AUTO if I carry a pure GBU-12 load. I'm also going to see if he will illuminate with an IR pointer during night time.

Can the developers input as to what logic the JTAC uses to select designation method and weapon requested?

What about type 2 and type 3 attacks? Are these the only types? I need to research CAS obviously but type 3 is less controlled / more freedom for the pilot to engage it seems.

To get / force him to lase a target for a GBU-12 I changed the option for weapon type in the 'advanced options' tab thingy in the ME. Change it from AUTO to Guided - Guided Bombs and the JTAC will lase for you.

<snip>

That's awesome, AvroLanc - had not played with the "Advanced" tab yet. Very cool if this already works in the beta - off to try it now!

In type 3's, they seem to skip some parts and usually you are cleared hot right after you read back the 9-line. I've also figured out, if you put the unit to just FAC and not FAC - engage group, the unit will lead you to any enemy unit the friendly AI is aware of. I tried with a Predator drone, had him circle the battlefield. As soon as he spotted something, I got a 9-line from the JTAC which was on the ground at friendly FARP. That way you can have the JTAC function as some kind of a theater air attack controller (or whatever fancy term you'd like to give it) It seems if they are far of the target they don't drop smoke markers which is pretty cool. All in all JTAC is really cool feature.

Geskes thats fantastic! I had no idea

In type 3's, they seem to skip some parts and usually you are cleared hot right after you read back the 9-line. I've also figured out, if you put the unit to just FAC and not FAC - engage group, the unit will lead you to any enemy unit the friendly AI is aware of. I tried with a Predator drone, had him circle the battlefield. As soon as he spotted something, I got a 9-line from the JTAC which was on the ground at friendly FARP. That way you can have the JTAC function as some kind of a theater air attack controller (or whatever fancy term you'd like to give it) It seems if they are far of the target they don't drop smoke markers which is pretty cool. All in all JTAC is really cool feature.

You cant leave it like that! How did you set up the Predator? was it something like this...

1) Place Predator over battle zone at safe altitude

2) set predator to invisible/invincible in advanced actions

3) Set Predator to Orbit

4) place Predator GCS and Trojan spirit in a safe area

5) Set Callsign, Freq, and On-route action = FAC for GCS

Please please tell us more

Tom

I've just set up a night JTAC mission to see if the JTAC would use an IR pointer as advertised and sure enough he did. Once IP inbound you tell the JTAC to 'sparkle' and he illuminates the target with an IR beam that can be seen through the NVGs. However the gain on the NVGs is a little too bright so everything washes out and it is difficult to see.

Anyone know how to turn down the gain?

As well as 'Sparkle' there are other options from the menu including 'pulse'..., we need a manual update for the JTAC I feel.

I've now had Willy Pete, Laser and IR designation. I'm now going to try the predator idea in the post above, to get the UTM cordinates method to work.

Cool stuff.

set up quick mission with Predetor and JTAC and it works perfectly. Hit 4 trucks and then asked for next task and JTAC when silent and no longer respoded. Will have to test some more as It maybe just me.

He did give me tasks based soley on what the Predetor was seeing though as he was all the way back at the airfield where I took off from.

I think this is fantastic!:joystick::joystick::joystick::pilotfly:

PS did another test and it only seems to work for the first group. I set up 2 sets of trucks, I kill the first set and Jtac stops tasking me. Not sure if its a bug or I forgot something but he says "Target Destroyed" and I hit "1 Request Task" on the radio options and get no response.

Tom, I put Predator in orbit mode just on a single waypoint. Didn't put it invincible because there weren't any threats for him and you don't need the predator GCS or Trojan spirit for the predator to spot targets.

I haven't really experimented with it alot but I can give you the scenario I tried it in. In this scenario I have artillery spawning when player gets near a friendly position (WP 3). After spawning the artillery opens up on friendly position. If you contact JTAC once at waypoint he will give you the 9-line to arty position. When artillery is destroyed, next group spawns and the predator will spot it sending a tally message over the radio. You do have to check in with FAC again as he dismisses you after destruction of the first group. Also really cool, since there is a ZSU at the second position, the FAC will tell you it is there and at what range and direction from the target. EPIC. A third group spawns after that but it is out of spotting range of the predator so you will not get 9-line for the last group. Still have to improve that, there is a OH-58 that was supposed to spot that group but he is also out of range. (no tally message on radio)

So given it works in this mission for 2 groups it should work for as many groups as you want. Just make sure they are spotted.

Please post when you find out more :)

As for the NVG's you cannot control gain or brightness. In real life they also have only one setting. And how cool what AvroLanc tried!

JTACpredator.miz

Thats good stuff you found!

Maybe we can get type 1 if we put friendlies really close.

A line of sight tool could be interesting. You can turn on detection ranges once in the mission by going to theater view and then hit the button at the top with a radar symbol emitting yellow waves. Its not equal to line of sight especially not for ground forces but at least it shows the max range at which units can detect enemies.

If type one isn't in the beta build we have right now, it may be in a later build. I don't see why it wouldn't be in there. I'm really excited to see what the community as well as ED does with JTAC integration. It's just as exciting as flying the a-10!

This actually makes we want to learn how to use the map editor.

Just to add to the definitions of JTAC control types Avro found (I did type out a lengthy reply giving the same info, but sadly the internet out here died before I could submit it :mad:).

Type 2 control is the most common method used these days, not type 1 as stated above. Type 1 is only really used when you have a requirment for ordnance to be dropped danger close to friendly forces or other similar situations, and even then type 2 is often used.

Type 2 and 3 allow the aircrew much more freedom to use their aircraft and weapon system to it's full potential, type 1 will usually restrict them to using close range/low altitude attacks for example.

Has ED considered making JTAC a MP function with the ability for people to spawn as JTAC with binos and a laser designator? Because that would be cool as it is you could land near a battlefield and eject and then walk over and do it but with binos and a laser designator like in Arma(just make sure you remember batterys) there is some potential.:thumbup:

Has ED considered making JTAC a MP function with the ability for people to spawn as JTAC with binos and a laser designator? Because that would be cool as it is you could land near a battlefield and eject and then walk over and do it but with binos and a laser designator like in Arma(just make sure you remember batterys) there is some potential.:thumbup:

As far as I'm aware this is already implemented in the current beta. Or am I completely mistaken?

As far as I'm aware this is already implemented in the current beta. Or am I completely mistaken?

Yes, you already can control friendly ground units (RTS style) and switch to FAC view (3rd person camera) or designator view (scope) to fire smoke or use laser rangefinder. That works. However, I did not have opportunity to test if I can lase the target for attack run, so I don't know if that is currently possible.

Freckin sweet:thumbup:, does that work in mp as well?

Yes works in MP, you can add positions for JTACs in a mission.

I just had a hell of an experience with JTAC again! I set a Kiowa as AFAC at night on a column of tanks while loaded with LGB's. It was totally amazing. After I was cleared hot I told him Laser On, He lased the targets and I only had to press the LSS button on the TGP to track it. When the first target was hit, he would say "SHIFT" and he would lase the next one, I'd press LSS again and kaboom! "SHIFT" KABOOM "SHIFT" KABOOM. Target destroyed! No further tasking, you may depart. Totally epic.

Here is a tip. Use the UAZ. Its driveable and you can drive it where you want and then switch to JTAC from the F10 Map.

Not sure it works in MP though =(

Yes works in MP, you can add positions for JTACs in a mission.

 

I just had a hell of an experience with JTAC again! I set a Kiowa as AFAC at night on a column of tanks while loaded with LGB's. It was totally amazing. After I was cleared hot I told him Laser On, He lased the targets and I only had to press the LSS button on the TGP to track it. When the first target was hit, he would say "SHIFT" and he would lase the next one, I'd press LSS again and kaboom! "SHIFT" KABOOM "SHIFT" KABOOM. Target destroyed! No further tasking, you may depart. Totally epic.

Just getting into the JTAC, but there seems to be little info in the current beta manual. Any chance of an instructional video (other than Wags') or written instructions on how to setup cool missions like this in the ME?

Bump

Also how do i get a predator drone to spot for a FAC?

or do i set the predator drone as a FAC?

Bump

 

Also how do i get a predator drone to spot for a FAC?

 

or do i set the predator drone as a FAC?

The latter - see this thread...

No. Set your JTAC to look for targets and put him along way away from danger but not too far so hes out of radio range. Then use FAC option but not FAC Attack Group. Just FAC. He will see any target that the Predator sees and direct you to it. He does not need to be told what the targets are like when you use the FAC attack group option. He will target any enemy vehicle.

Try out my simple mission. Take off and contact Jtac. Note that he cannot see the enemy trucks and is using the Predetor to spot. For some reason he only directs you to the first set of contacts, after they are destroyed he stops responding. I need to do more tests though im sure there is a way around it.

Edit wait for UAV to take off before contacting JTAC. On my PC I get a crash to desktop if I have the UAV in the air at mission start.