Crunchy Posted January 4, 2016 Posted January 4, 2016 I'm having real problems knowing when to switch ECM Jamming on and when to leave it off. Would I be right in thinking you only switch it on when something locks on to you? Or should I be switching it on when something is tracking me or has fired it's missile at me? At what point do I switch it on? Also, I fly the A10C, but whatever the correct answer is, does rhis apply to all aircraft the same. Thanks!
Paganus Posted January 4, 2016 Posted January 4, 2016 Not all aircraft have the same kind of ECM systems. In the A-10 the ECM only runs for a few seconds when it's activated. It's purpose is immediate threats only (your locked, missile in the air, etc). While the F-15, in the sim, has a system that will help mask you from a distance, in theory allowing you to get closer than without it before the radar burns through and you are locked. Under /Mods/ and the aircraft/docs you will find a manual for each aircraft.
Crunchy Posted January 4, 2016 Author Posted January 4, 2016 Not all aircraft have the same kind of ECM systems. In the A-10 the ECM only runs for a few seconds when it's activated. It's purpose is immediate threats only (your locked, missile in the air, etc). While the F-15, in the sim, has a system that will help mask you from a distance, in theory allowing you to get closer than without it before the radar burns through and you are locked. Under /Mods/ and the aircraft/docs you will find a manual for each aircraft. When you say it only runs for a few seconds in the A10C, do I have to keep switching it off and then back on to make it last longer? When I press ECM, it seem to continue to work because it keeps flashing until I press the switch again and the light remains steady. Are you sure it only lasts a few seconds, because I don't see it's purpose if it only stays on a few seconds. I mean if you switch it on to avoid a missile and it then switches itself off after a few seconds, isn't the missile going to hit you? I have read the manual 3 times now, but it doesn't say a lot about when to switch on ECM. I also looked on Youtube, but don't see a great deal about it on there either. Thanks!
Cik Posted January 4, 2016 Posted January 4, 2016 When you say it only runs for a few seconds in the A10C, do I have to keep switching it off and then back on to make it last longer? at least as far as i know, yes. unlike on most other planes, there is no continuous mode that i know of. When I press ECM, it seem to continue to work because it keeps flashing until I press the switch again and the light remains steady. Are you sure it only lasts a few seconds, because I don't see it's purpose if it only stays on a few seconds. IMO the jammer isn't that useful for the A-10. it only helps against radar threats, which should be relatively rare, and furthermore it only really precludes very long-range SAMs from shooting at you at long range. if you want to not be fired upon by long-range SAMs in the A-10, your best bet is to just be behind a hill. I mean if you switch it on to avoid a missile and it then switches itself off after a few seconds, isn't the missile going to hit you? i could be very wrong about this, and the real life effects of jammers are of course shrouded in mystery, but AFAIK jammers don't effect probability of kill of missiles fired against you; they only effect the ability to lock you, and then only pretty far ranges. unless you are flying against SA-10s (and you shouldn't be) a jammer will have no effect on the situation whatever. I have read the manual 3 times now, but it doesn't say a lot about when to switch on ECM. I also looked on Youtube, but don't see a great deal about it on there either. Thanks! the jammer is a specialized tool and i wouldn't take it in the majority of missions. only take it if you are going to be facing a large number of RADAR SAMs (or interceptors, but let's be honest it probably won't be too helpful then) and if you are going to be flying at high altitude (for some reason) otherwise it's much more effective to beam, chaff and descend into the dirt. in most missions the jammer is a paperweight; take more fuel, more bombs, or some utility rockets instead (or just save the weight for increased maneuverability)
red_coreSix Posted January 4, 2016 Posted January 4, 2016 The jammers you have on your A-10C differ from other jammers in DCS as it is a defensive jammer that uses deception jamming to break locks. So it only works when a radar is locking you up or is supporting a missile against (or against active radar missiles). It also doesn't only work for a few seconds, it will try to break the lock as long as the radar is painting you and will only stop once you tell it to, once he unlocks you or once the jammer successfully broke the lock.
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