TWS vs STT

[Espéce De salaud]

Are there any advantages to having STT rather than using TWS?

[RoflSeal]

Are there any advantages to having STT rather than using TWS?

 

Well, you need STT to guide Sparrow, otherwise, no.

[Bushmanni]

STT has wider vertical scan limit. In TWS you can only track targets +-35 degrees above or below horizon but in STT it's +-60 degrees.

[Espéce De salaud]

Thank you all

[Beamscanner]

Are there any advantages to having STT rather than using TWS?

 

STT does a better job at maintaining a track on a target, as its target fixated.(the antenna is not scanning, but is instead focused on the target.) Though this minor advantage is completely over shadowed by the fact that TWS wont spook the enemy.

 

In most cases TWS is your best bet.. I wouldn't use STT until I come within visual range and my presence and position is currently known to the enemy.

Edited February 4, 2016 by Beamscanner

[Jester Darrak]

It's a little of a rush to say "just" use TWS. Every mode has it's advantages and is useful in may ways. With STT you can spook a bandit that's going for a friendly, especially if your position is not known to the enemy. All you need to know is how each mode works, what effect it might have on a target. Use that to plan your approach on different situations. Sometimes, when flying the 15 I'm getting locked up as soon as I'm wheels up which is annoying and somewhat frightening. Knowing there is someone tracking every one of your steps can make it hard to clear your mind for other things.

[Beamscanner]

It's a little of a rush to say "just" use TWS. Every mode has it's advantages and is useful in may ways. With STT you can spook a bandit that's going for a friendly, especially if your position is not known to the enemy. All you need to know is how each mode works, what effect it might have on a target. Use that to plan your approach on different situations. Sometimes, when flying the 15 I'm getting locked up as soon as I'm wheels up which is annoying and somewhat frightening. Knowing there is someone tracking every one of your steps can make it hard to clear your mind for other things.

 

Yeah, there are a lot of tactics out there. some of which may work to your benefit if going up against an enemy unfamiliar tactic X.

 

In your case, your assuming the enemy doesn't realize his RWR gives some estimated range from the signal. With said knowledge they could completely ignore your lock on.. But never the less, your right. Its always worth a shot.

[Jester Darrak]

Well, it depends on the type of aircraft you're targeting. A russian plane/rwr will give a little more info on how far away the source is, so yes, he could just ignore me. But we're not talking RL situations here. Plus I'm also a huge fan of flood mode and the AIM-7, so my approach on things might be different than others. ;)

[311Gryphon]

There is a lot of good information already in this thread. I'll give my very limited experience. I don't know why or how things work the way they do but I've had fun learning about it. I would point out that there is a difference between LRS and TWS and you can enter STT from both modes.

 

Long Range Scan has a wider scan but as soon as you bug a target you are in Single Target Track. That means all your radiation energy is focused on that target. There are pros and cons of that. Your radar can build and maintain the track easier and thus has less chance of losing the target; however, the target's sensors know you're focused on it. As others have pointed out that fact also has possible pros and cons.

 

Track While Scan mode means you can track a target while still scanning for other targets. It has a narrower field I think because of the extra time it takes to try to build the track for the bugged targets while maintaining a scan. The positive aspect of TWS mode is that you can bug multiple targets (up to 4) without losing any of them, and with the AIM-120 you can engage all 4 in order of the bug order. If you bug any target again it goes into STT just like if you bugged them once in LRS mode.

 

You also get different information depending on which mode you are in.

 

I usually stay in LRS mode to have a bigger picture of the sky. When I see targets I will sometimes switch to TWS mode but not always. It just depends on the situation. I like TWS because I'm normally rolling with AMRAAMs and I like to be able to fire in quick succession on multiple targets. However, that's really not that effective I have to admit. I'm still not great at working the radar quickly once things start to happen so it's my lazy way of doing things.

 

I hope this helps.

[AussieGhost789]

Just for future reference, when you say LRS I believe you mean RWS which is Range While Scan. As for your tactic of searching in RWS and switching to TWS, I would suggest binding your TWS key to something on your stick or throttle (like a hat switch or button that's easy to reach). You'll get the hang of it eventually. I do the same thing, it might take a little while but you can get pretty quick at it.

 

Edit: After having a quick glance at the manual again, it appears you're not wrong in saying LRS. Guess I should fact check before I post :doh:

Edited February 5, 2016 by AussieGhost789

[feefifofum]

RWS = Range While Search, actually, I think.

Lots of good advice in here though re: tactics!

Edited February 5, 2016 by feefifofum

[AussieGhost789]

RWS = Range While Search, actually, I think.

Lots of good advice in here though re: tactics!

 

I just checked the manual and it actually shows it as LRS, as Gryphon says. :doh: Guess I should fact check before I post. Although I'm still pretty sure that RWS is range while scan :P

Edited February 5, 2016 by AussieGhost789

[feefifofum]

[ame]http://www.maverick.webd.pl/pliki/f4_AN-APG-68-v5.pdf[/ame]

 

RADAR op manual calls it Range While Search, though admittedly this is a Falcon manual because I don't want to dig for the Eagle RADAR manual at the moment. :lol:

 

Potato, potahto though, does the same thing no matter what you call it. :)

 

EDIT: And here we have it as Range While Search in the Hornet...eventually I'll find the Eagle one haha

http://vnfa2.tripod.com/FA-18_Radar.html

Edited February 5, 2016 by feefifofum

[AussieGhost789]

http://www.maverick.webd.pl/pliki/f4_AN-APG-68-v5.pdf

 

RADAR op manual calls it Range While Search, though admittedly this is a Falcon manual because I don't want to dig for the Eagle RADAR manual at the moment. :lol:

 

Potato, potahto though, does the same thing no matter what you call it. :)

 

EDIT: And here we have it as Range While Search in the Hornet...eventually I'll find the Eagle one haha

http://vnfa2.tripod.com/FA-18_Radar.html

 

Fair enough. I've definitely seen it referred to as Range While Scan, though. But as you say, potato, potahto :P

[jester_]

Fair enough. I've definitely seen it referred to as Range While Scan, though. But as you say, potato, potahto :P

 

fuk off toothless u bastard.

 

 

OP, I pretty much only use STT to get the targeted aircraft to focus on me while my wingman swoops in from high above.

[Frostie]

Long Range Scan has a wider scan but as soon as you bug a target you are in Single Target Track. That means all your radiation energy is focused on that target. There are pros and cons of that. Your radar can build and maintain the track easier and thus has less chance of losing the target; however, the target's sensors know you're focused on it. As others have pointed out that fact also has possible pros and cons.

 

Track While Scan mode means you can track a target while still scanning for other targets. It has a narrower field I think because of the extra time it takes to try to build the track for the bugged targets while maintaining a scan. The positive aspect of TWS mode is that you can bug multiple targets (up to 4) without losing any of them, and with the AIM-120 you can engage all 4 in order of the bug order. If you bug any target again it goes into STT just like if you bugged them once in LRS mode.

 

One disadvantage that TWS should have is that it is not real time rather a predicted path, it makes sense to have a smaller scanning zone to reduce the update because against a target that changes aspect sporadically a cheap shot would have even less pk than if a cheap shot was fired from STT. It may be wise in this situation to switch to STT before the snip. Not sure this is implemented in DCS.

[Bushmanni]

TWS lag isn't modeled currently. Information on primary TWS target is presented in real time like in STT and all missiles will track their respective targets in real time even before pitbull.