Can MiG-21 radar detect target below 1500m now ?

[anlq]

I have tried many times, but I only pick up target signal above 1500m. Is it a feature of MiG-21 radar or something, can anyone confirm ?:(

I have had this question since 2014, but I almost forget asking it again. :joystick:

[KEULE]

I have tried many times, but I only pick up target signal above 1500m. Is it a feature of MiG-21 radar or something, can anyone confirm ?:(

I have had this question since 2014, but I almost forget asking it again. :joystick:

 

Just fly 1500m or below and it can detect. :smilewink:

[QuiGon]

I have some troubles with this as well. Sometimes it can spot low flying targets, sometimes not. I always make sure, that I'm at the same altitude as the target or below.

 

I just take it as a feature, because it's a pretty old and rather simple radar, so I would expect a behaviour like this.

[FeistyLemur]

I don't know if it's a bug, or what but a couple times now in multiplayer I've spotted the enlarged models of other planes on the horizon and been completely unable to detect them despite pointing the nose in what looks like a direction that should be able to detect them.

 

Do the enlarged models actually have more visibility than the mig21 radar?

[KEULE]

I don't know if it's a bug, or what but a couple times now in multiplayer I've spotted the enlarged models of other planes on the horizon and been completely unable to detect them despite pointing the nose in what looks like a direction that should be able to detect them.

 

Do the enlarged models actually have more visibility than the mig21 radar?

 

Mig21 is designed to intercept high flying planes like bombers. Therefore radar can only look at the same level as the jet itself or above.

This is an pic from Chucks guide to Mig21 which I highly recommend. Here you see what the radar is capable of detecting.

 

Edit: Also be sure to select the correct radar mode for slow flying planes and helicopters. Otherwise you wont be able to detect them as well

Edited February 24, 2016 by KEULE

[Tarres]

Flight operations and technical manuals states that interceptions below 1500 meters have to be performed in visual only conditions without radar help.

Like Keule said, the RP-22SMA it's not designed to low level interceptions. Bellow 3-2000 meters its capabilities are degraded and bellow 1500-1000 meters are inexistents.

[102nd-YU-TazMan]

I believe Mig23 was first to have doppler radar capable of look-down shoot-down.

[mattebubben]

I believe Mig23 was first to have doppler radar capable of look-down shoot-down.

well it was the first russian aircraft with look down-shoot down.

 

The F-4J being the first aircraft with look down / shoot down capabilities.

 

And the Mig-23M being the First soviet aircraft with (limited) look down / shoot down capabilities.

(the earlier Mig-23 variants had the same radar as the Mig-21 as the new radar had not been ready)

 

But Also the Mig-23 Radar was not a Doppler radar but used a different less effective technique to attain look-down / shoot-down Capabilities.

Edited February 24, 2016 by mattebubben

[anlq]

Flight operations and technical manuals states that interceptions below 1500 meters have to be performed in visual only conditions without radar help.

Like Keule said, the RP-22SMA it's not designed to low level interceptions. Bellow 3-2000 meters its capabilities are degraded and bellow 1500-1000 meters are inexistents.

 

I believe Mig23 was first to have doppler radar capable of look-down shoot-down.

 

This makes sense now, thank you.

[Andrei]

I've set up a scenario where I needed to intercept an MQ-1 orbiting over Zugdidi dam area. The terrain is basically a lake surrounded by mountains up to ~2200m MSL.

 

The drone was flying ~2500m MSL over the lake. That corresponded to ~1.5km AGL or less. I managed to get a radar contact and a lock in MiG-21. Contact around 5km, lock around 2.5km. Had low alt and low speed filters on. Unfortunately could not get a visual until the very last moment and I had no radar-guided missiles :)

 

P.S. It's really, REALLY hard hunting the MQ-1's without a decent radar. Those things are tiny, slow and blend into the skies really, really well, making them almost invisible until you crash into one.

[FeistyLemur]

Mig21 is designed to intercept high flying planes like bombers. Therefore radar can only look at the same level as the jet itself or above.

This is an pic from Chucks guide to Mig21 which I highly recommend. Here you see what the radar is capable of detecting.

 

Edit: Also be sure to select the correct radar mode for slow flying planes and helicopters. Otherwise you wont be able to detect them as well

 

Am I misunderstanding how it's supposed to work? The antenna is fixed is it not? Should that not mean if for example I see another plane outside the coverage area which is just a bit too far above me, should pitching up and aiming the nose in the appropriate place not detect that plane?

 

I know the SU 27 in the FC3 pack seems to have the antenna try to stay glued to the horizon as you maneuver but I was under the impression you just point the nose at what you want to lock up with the 21.

[QuiGon]

Am I misunderstanding how it's supposed to work? The antenna is fixed is it not? Should that not mean if for example I see another plane outside the coverage area which is just a bit too far above me, should pitching up and aiming the nose in the appropriate place not detect that plane?

 

I know the SU 27 in the FC3 pack seems to have the antenna try to stay glued to the horizon as you maneuver but I was under the impression you just point the nose at what you want to lock up with the 21.

 

Yes, from my experience the radar of the MiG-21 is not stabilized for horizon, at least not in the game.

 

But you can move it up mechanically by some degrees if you move the switch to the right of the radar power switch in the upper position.

Edited February 25, 2016 by QuiGon

[KEULE]

Am I misunderstanding how it's supposed to work? The antenna is fixed is it not? Should that not mean if for example I see another plane outside the coverage area which is just a bit too far above me, should pitching up and aiming the nose in the appropriate place not detect that plane?

 

I know the SU 27 in the FC3 pack seems to have the antenna try to stay glued to the horizon as you maneuver but I was under the impression you just point the nose at what you want to lock up with the 21.

 

Beside to slew it a bit down Mig21 can not slew the radar to any direction. There are worlds between Su27 and Mig21. You cannot compare them in any sense due to different purposes and of course the decades between them.

[RoflSeal]

Mig 21 radar is stabilized -8/+25 degree vertical and 70 degree roll

[Hummingbird]

Beware of ground clutter as well, the MiG-21 radar suffers from this quite a lot.

[FeistyLemur]

This might be why I struggle to find targets so often. Not taking into account that I'm flying below 2000 meters. And in multiplayer I'm usually flying at about 10 meters. Ok maybe a bit more than that.

[anlq]

I did some tests yesterday.

- MiG21 (1000ft) vs Mirage (3000ft): Couldn't get a lock.

- MiG21 (6000ft) vs Mirage (1000ft): Couldn't get a lock until target flying above 3000ft)

I tried declutter switch in 1st and 2nd position, pointed radar directly to target, flat terrain.

 

Maybe a confirmation from Leatherneck will be appreciated. :thumbup:

Edited February 26, 2016 by anlq

[BSS_Sniper]

This might be why I struggle to find targets so often. Not taking into account that I'm flying below 2000 meters. And in multiplayer I'm usually flying at about 10 meters. Ok maybe a bit more than that.

 

That's the problem with multiplayer, not many people fly at realistic altitudes. Everyone wants to fly on the deck in their "easy" mode FC aircraft and the Mig 21 doesn't stand a chance because of the radar.

 

It would be nice if some real life counterparts to the Mig 21 were developed so that we could have some real fun in this aircraft.

[Kev2go]

That's the problem with multiplayer, not many people fly at realistic altitudes. Everyone wants to fly on the deck in their "easy" mode FC aircraft and the Mig 21 doesn't stand a chance because of the radar.

 

It would be nice if some real life counterparts to the Mig 21 were developed so that we could have some real fun in this aircraft.

 

# F5E Tiger 2.

 

F5E-3 block specifically is currently being developed by belsimtek as a counterpart the mig21bis.

[FeistyLemur]

That's the problem with multiplayer, not many people fly at realistic altitudes. Everyone wants to fly on the deck in their "easy" mode FC aircraft and the Mig 21 doesn't stand a chance because of the radar.

 

It would be nice if some real life counterparts to the Mig 21 were developed so that we could have some real fun in this aircraft.

 

The f5 is being developed, Can't wait really to have f5 v mig21 servers. I just hope there's enough interest to make it work. The thing with multiplayer as it stands right now the only really populated server I have an acceptable ping to seems to be the 104th server. And it's a fine server, but really air to air combat seems it should just be called f15c online more than anything. Problem is I really can't bring myself to fly the f15.

 

It's pretty satisfying when you catch a completely clueless newbie in the f15 and see that joyful chat message of 'so and so in f15c was killed by R3R'. I even just love seeing that when it's someone else's 21 and not my own. I think I have like 3 kills vs the F15 as a lifetime total in the 21. But they were all ambushes from the dirt of course.

 

But not all the missions are 21 friendly since you pretty much have to hide like a rat in the mountains and keep your eyes peeled hoping to find someone who dares to fly too high. And if the mission doesn't take place over mountains, well, I'm sure you know how that goes for poor old 21. The aim 120 is probably in flight toward you when you're still lifting your landing gear.

 

Mostly I've been having a ton of fun flying the shark online doing Air to Ground attack. It inspired me to finally put in the work to learn the A10C, since ground attack is so much fun.

Edited February 28, 2016 by FeistyLemur

[Frostie]

That's the problem with multiplayer, not many people fly at realistic altitudes. Everyone wants to fly on the deck in their "easy" mode FC aircraft and the Mig 21 doesn't stand a chance because of the radar.

 

It would be nice if some real life counterparts to the Mig 21 were developed so that we could have some real fun in this aircraft.

 

The reason a lot fly low is because the missiles don't work too well from high, if this gets fixed then the MiG-21 will get even tougher, right now it's not too hard to engage modern fighters because they're easy to draw into your environment, because most are low they're not spotting you from 50nmi away, engaging you before you see them and chasing you down diving towards your six at Mach 2.

So as it stands the MiG-21 is currently the one in easy mode.

[Nerd1000]

The reason a lot fly low is because the missiles don't work too well from high, if this gets fixed then the MiG-21 will get even tougher, right now it's not too hard to engage modern fighters because they're easy to draw into your environment, because most are low they're not spotting you from 50nmi away, engaging you before you see them and chasing you down diving towards your six at Mach 2.

So as it stands the MiG-21 is currently the one in easy mode.

 

Perhaps not the best move for a fighter on the 104th. There's nothing in particular to stop the MiG from lighting up his afterburner and sprinting towards the nearest airbase. Maybe your 120 will get him, but you'll probably get splashed by a SAM shortly afterwards.

[Frostie]

Perhaps not the best move for a fighter on the 104th. There's nothing in particular to stop the MiG from lighting up his afterburner and sprinting towards the nearest airbase. Maybe your 120 will get him, but you'll probably get splashed by a SAM shortly afterwards.

 

I guess you've never been chased by a high F-15.

[Nerd1000]

I guess you've never been chased by a high F-15.

I have. I died (due to running out of fuel and slowing down in an attempt to land) but he got smoked by a S-300 :music_whistling:.

 

Edit: It is worth noting that I was not on the deck, so I was a bit faster than the MiG is at SL.

Edited March 6, 2016 by Nerd1000

[WildBillKelsoe]

it is best if you are not searching for maneuvering target. Speaking about radars, what is the scan frequency for the Sapphire? you know to cover the right 30 degrees, then left 30 degrees then full 60 degrees?