AACQ Sidewinder Questions

[dresoccer4]

Hello fellow virtual pilots! I've been studying and messing around with the different auto acquisition modes for the sidewinder, and had a couple questions that i couldn't find any clear answers to. :pilotfly:

 

1) Caged and uncaged ('6' on the keyboard): amiright that in caged mode, you have to get your target in the tiny circle to get a lock? and for uncaged you have to get your target in the slightly-bigger-but-still-pretty-small circle? why would you use caged over uncaged?

 

2) Vertical AACQ ('3' on keyboard): this seems the same to me as uncaged (same size target circle) except your bird will lock onto a target so many degrees above your HUD as well. i guess the radar has to be on for this to work? this is my fav mode when up close

 

3) Boresight ('4' on keyboard): this seems the same as uncaged mode, 'cept with radar, any difference?

 

4) Seeker Slaved Mode ('6' on keyboard plus radar): my questions here a) does it matter if you're in caged or uncaged mode when you turn on the radar, any difference? b) where do you need to place your target in order for the radar and/or heatseeker to pick up your target?

 

that's all i could think of for now. i hope my rambling questions were clear enough. a proactive THANKS for any answers

 

-Daniel

[Top Jockey]

Hello fellow virtual pilots! I've been studying and messing around with the different auto acquisition modes for the sidewinder, and had a couple questions that i couldn't find any clear answers to. :pilotfly:

 

1) Caged and uncaged ('6' on the keyboard): am i right that in caged mode, you have to get your target in the tiny circle to get a lock? and for uncaged you have to get your target in the slightly-bigger-but-still-pretty-small circle? why would you use caged over uncaged?

 

2) Vertical AACQ ('3' on keyboard): this seems the same to me as uncaged (same size target circle) except your bird will lock onto a target so many degrees above your HUD as well. i guess the radar has to be on for this to work? this is my fav mode when up close

 

3) Boresight ('4' on keyboard): this seems the same as uncaged mode, 'cept with radar, any difference?

 

4) Seeker Slaved Mode ('6' on keyboard plus radar): my questions here a) does it matter if you're in caged or uncaged mode when you turn on the radar, any difference? b) where do you need to place your target in order for the radar and/or heatseeker to pick up your target?

 

that's all i could think of for now. i hope my rambling questions were clear enough. a proactive THANKS for any answers

 

-Daniel

 

Hello,

 

Short answer, your doubts are right, because:

 

- In FC3 the F-15 / AIM-9 modes aren't depicted as they should, so they don't realy work like in real life;

- There is no 'UNCAGE' functionality in FC3, it's only boresight vs scan, and it is mis-labeted as 'UNCAGE'.

 

1 - Yes you have to get your target in the tiny circle to get a lock, and you have to maintain it there until you fire the AIM-9.

 

2 - Yes the radar has to be on, as the AIM-9 seeker is cued by radar in "vertical scan" mode.

 

3 - The target acquisition area will be almost/or the same as in "uncaged", but because you will have the radar on, the AIM-9 seeker head will now be able to follow (maintain lock) the target in a much greater area (within radar limits).

 

4 - This mode is supposed to be used in case of radar malfunction or something, you aim the seeker head symbol to the target and shoot.

 

 

See the posts #10 and #29 of the thread below (although I recommend reading the entire thread - lots of info there):

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=137416

[dresoccer4]

Hello,

 

Short answer, your doubts are right, because:

 

- In FC3 the F-15 / AIM-9 modes aren't depicted as they should, so they don't realy work like in real life;

- There is no 'UNCAGE' functionality in FC3, it's only boresight vs scan, and it is mis-labeted as 'UNCAGE'.

 

1 - Yes you have to get your target in the tiny circle to get a lock, and you have to maintain it there until you fire the AIM-9.

 

2 - Yes the radar has to be on, as the AIM-9 seeker is cued by radar in "vertical scan" mode.

 

3 - The target acquisition area will be almost/or the same as in "uncaged", but because you will have the radar on, the AIM-9 seeker head will now be able to follow (maintain lock) the target in a much greater area (within radar limits).

 

4 - This mode is supposed to be used in case of radar malfunction or something, you aim the seeker head symbol to the target and shoot.

 

 

See the posts #10 and #29 of the thread below (although I recommend reading the entire thread - lots of info there):

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=137416

 

many thanks for your response. and i read through the other post you linked to, sounds like you had similar questions as me! very good read

[Stuge]

I'll talk about the longitudinal mode (number 6) since it is separate from the others - no radar!

 

Should be used for:

-radar malfunction

-stealth attack

 

Remember to IFF your target somehow!

 

The inner circle represents seeker head direction.

 

The outer circle represents the area where the target can move after lock is acquired. If target moves outside the circle, lock is lost. Therefore usually it is wiser to use the bigger circle (press 6 again).

 

Vertical scan (3) and boresight (4) are the basic modes for close combat and should be used for non stealth combat since radar is used and your missile seeker follows the radar lock (much wider area than longitudinal mode) and also you get a gun shot solution and IFF.

[dresoccer4]

I'll talk about the longitudinal mode (number 6) since it is separate from the others - no radar!

 

Should be used for:

-radar malfunction

-stealth attack

 

Remember to IFF your target somehow!

 

The inner circle represents seeker head direction.

 

The outer circle represents the area where the target can move after lock is acquired. If target moves outside the circle, lock is lost. Therefore usually it is wiser to use the bigger circle (press 6 again).

 

Vertical scan (3) and boresight (4) are the basic modes for close combat and should be used for non stealth combat since radar is used and your missile seeker follows the radar lock (much wider area than longitudinal mode) and also you get a gun shot solution and IFF.

 

thanks for the clarifications! couple questions: 1) so the outer circle is distance seeker can move after target lock, however can a target be locked in the outer circle, or does it HAVE to be locked in the tiny inner circle? 2) is it possible to lock via infrared, and use that to calculate a gun solution? if not, is there any way to accurately use gun without a radar lock?

[Stuge]

thanks for the clarifications! couple questions: 1) so the outer circle is distance seeker can move after target lock, however can a target be locked in the outer circle, or does it HAVE to be locked in the tiny inner circle? 2) is it possible to lock via infrared, and use that to calculate a gun solution? if not, is there any way to accurately use gun without a radar lock?

 

To question 1 you have to lock target by pointing the inner circle at the target, this is the only way without radar with the aim-9. You manually show the seeker where the target is ;)

 

To question 2 no it is not possible to get gun solution by aim-9 heatseeker lock. Gun use without radar is inaccurate. However, when flying a Russian fighter (mig29/su27/su33) you have a heat seeking sensor (infrared search and track) which works in combination with a laser rangefinder to give you a gun solution for stealth attacks, without radar usage ;)

[dresoccer4]

To question 1 you have to lock target by pointing the inner circle at the target, this is the only way without radar with the aim-9. You manually show the seeker where the target is ;)

 

To question 2 no it is not possible to get gun solution by aim-9 heatseeker lock. Gun use without radar is inaccurate. However, when flying a Russian fighter (mig29/su27/su33) you have a heat seeking sensor (infrared search and track) which works in combination with a laser rangefinder to give you a gun solution for stealth attacks, without radar usage ;)

 

awesome! another mystery solved