Some tips on radar and RWR operation in the F5E

[autogyro]

So it appears for new players there's some confusion as to how the radar operates in its different modes and what all the RWR settings do. Hopefully we can distill some tips on how to best make use of it, in this thread.

 

First things first, bind the STBY and OPER modes to easily accessible keys. You can't fight toe to toe with most fighters so subtlety will be your specialty.

 

Have a look at Chuck's excellent guide and the manual for radar basics. I won't recap what's in there but I'll explain what it actually does.

 

When you switch the radar on, the radar acts as a B Scope radar. This means range in the y axis and azimuth on the x axis.

 

When you lock onto anything it changes to a C Scope display - elevation in the y axis and azimuth on the x axis. In this mode it acts sort of like a mini HUD with your target drawn as an aiming cursor.

 

Now when you press the radar acquisition button, certain things happen. Firstly, the radar goes into a boresight kind of sweep. Instead of the normal 2 bar 3 degree sweep across 90 degrees azimuth, it maintains a 4 degree conical scan about the TDC and antenna elevation. That's it. That's what happens when you press acquisition.

 

Actually locking up a target is different matter. This is generally done automatically and often coincides with the press of the acquisition button, but you will soon realise that this is not always the case. It'll look like a lock, since the TDC stows to the left but you get no locking information. What gives?

 

Well the radar cone isn't detecting a signal strong enough to get an automatic lock. What you can do is cancel the narrow sweep and try and acquire again. That's what most of us do. However, if you're close but not quite there you'll still see the target bar on the radar scope. It just isn't a strong enough signal. You can alternatively fine tune the radar conical scan by gently manipulating the TDC or the antenna elevation until it does lock. This also helps you fine tune exactly where in the sky the contact is.

 

As an aside, you want to be locking when the target on the radar is not flashing. The signal should be bright green just after sweeping through and remain lit until the vertical scan bar passes over the target again. Often it's your antenna elevation which isn't quite pointed at the target.

 

Secondly, you can determine the targets relative elevation to you as the antenna elevation is noted in degrees, even without a lock cursor. You can therefore zero in on a target well outside the 10 nm lock range by flying at the same pitch as the antenna elevation and keeping the azimuth at 0 degrees.

 

For the RWR, I suggest running Priority RWR mode - this gives 6 maximum contacts on your RWR ordered by threat priority so you don't get contacts too far to distract you. You can also run TGT SEP, which offsets the target bearing on the RWR so you can clearly read the radar type without it overlaying others. The highest threat priority will be at the correct bearing.

[ScopeDope]

As a total noob, and hopefully this has something to do with the RWR, is there supposed to be some kind of warning when someone shoots a missile at me? I was doing some 1v1 against AI, and they fire an AIM-9 straight at my nose. Basically I'm just flying along and explode without warning. The only way I have a chance is replaying the mission and spam flares until I merge with them.

[GGTharos]

AIM-9 is a heat-seeking missile. RWRs warn you about radars :)

[Kelevra9987]

You won't get warnings for FOX-2s. The F-5 doesn't have an Missile Warning System as the A-10 does.

[ScopeDope]

I look forward to many more spontaneous explosions then

[Erk104]

I look forward to many more spontaneous explosions then

 

Instead of taking on an adversary head on... try putting him to your 10 or 2 oclock so you can see his launch... this will also help your flares be more effective and increase your aspect to the missile. The missile will have to turn harder and lose energy faster.:pilotfly:

[ScopeDope]

Instead of taking on an adversary head on... try putting him to your 10 or 2 oclock so you can see his launch... this will also help your flares be more effective and increase your aspect to the missile. The missile will have to turn harder and lose energy faster.:pilotfly:

 

I'll give it a shot, thanks for the tip.