The Armament Control Panel (ACP) basic features.

[Zeus67]

The Armament Control Panel is the heart and soul of the AV-8B (all versions) ground attack capabilities.

 

The AV-8B weapons are managed with the following instruments:

Up Front Control (UFC)

Option Display Unit (ODU)

Armament Control Panel (ACP)

Multi-Purpose Color Display (MPCD)

HOTAS

 

I will not talk about how all these instruments interact with each other, only about the ACP, which handles everything, specially AG weapons.

 

 

The AV-8B NA has four Master Modes:

VSTOL - This mode is used for take-off and landings.

NAV - This mode is used for basic navigation while in flight.

AG - This is the Air-to-Ground Attack Mode.

AA - This is the Air-to-Air Attack Mode.

 

All modes are selectable by clicking on their respective buttons, except for AA mode which is entered only by selecting an AA weapon (gun or AIM-9s) via HOTAS.

 

The MPCD will display the onboard weapons and their options via the STRS (STORES) page.

 

The UFC and the ODU work enable the user to program weapons release.

 

The ACP also enables the user to program weapons release, and it is the ACP programming the one that overrides any other existing weapons release program.

 

ACP BASIC WEAPONS RELEASE PROGRAMMING

There are five weapons release programming controls:

MODE, FUZING, QUANTITY, MULTIPLE, INTERVAL

 

MODE (MODE): The mode control selects the weapon delivery mode: AUT (automatic, CCRP in other words), CIP (a.k.a. CCIP), DSL (depressed sight line) and DIR (direct). Only the modes that can be applied to the selected weapon are available. There is another mode AGM, that is displayed but cannot be selected. This mode is displayed when you select either a Maverick (MAV) or a Sidearm (SA) missile.

 

FUZING (FUZ): This control selects the weapon fuzing options. There are 24 different fuzing options but not all of them are available at all times. Only those that can be applied to the selected weapon will be available. If the selected weapon does not have a fuzing option, like the Sidewinders, a double dash will appear (--). Only the SAFE option is available for all weapons and as the name implies it renders the selected weapon inert so it won't explode on impact.

 

QUANTITY (QTY): The quantity control indicates the number of release pulses that will be generated when the pickle is pressed. One bomb/rocket/missiles will be released/launched on each pulse. The default value is 1 the maximum theoretical value is 99, only no quantity greater than the number of selected weapons aboard can be set. The default value is 1. 0 cannot be selected but it is displayed to indicate an error condition.

 

MULTIPLE (MULT): The multiple indicates the number of stations that will release/launch a weapon on each release pulse. The available values are 1, 2, 4 and 6. It works in conjunction with the QUANTITY control and it multiplies the number of weapons released/launched.

 

For example:

a. QTY is set as 1 and MULT is set as 4. Total bombs to be released will be 1 * 4 = 4. So when you press the pickle, the ACP will release 4 bombs at the same time.

 

b. QTY is set at 3 and MULT is set as 2. Total bombs to be released will be 3 * 2 = 6. When you press the pickle, the ACP will release 2 bombs simultaneously for each release pulse. The release sequence would look like this:

 

Program: QTY 3 MULT 2

Pulse 0: Pickle not pressed :: Remaining quantity to be released = 3

Pulse 1: 2 Bombs released :: Remaining quantity to be released = 2

Pulse 2: 2 Bombs released :: Remaining quantity to be released = 1

Pulse 3: 2 Bombs released :: Remaining quantity to be released = 0

Total bombs released 6

 

MULT selection will be overriden if the number of available weapons is less than the total number to be released.

 

INTERVAL (INTV): It selects the release interval for a multiple release sequence, that is when QTY is greater than MULT. The selected number must be multiplied by 10 in order to obtain the correct interval.

 

In AUT and CIP modes, the release interval is measured in feet. In DSL mode it is measured in milliseconds.

 

There is a minimum safety interval that automatically overrides any INTV selection. This safety interval depends on selected weapon and it is used to prevent the collision between released/launched weapons.

 

MANUAL CONTROL (MAN): It sets the ACP in manual delivery mode, deactivating the MODE and FUZ controls. The fuzing is selected by clicking the knob to the N (nose), T(tail) or N/T(nose/tail) positions. MAN mode does not use CCRP nor CCIP and sets the system to DSL delivery mode. Returning the knob to NORMAL enables again the MODE and FUZ controls.

 

STATIONS SELECT: The seven station select buttons, one for each armament station, allows the pilot to select weapons for release in all modes. The indicator above the button show SEL or a dash (-) to indicate when a station has been selected/deselected.

 

When the ACP is in NORMAL mode, and the MODE control is in AUTO, CIP or DSL, selecting an individual station will select all the stations that have the same weapon type.

For example, if you carry MK-82s in Stations 2, 3, 5 and 6. Selecting Station 6 will select Stations 2, 3, and 5 as well. Deselecting Station 3, will also deselect stations 2, 5 and 6.

 

You cannot select an individual station to shoot from. The ACP will select the station automatically for you.

[Revelation]

Nice write up!

[609_Relentov]

Yes, very nice write-up... thanks Zeus, yet another tidbit to keep our excitement for this aircraft up :).

[rjetster1]

Thanks!

[Einherjer]

Thanks for that

[whiteladder]

Does anyone know the answer to this..

 

 

As far I know the AV-8b and the GR5/6/7/9 share the same ACP, and in the pictures I can find the station selectors are the same. How does it handle the 2 extra pylons that the GR has?

 

 

I know these are dedicate sidewinder stations, but presumable there is a way to select/jettison them?

Edited May 8, 2017 by whiteladder

[some1]

AFAIK sidewinder rail launchers are not jettisionable, for the simple reason that the missile does not drop from launcher, but slides from it. You can't jettision it without firing.

[comie1]

Love this stuff, Thanks

[Zeus67]

AFAIK sidewinder rail launchers are not jettisionable, for the simple reason that the missile does not drop from launcher, but slides from it. You can't jettision it without firing.

 

The LAU-7 rails in the outermost pylons are not jettisonable. The LAU-7 rails in the mid-wing pylons are jettisoned with the missile still attached to them.

 

In all jettison modes, the aircraft retains the AIM-9s in the outermost pylons (Stations 1 and 7).

[Zeus67]

Does anyone know the answer to this..

 

 

As far I know the AV-8b and the GR5/6/7/9 share the same ACP, and in the pictures I can find the station selectors are the same. How does it handle the 2 extra pylons that the GR has?

 

 

I know these are dedicate sidewinder stations, but presumable there is a way to select/jettison them?

 

AA weapons selection is done by HOTAS not the ACP. Although the documentation does not specify it, it is safe to assume that no AA weapon can be selected with ACP.

 

Since AA weapons are not programmable, there is no problem.

[Nanne118]

At my Harrier multiple release option of ACP doesn't work. All bombs are released in the same time.

 

Did you have an interval set? If you leave the interval at default (interval = 000) then the bombs will all be released at the same time.

[M1Combat]

I have tried this as well... I can't get multiple pulses to work.

[fjacobsen]

INTVL does not work yet.

[Schmirco]

Thx for the write up, but whats about the Jettison functions ?

[Outlaw24]

Nice write up very informative!

[Eagle7907]

Does anyone have any info about the fuse setting on this panel? The pocket guide isn’t very detailed about this and I’m just guessing at what I’m doing with these settings.

 

 

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[mvsgas]

Someone posted this before, let me see if I can find it. You can also find it on the A1-AV8BB-TAC-050, Figure 1-29, page 1-89

[ATTACH]173535[/ATTACH]

[mvsgas]

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=196957

[Eagle7907]

Someone posted this before, let me see if I can find it. You can also find it on the A1-AV8BB-TAC-050, Figure 1-29, page 1-89

 

[ATTACH]173535[/ATTACH]

 

 

 

Awesome! Thank you sir!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Eldur]

Thx for the write up, but whats about the Jettison functions ?

 

Oh yes... tried to dump my LAU-3/10/68, but it didn't work, not even with that emergency jettision or whatever it's called, you know, that big yellow-black striped drop everything button

[Shrike88]

can anyone elaborate on the PR/OP settings on the MK-20. Think I remember reading its immediate burst vs delay of 4 seconds burst opening. ?

 

Also is it a DCS limitation or not if Burst height vs setting can change the submunuition scatter radius in the game ? or is a fixed area regardless ?

 

 

Thanks

[Jenrick]

PR gives you a 1.2 second delay from release to burst. OP gives you a 4 second delay.

 

DCS does model the field size based on when the rockeye bursts, ranging from a lawn dart of no burst to a giant very loose field.

 

-Jenrick

[Snacko]

What am I doing wrong? I am trying to drop a line of bombs down the runway one at a pulse every 60 feet. As you can see they are all clustered together.

 

I had 4 stations with 3x Mk82 = 12 bombs.

 

If I understand this correctly, I have it set to drop 12 pulses, with 1 bomb each, every 6x10(60) feet? :joystick:

 

 

[Esac_mirmidon]

Nothing.

 

The separation between bombs is not implemented yet

[Snacko]

Thanks for the info.

 

So am I setting it up correctly?

 

I was thinking that the Interval might be wrong. Maybe I didn't understand it.. Because why does it have 3 digits? Who's going to drop anything 100 x10(1000) feet apart?

 

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