F-15 Radar

[DCS FIGHTER PILOT]

It seems to me that the detection range in the F-15C is very poor for all PRF's. I am hoping that ED or someone else on here can release an update/mod that fixes this. For example, when engaging other fighters the F-15 can detect targets at 65nm for high PRF and only 30nm for medium PRF, which quite frankly is pathetic. I would love to see a more realistic model of this very powerful radar that can detect targets that are

Much further out than the ranges that I mentioned here.

[FSKRipper]

It seems to me that the detection range in the F-15C is very poor for all PRF's. I am hoping that ED or someone else on here can release an update/mod that fixes this. For example, when engaging other fighters the F-15 can detect targets at 65nm for high PRF and only 30nm for medium PRF, which quite frankly is pathetic. I would love to see a more realistic model of this very powerful radar that can detect targets that are

Much further out than the ranges that I mentioned here.

 

And on which expertise is your argument based? Some hard facts, documents or something to show? Do you really believe you track fighters at 150nm out? BTW any kind of mod will fail the integrity check and makes your game worthless for MP. For SP you won't need an upgrade anyway since the AI is not very clever regarding radar evasion tactics...

[Sweep]

I think the fact that we're dealing with clean, head-on RCSs for all aspects is what's killing radar performance.

 

There's a "scripts/database" file you can edit to increase the radar range (hint: same one with RCS values)...If you do it right, you're detecting Fulcrums at 100nmi and bugging at 80 like Eagles do IRL...

 

...Well, Eagles with MSAs. Crank the range setting if you want DCS: AESA Open Alpha. :D

 

BTW any kind of mod will fail the integrity check and makes your game worthless for MP.

 

Public, airquake MP, yep.

 

Not everything in MP is public nor airquake, fyi. ;)

Edited July 8, 2017 by Sweep
:)

[FSKRipper]

I think the fact that we're dealing with clean, head-on RCSs for all aspects is what's killing radar performance.

 

There's a "scripts/database" file you can edit to increase the radar range (hint: same one with RCS values)...If you do it right, you're detecting Fulcrums at 100nmi and bugging at 80 like Eagles do IRL...

 

 

 

...Well, Eagles with MSAs. Crank the range setting if you want DCS: AESA Open Alpha. :D

 

 

 

Public, airquake MP, yep.

 

Not everything in MP is public nor airquake, fyi. ;)

 

Yeah, sure. I assumed a public server. On my very own (or the server of my friends) I can do every crazy thing I want to :)

[Sweep]

I can do every crazy thing I want to :)

 

[FSKRipper]

 

Nice one :lol:

 

My favorite is the good old F-15C Tomeagle with a whole bunch of Aim-154 Phoenix :music_whistling:

[Sweep]

Hey, a two bag F-15 with the radar mod + AIM-54s is a half decent Tomcat simulator!

[will-]

is there any plan of adding a real functional radar to the sim once 2.5/f-18 is completed? (a/a, a/g, actual modes simulated).

[DarkFire]

is there any plan of adding a real functional radar to the sim once 2.5/f-18 is completed? (a/a, a/g, actual modes simulated).

 

Don't think so. Other than PFM's and updated 3D models, I think that the ED policy is that all future aircraft will be DCS standard and that the FC3 aircraft will not be developed further.

[blkspade]

Don't think so. Other than PFM's and updated 3D models, I think that the ED policy is that all future aircraft will be DCS standard and that the FC3 aircraft will not be developed further.

 

This isn't absolutely true. They are still fixing apparent bugs, and adding yet another AFM for the Su33 this time. I wouldn't count on much happening radar wise though. There is an issue with the prf functionality, or various.

[Scendore]

Well there is some hope they will look at the radar... I believe we have a pretty simple radar model at the moment. Since they are working on the F/A-18C they will need to model ground radar which means they will be working the same area of the code. With a little luck they may address some things in the process

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

Yup the radar on the F-15 is hardly realistic:

- Locking up and shooting at a hovering helicopter just above ground;

- Locking up and shooting at a Mirage flying at 20 ft AGL.

 

Really??

[GGTharos]

You're right, it is missing a bunch of things:

 

- It should be able to lock onto a helicopter that's on the ground, as long as the rotors are spinning (proven in real life combat)

- It's range is shorter than the original APG-63 tests show.

- TWS lacks track memory

- TWS should be able to designate as many tracks as you have weapons for them

- NCTR implementation has some issues with implementation

 

There's more, of course, there's a bunch of automation missing.

 

And FYI, you could be motorcyclist speeding at 180kph 0' AGL, it can lock that up and shoot it. How the missile will perform once it gets really low is another discussion, but the radar has no problems with it and I'd like to know why you believe that it ought to.

 

Yup the radar on the F-15 is hardly realistic:

- Locking up and shooting at a hovering helicopter just above ground;

- Locking up and shooting at a Mirage flying at 20 ft AGL.

 

Really??

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

I'd like to know why you believe that it ought to.

Because I heard that an F-14 can't find targets below 50 ft on radar, and various Russian radars can't either.

 

And isn't the AWG-9 the most powerful radar ever used in a jet aircraft?

[GGTharos]

Because I heard that an F-14 can't find targets below 50 ft on radar, and various Russian radars can't either.

 

Ah, I see. Consider the fact that you can do ground mapping for example, as well as detect buildings, tanks, etc. There's no magical stealth cloak when you get near the ground. It doesn't protect your aircraft, or cruise missiles, or whatever else from detection by another aircraft.

 

And isn't the AWG-9 the most powerful radar ever used in a jet aircraft?

 

No. It's pretty powerful though. That has nothing to do with detecting targets in ground clutter.

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

Don't you need to change modes to do ground mapping, with a mechanically scanned radar? I can understand that in A/G mode you can detect hovering helicopters etc...

[GGTharos]

I have no idea how/why A/G mode would detect a hovering helicopter - or rather, I do have an idea but no confirmation.

 

On the other hand, I know for a fact that modern radars in A/A are perfectly capable of doing so, again, proven in combat. The key here are the always moving rotors causing doppler shift.

Edited July 26, 2017 by GGTharos

[Svend_Dellepude]

I heard a story that when the US F-15's was in Germany, they had to set the notchgate on the APG-63 higher because it was picking up cars speeding on the autobahn.

Dunno if this is true or not though. :)

[red_coreSix]

I heard a story that when the US F-15's was in Germany, they had to set the notchgate on the APG-63 higher because it was picking up cars speeding on the autobahn.

Dunno if this is true or not though. :)

 

I've heard that as well, makes perfect sense. The radar doesn't care that the targets are cars, if it's a point target above doppler notch it will be displayed.

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

Ok, thanks for clearing that up. Another lesson learned :-)

[DCS FIGHTER PILOT]

Radar

 

Just finished MP match. Bandit right in front of me and could not lock him up. The point here is that the radar especially in the 15 is a freaking joke. Sorry people this game (at least flaming cliffs 3) is not that realistic. I think I will stick to BMS where at least I can see a target that is 20 miles in front of me with a closure rate of 1200mph. :doh:

[GGTharos]

I don't have problems with locking up fighters 20nm in front of me, and they have no problems sneaking past my radar if I don't manage my scan pattern diligently.

 

As far as realism goes, FC3 radar certainly has some weaknesses. Detection isn't one of them. The reasons for not picking up a contact are well known:

 

- Too far

- Out of scan zone

- In the notch

- Cold and Co-speed.

- Operator error (eg. using RWS/TWS to search when you should be using an AACQ mode instead, poor scan pattern management etc)

 

Which one(s) describe your incident?

 

Just finished MP match. Bandit right in front of me and could not lock him up. The point here is that the radar especially in the 15 is a freaking joke. Sorry people this game (at least flaming cliffs 3) is not that realistic. I think I will stick to BMS where at least I can see a target that is 20 miles in front of me with a closure rate of 1200mph. :doh:

Edited August 1, 2017 by GGTharos

[Frostie]

I think I will stick to BMS where at least I can see a target that is 20 miles in front of me with a closure rate of 1200mph. :doh:

 

As long as AWACS is up to let you know where to scan because from what you describe your own self situational awarness and radar utilisation ain't up to much. FC radar works fine for detection as long as the correct parameters are met, the operator is using the radar correctly and he accounts for refresh rate.

[Beamscanner]

The in game APG-63 is missing alot of functions.. But of all things to bring up, the one thing that works (probably better than IRL) is its detection range.

 

With 40 X-band radars operating in a single mission, you'd likely suffer mutual interference which would hinder your detection range. Luckily for you, that's not simulated in DCS. Also, currently jammers only affect the main beam of your radar. IRL, jamming energy can seep into your antennas side lobes, increasing the noise levels at angles left and right of the jammer which decreases your signal/noise ratio (detection range). Again, this is not simulated in DCS.

Edited August 2, 2017 by Beamscanner

[DCS FIGHTER PILOT]

I have excellent situational awareness in BMS, however in DCS that goes right out the door. I feel as if I am fighting the radar and not the plane. For instance, I could see the target on radar today but could not lock him up, I would constantly loose lock for some reason. AND YES, I know how to work the PRF's and TWS AND RWS and all that crap.