Fantasmagoria pod

[amalahama]

How the Fantasmagoria pod is able to measure the target's radar distance (for launch authorization)? I think is for triangulation, but in reality, it needs the target's terrain height, or the lineal range (the range give from a laser ranger, for example). So, If Su-25T haven't any Radar and the laser don't reach so long, Can somebody explains me how it works??

 

Regards

[britgliderpilot]

Now that's a good question.

 

It's a passive radar receiver, so I'm going to have to guess signal strength of the emitter in question.

 

 

The rate at which emitted energy decreases with radius from the emitter is subject to known laws of physics - if you know the energy being emitted (*COUGH*espionage*COUGH*) then it's all very straightforward.

 

My physics is a touch rusty, but I think even if you don't know, it's still possible to work it out as long as you have a known range of ingress into the emission range and readings of signal strength at both points.

 

Think you might need Brit_Radar_Dude for that question.

[Yellonet]

The distance would be hard to know without data about radar effect as britglider said, but when you can launch your missile is only up to your own missile of course, so the launch authorization is given as soon as there's enough incoming energy to guide the missile, but then I guess a very powerful radar would still be out of range... hmm, does it happen in the game that you get 'np' while still being out of range but because the energy recieved is enough to guide the weapon?

[thesystem]

i think, when you know wich radar it is. and the pod is telling you that you can also get the range. Because each radar has his own radiation en with the strength of radiation you can also get the range i think.

 

I am no expert though hahah

[Weta43]

Like BGP said - you could probably get range from rate of signal strength change

But - you only get a launch authorisation for specific types of radar that the system is set up for anyway - the type of radar is indicated to you below the diamond showing the emitter location (H50 - Hawk, P - Patriot, etc) so if there was enough info on the radar type to allow the programme to recognise the type, there's probably also enough to work out range from signal strength.

Unknown or non-programmed types allow you to lock on to them with the phantasmagoria for target location, but not launch arm's - you have to switch to (say) Vihkr once the targetting system is aligned.