Radar gives wrong bearing to target

[MRaza]

When i have a target locked or hooked on the TID, i can see the bearing given at the top right as "BR XXX"

 

But the radar appears to be calculating the bearing always as if i am heading north. I could be heading 180 and the target is 5 degrees to my right, but instead of the radar showing "BR 185" it shows "BR 5" as if i am heading north

 

Is this intended?

[IceFire]

I believe it's bearing from your aircraft. I.E. 5 degree's right.

[MRaza]

I believe it's bearing from your aircraft. I.E. 5 degree's right.

 

Nope because if he was 5 degrees left it would read "BR 355" even though im heading 180

[r4y30n]

Nope because if he was 5 degrees left it would read "BR 355" even though im heading 180

 

Exactly, if 0 is your nose on a compass then 355 is to your left and 005 is to your right. Sounds like relative bearing to me.

[MRaza]

Exactly, if 0 is your nose on a compass then 355 is to your left and 005 is to your right. Sounds like relative bearing to me.

 

But im heading south on a heading of 180. (Sorry if im misunderstanding) If the bandit is 5 degrees left the reading should be "BR 175" correct ?

[unknown]

But im heading south on a heading of 180. (Sorry if im misunderstanding) If the bandit is 5 degrees left the reading should be "BR 175" correct ?

 

Only if it would use absolute bearing (north=north) but not if it's relative bearing "north=your planes nose" - like 12o'clock is always your planes nose.

 

I don't know how it should work in the plane.

[draconus]

It really is the relative bearing meaning your nose always points to 0, 5 degrees left is 355 and 10 right shows just 10.

 

 

Look at this moment:

 

 

The second you start the video (from the timestamp) the right target is BR 13 (13 degrees right from your nose) then RIO changes the target to the left one, which is BR 354 (6 degrees left off your nose).

[MRaza]

Ok I understand but this makes no tactical sense to me as to why the designers of the aircraft made it this way. It's much more useful to have an exact bearing based off of your current heading

[Shimonu]

Ok I understand but this makes no tactical sense to me as to why the designers of the aircraft made it this way. It's much more useful to have an exact bearing based off of your current heading

 

I think it makes a lot of sense. The rio and pilot can directly know the bogey is 10 degrees off their nose. Reading that it's bearing 175 doesn't tell you anything until you've checked your bearing and calculated the difference.

[MRaza]

I think it makes a lot of sense. The rio and pilot can directly know the bogey is 10 degrees off their nose. Reading that it's bearing 175 doesn't tell you anything until you've checked your bearing and calculated the difference.

 

If hes off on your right, yeah but on your left I'd rather not have to calculate 360-(whatever heading the radar gives) to find out how many degrees he is off my left. But alright, it is what it is

[tstorey37]

I am not an expert on the inner workings of systems (search and fire control radars), I just used them for many years. You just have to understand there are two methods of reporting contacts:

 

True Bearing- Is what you are use to, North is 000 and you course or heading means nothing.

 

Relative Bearing- Your nose (heading) is 000 and things are reported in that fashion.

 

Again, not an expert, but I believe early systems (F-14 is not new) used Relative bearings in its calculations, not True bearing. Hence the TID shows Relative bearing. Any system experts help me out here if I am wrong.

 

Hopefully that makes sense.

[mkosmo]

Ok I understand but this makes no tactical sense to me as to why the designers of the aircraft made it this way. It's much more useful to have an exact bearing based off of your current heading

 

Sure, it may be useful, but that'd require the radar and wcs itself to know what your actual heading is. Not everything is omnipotent, especially in a 60s era 3rd gen fighter.

 

"10 left" may also advantageous if your SA begins to slip. Why take your eyes inside if you know what 10 left is, but you may not know exactly where 275MH is?

[Greyhound11]

In my experience with naval surface warfare, which i am sure extends to air as well, relative bearing is always used for contacts when you are referencing them within your unit. its just like the clock system. interchangeable. "He's at our 6 o clock!" "contact bearing 180!" both make sense within the unit (rio to pilot, TAO to another person in CIC on a ship, etc), and the bearing is more exact than the clock for more precise info, where in the air the clock reference is quicker.

 

now if someone is telling you ABOUT a contact from another unit, AWACS etc, they will give an absolute bearing because it is easier for them to look on their screen, hook a line from you to them and read it that way. "we have a contact heading your war, bearing 030 true, 120 miles"

 

in some instances they will say "true" or "relative" to clarify

Edited April 12, 2019 by Greyhound11

[DarkStar79]

When Jester calls out the bearing to a hostile that is tru bearing right? And not relative bearing?

[r4y30n]

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