Define Armament Datum Line (ADL)

[GrEaSeLiTeNiN]

Some say it's the longitudinal axis of the aircraft

- would that be the axis taken from through the nose of the plane?

- if yes, how is it a point on the HUD when the HUD/pilot's line of sight is higher up?

 

Some say it's the missile bore sight point

- if so at what distance of convergence?

 

So I'm not sure what it is actually. Anyone know for sure?

 

Thks

[Top Jockey]

From my very limited "knowledge", the cross symbol which represents the ADL, has been following the US "teen series" fighters (F-14, F-15, F-16, etc) from some time.

 

I believe it is used generally as some sort of reference for sensor aiming / target acquisition / weapons employment (forward firing ones).

 

For instance in the Tomcat:

- for the gun I think the ADL represents the bullets hit point for a non-maneuvering target, at some given distance which I now can't recall;

- for the A-A missiles it represents the missile bore line, and so, a reference for the Boresight mode (even keeping in mind the offset from AIM-9 and AIM-7 pylons) ?

- for the AWG-9 radar it represents a reference for the PLM mode.

Edited October 25, 2019 by Top Jockey

[GrEaSeLiTeNiN]

I guess the question that comes up for me is that when it's a "straight line" emanating from the radar or missiles (bore), or aircraft (axis) etc, it's at a different level (much lower) than the pilot's eye level/HUD ADL, so at what convergence distance do they decide the ADL is at that fixed specific point on the HUD. Doesn't affect my playing, just curious how things work :)