TGP bank angle?

[pimp]

Hi All,

 

Is there a correct bank angle to keep the pod in view? Once I drop a bomb I want to keep the target in view without parts of the plane getting in the way or the entire view getting blocked.

 

Thanks in advance!!!

[Notso]

The best tactic / maneuver after release is to check away about 45-60 deg and then roll out and stay wings-level until weapon impact. It doesn't have to be an aggressive 7G turn, but at the same time you don't want to lazily roll away. Usually 3-4Gs should be sufficient. The intent is to get the jet straight and level as soon as possible so you have a stable platform for the majority of the TOF. This also gives you some standoff distance from the target so you don't get shot down by AAA or short range SAMs in the tgt area. If a target is worth bombing, its also worth defending.

 

As to which direction to turn, it depends on where the TGP is loaded and what other stores are present and where. If the TGP is on the centerline pylon you should be able to turn in either direction. If however, it is on one of the cheek stations - turn away from that side. For instance, if the TGP is loaded on the Left cheek, then check to the right. That way you will never be looking "through" the aircraft, especially if you have stores/tanks on the CL pylon.

 

Of course this is all dependant on the threats and your tactics. You obviously would not want to turn right and fly into a SAM ring. In that case, it will usually work even if you go the other way - you would just need to manage the masking issues by being ready to add a bit of roll away from the target to unmask the pod. Remember, the TOF of most LGBs from Medium altitudes are only 30-40 sec or so - so its not like you have to deal with this issue for a really long time.

 

In theory, in a low to no-threat environment - you can also fly straight through directly over the target. The pod will spin when directly overhead at the 90 deg up point and (in theory) it should handle it without breaking track. But this is not a common tactic for the fact that the pod IRL can sometimes have issues during that violent spin and lose track of the target or move the laser spot around a lot in the final stages of the weapon TOF which most likely will result in a miss. I don't know how well DCS models this.

 

Practice, practice practice....

Edited November 26, 2019 by Notso

[Kid18120]

... can sometimes have issues during that violent spin and lose track of the target or move the laser spot around a lot in the final stages of the weapon TOF which most likely will result in a miss. I don't know how well DCS models this..

 

I can say that it is somewhat modeled, at least for the A10C i fly.

I haven't directly tested this on the hornet but since it's technically the same pod, i'm guessing it's the same behavior. Once the pod goes for the "sping" while overflying the target it won't lose the target track but the laser will be all over the place until it stabilizes.

A little "trick" is to stop lasing just before the spin, so the bomb will go ballistic and the start lasing again once the TGP stabilizes back on target. Not sure if MAV-Es can lose and reacquire the lasing though

[VDV]

Do we have TGP indication on the HUD now?

[donkeyrider]

Do we have TGP indication on the HUD now?

 

Not yet. Meant to be coming in December.

[Cytarabine]

Don't get your hopes up too much, they are starting to work on it, whether we see it in December who knows. I am betting early new year before we see anything concrete.

[QuiGon]

Do we get bank angle indication on the TGP screen eventually (similar to the A-10C)? Or is that not a thing with the Hornet?

[QuiGon]

Pretty sure that's an overlay generated by data coming from the aircraft not payload generated graphics. In other words, that's A-10C specific and not a part of the pod itself.

bummer :(