Missile Active countdown

[VC]

After trying the Viper I'm a bit confused as to what exactly the "A12" timer/countdown under the HUD missile range box is showing me. I watched the Wags video and he says it's the countdown to missile pitbull, but it doesn't behave like that either in his video or when I flew the plane myself.

 

It seems if you or the enemy start turning the timer slows down and eventually stops before reaching zero. But in many of these cases the missile is very close to the target, I've even had missile impact with the timer stuck on A2 (2 seconds), so it must have already been pitbull for a while. That timer therefore seems useless as a pitbull indicator.

 

By contrast in the Hornet the timer reaches zero and you can use it reliably as your cue to turn cold.

 

Could someone help me understand the Viper countdown and how to tell if your missile is pitbull?

[Frederf]

12 seconds until the missile becomes A-active. That's what it should mean. There are two stages of autonomous tracking for an AIM-120. The "A" stage normally transitions to the "M" stage which is a different radar mode for the missile which happens part way between going active and impact. The normal sequence is A M T and possibly L if missile is calculated to lose the engagement.

 

It's also important to know that the letter-time coding occurs in two different ways in the airplane. There is a pre-launch coding which tells you the expected times for the next missile if you were to launch one and a post-launch coding which displays calculated details about a priority missile already in flight. If you're expecting one and see the other (or if the game is inaccurate) confusion.

 

Assuming one missile already in flight and the sim is showing you correct post-launch info, then you're right: You are looking at the "A" timer for earliest active moment.

 

It's normal that the numbers are highly dynamic if the target is maneuvering and they are only predictions by your airplane's computer. The relationship between Pk and how long you guide the missile is not "on off". Missiles not guided until active can still hit and missiles guided until impact have the best chance (missile blends F-16 and own guidance).

[Xavven]

The post-launch countdown timer isn't implemented yet (for the DCS F-16C) according to an answer I got on another forum.

[Wychmaster]

Am 19.3.2020 um 22:45 schrieb Xavven:

The post-launch countdown timer isn't implemented yet (for the DCS F-16C) according to an answer I got on another forum.

Are there any news on this subject? Yesterday I had a missile hitting my target way before the A-timer got to 0. That's what got me digging out this thread.

I am lately practicing on BVR/Airquake multiplayer servers and those extra 5 to 10 seconds you stay hot can make a huge difference when evading incoming missiles. A more accurate post launch indication would be really helpful for my survival chances. I am already making a lot of other mistakes that get me killed, so there is no need to fool me with wrong numbers

Edited December 28, 2021 by Wychmaster

[mobua]

FYI, an interim solution in the meantime is to utilise the missile step long button. In my experience this brings back the countdown timer.

Edited December 28, 2021 by mobua
spelling

[Wychmaster]

vor 20 Stunden schrieb mobua:

FYI, an interim solution in the meantime is to utilise the missile step long button. In my experience this brings back the countdown timer.

 

thx I will try this.