Tutorials and studies T2: Procedures, Timelines, Intercept Geometry

[Karon]

NOTE: the full list of articles/videos is available here. This post is a bit hard to maintain

Hello again fine ladies and gentlemen!

 

I opened two threads, linking some of the stuff I put together in the last few years. I hope you can find something interesting here

Thread I contains most of the basic topics and discussions.

Thread II is about more advanced stuff. BVR / Stern Conversion Timelines, Intercept Geometry and so on.

 

A couple of notes & disclaimers here:

1. In primis this is my interpretation of the freely available, declassified, documentation. There can be mistakes and, in some occasions, I decided to diverge from the doctrine: at the end of the day, this is a videogame. Here and there you will find my suggestions to make your life easier, along what the official documentation says.
2. In secundis, the available material is basic / IQT level. It is not used in the frontline and sometimes is too convoluted to be effectively used under pressure. Therefore, take it as a means to learn what is under the hood, but do not get overly fixated. The final result (and your enjoyment) is what matters.
3. Finally, whenever possible I quoted the sources. The vast majority of the content linked below is my own work, but rarely I quoted other sources or used an image taken from them. In those cases, the source is clearly noted. I don't see why I should take credit for something I have not made myself.

That being said, I hope you'll find something useful here!

 

Procedures and techniques

Although centred around the F-14, topics such as the BVR Timeline or Geometry can be used by pretty much any other fighter jet.

 

BVR Timeline

I wrote this series a year ago, it covers the concept of the BVR Timeline. The thing is, the Timeline can hardly be used without diving into the Geometry, and that topic is huge. What I did in this case is extrapolating the BVR Timeline and suggested means of filling the gaps left by the geometry. The ratio is that a timeline can help any player, no matter the type of experience desired, to give more structure and homogeneity to an engagement. The geometry, albeit it is a very interesting topic, it is more on sim side of the game.

• BVR Part I: Sanitization and Radar Mating;
• BVR Part II: Timeline Overview;
• BVR Part III: Timeline in Detail;
• BVR Part IV: Crew Comms.

 

"Casual" Intercept Procedure

After lots of discussions with friends and teammates, some newbie, some veterans, about issues related to the abysmal performance of their missiles, I quickly concluded that the problem is usually the geometry: you can't expect a missile launched head-on at 50nm to consistently have the same results versus a flanking target at the same range. So, I looked for a way to help without requiring a deep-dive into angles and geometry. The solution is the Collision Course: easy to set up and definitely more effective than Pure Pursuit (the most common way to engage a target by new players). The result is the "Casual" intercept.
Written almost for fun, according to the feedback I received, it actually helps to "open up" the understanding of the air-to-air combat to new players.
The Simplified Stern Conversion completes the series, going slightly deeper but without requiring extensive knowledge of the Intercept Geometry.

• “Casual” Intercept: Simplified Intercept Procedure;
• Simplified Stern Conversion.

Of course, if you are not new to the game, you must be looking for something more complex. Keep scrolling then!

 

Angles & Geometry: Related discussions

In this category fall a number of discussions about the basics of the geometry (literal geometry sometimes, even dragging Euclid and Pythagoras into the fray). Take them as the entrée before the main course.

• BVR, WVR & Intercept: Recurring Concepts (TA, ATA, Drift, Collision);
• Closure and Collision: TID “Hot” and “Cold” Sides;
• Determining Target Aspect: the BDHI
• ΔV in non co-speed intercepts: Empirical Assessment

 

Intercept Geometry

Eventually, I decided to deal with the Gorgon. This is the topic I am covering right now, and I hope it will be completed before the end of the winter.

The plan is starting from the basics, go through the modern documentation (2017) first, then use progressively older docs (2002, '70s, '50s). Eventually, you'll pick the modus operandi that works better for you and the more suitable to the module you prefer (now, where's my F-4J again?).

• Part I: Introduction;
• Part II: Definitions;
• Part III: Target Aspect & Lateral Separation;
• Part IV: Modern Gameplans [P-825/17];
• Part V: DT, CT, Timeline [P-825/17];
• Part VI: Modern Intercept Demo Videos [P-825/17];
• Part VII: 2000s Intercepts [P-825/02];
• Part VIII: Intercept Progression & Lead Collision [P-825/02];
• Part IX: “Unknown Procedures” & Fleet Conversions p1 [P-825/02];
• Part X: Fleet Conversions p2 & Advanced Intercepts [P-825/02];
• Part IX: A brief look at the past (50s/60s) (NB: F-4E will have a separated series);
• Part XII: In-Depth Timeline (from “Picture” to “Crank”);
• Part XIII: In-Depth Timeline (continuation: FOX 3/1/2);
• Part XIV: Crews’ take on Timelines for DCS.

 

 

 

Note that rather than spamming new topics on the forum, I will update this thread.

Edited August 2, 2024 by Karon
Updated list of posts

[Karon]

15/02/2021

• Added Intercept Geometry Part VI: Demo Videos. Example:
• Added short study about ΔV in non co-speed intercepts.

Edited February 15, 2021 by Karon

[Karon]

Added a brief overview of the Intercept procedures following the doctrine of early 2000s.

https://flyandwire.com/2021/03/01/intercept-geometry-part-vii-2000s-intercepts-p-825-02/

 

Next, 2000s intercept progression and Demo videos.

[Karon]

I forgot to update this post:

• Part VIII: Intercept Progression & Lead Collision [P-825/02];
• Part IX: “Unknown Procedures” & Fleet Conversions p1 [P-825/02].

The first was released a month ago, the second one today. Part X should not take too long.

 

If everything goes as planned (spoiler: it haver happens), Part XI should be about the F4 syllabus (just a quick overview), some words about the even older intercepts. Part XII the updated BVR Timeline (that's going to take some time).

[Karon]

Added Part X of the Intercept Geometry study, which concludes the brief overview of the P-825/02 and the techniques used at the beginning of the millennium.

 

Next stop, a quick at how things looked in the '50s through the '70s.

[Karon]

Added Part XII: In-Depth Timeline (from “Picture” to “Crank”).

[Karon]

Added Part XIII: In-Depth Timeline (continuation: FOX 3/1/2). And with that, the study is pretty much completed. I'm working on an appendix, it should be available in primis on the third public draft of the book I aim to release before the end of the year.

[Karon]

Added Simplified Stern Conversion.

An approach similar to the one I used for the Simplified Intercept, it uses the elementary tools provided by the avionics to perform a stern conversion, with little to know understanding of the Geometry required.

[Karon]

Updating the IG study and added part XIV.

Also, I started a great update of the 2019 BVR Timeline work.

Chapter I: Introduction and Disclaimer

 

Chapter 2.1 - Intercept Geometry: Basics

 

Edited March 22, 2023 by Karon

[Karon]

Chapter 2.2

Yep, those are boats. Used to explain AA geometry.

 

[Karon]

Chapter 3 introduces the figure of the Controller (ground and airborne). I used real recordings from the two Sidra incidents occurred in 1981 and 1989, plus a modern exercise.

 

[Karon]

Chapter 5: we finally *pew pew*!

 

[Karon]

Added Part IX, long overdue: "A brief look at the past (50s/60s)".
I decided to post it without the F-4E, as it will have a separate series with a greater focus on avionics and crew.

https://flyandwire.com/2024/02/25/intercept-geometry-part-xi-a-brief-look-at-the-past-50s-60s/

[Karon]

Some new articles and videos which, albeit seen from the F-4E's perspective, can be applied to almost any other fighter: https://flyandwire.com/f-4e-phantom-ii-articles/

Plus, given the little spare time these days, I tried something new, breaking down a 30-minute video I am working on into shorter, more digestible bites. Contrary to older articles, I put much more emphasis on the visualisation of the topic, rather than the maths.

Upcoming videos may be even much shorter and cover Aspect (TA/AA), ATA, Cut/HCA(DTG) and so on. Once this bit is done, I will move to something quite cool and applicable to any aircraft, albeit again seen from the Phantom II's perspective.

 

[Karon]

Another brief video, again with a lot of emphasis on visuals to better explain concepts.

 

[Karon]

Something interesting at last! The first no-lockon technique is easy to use and very effective; it requires just radar awareness.

 

[Rudel_chw]

6 minutes ago, Karon said:

Something interesting at last! The first no-lockon technique is easy to use and very effective; it requires just radar awareness.

 

Great tutorial series .. wonder if it would be possible to edit a training mission for the WSO starting as the pilot, set the autopilot, and then move to the WSO seat to explain the radar functioning 

[Karon]

12 hours ago, Rudel_chw said:

 

Great tutorial series .. wonder if it would be possible to edit a training mission for the WSO starting as the pilot, set the autopilot, and then move to the WSO seat to explain the radar functioning 

Yeah, I don't see why it shouldn't work. At the end of the day, the WSO can kind of do most of what a pilot would do at night / IFR conditions.

[Karon]

An impromptu video to show how the Sync-Z-Turn principles can be adapted to other fighters. In this case, the Mirage F1.

 

[Karon]

An impromptu video has become a mini-series. Here are the F-14 Tomcat and the F-5E-3 Tiger II.

 

Goes without saying that the initial discussion about the Sync-Z-Turn had to be adjusted for aircraft such as the F-5E. Therefore, in the original procedure, only the high-level flow is maintained. Still, it works pretty well, no matter the fighter it is used with.

[Rudel_chw]

Will have to study it and practice, in order  to understand the concept better, thanks a lot, for sharing these tips 

[Karon]

16 hours ago, Rudel_chw said:

Will have to study it and practice, in order  to understand the concept better, thanks a lot, for sharing these tips 

No problem, I'm glad you liked them


One last demo, the MiG-21bis "Fishbed".

 

[Karon]

Uh, I forgot to post the MiG-29 sync-z-turn-but-not-really-anymore video. It was requested by a viewer.

On the more interesting side, a quick method to assess CATA and BH without radar lock. This method should work with other aircraft as well (please don't ask me to record it with the MiG-29 ). Whatever the technique used, finding those parameters enable a ton of other procedures, from intercept techniques to simply reducing the timeline or position for a VID.

 

[Karon]

"40° Cold of CATA at 25nm". It's quite a mouthful intercept name, but quite handy nonetheless.

 

[Karon]

Something a bit different, a look at Active Radar Homing missiles.

The plan was to check how JF-17 and SD-10 fare, a brief parenthesis from the usual CW stuff. I expanded the tests a bit and included other ARH missiles.