Getting confused with JDAMs

[Sylosis]

Hi, 

 

Starting to use the F18 and JDAMs (was mostly limiting myself to GBUs and MAVs with the Harrier). 

 

I watched tutorials and read Chuck's Guide, plus read this forum. I have found some contradictory information... 

 

First, is it correct that in the F18 Pre-Planned targets you must enter Degrees Minutes Seconds and Decimal Seconds? 

 

Second, if JTAC gives me, for example, N30 30 04, am I correct in understanding that it is giving me Degrees, Minutes and Decimal Minutes? (2 digits decimal minutes)? Or is it giving me Degrees Minutes and Seconds? 

 

Either or, clearly JTAC lacks a bit of precision and I guess it's better to just use your FLIR to find roughly what he meant and then use ToO mode? 

 

(my question comes from Raven One campaign where you get only coordinates as indicated above. JTAC doesn't lase. But it seems still applicable as a general F18 question) 

[Recluse]

JTAC coordinates are RARELY directly on the target, so it would be best NOT to try PP mode, so YES it is preferable to find the target and use TOO mode.

 

You can create a Waypoint from the JTAC coords to get you close, then slave the TPOD to it to search for the specific target.

 

One of many tutorials on entering WPS. Of course, we can also enter GRID coordinates now.

 

 

Edited April 21, 2021 by Recluse

[Sylosis]

4 minutes ago, Recluse said:

JTAC coordinates are RARELY directly on the target, so it would be best NOT to try PP mode, so YES it is preferable to find the target and use TOO mode.

 

You can enter a Waypoint from the JTAC coords to get you close, then slave the TPOD to it to search for the specific target.

 

One of many tutorials on entering WPS

 

 

 

Thx, that's pretty much what I thought!

[Recluse]

This is a mod that I once used to make the JTAC give you the COORDS in a format suitable for JDAM (or PRECISE waypoints) but as mentioned, it probably isn't too useful for PP attacks.

 

This was from back when JTAC only gave GRIDS, so it probably isn't needed now, if it even still works..

 

 

[Zyll]

To further answer your question, JTAC is giving you degrees minutes seconds if it's ##'##'## format. If it were ##'##.## it would be degrees minutes decimal-minutes. Regardless, both are not accurate enough to hit anything smaller than a farmer's field.

If you want to practice precise PP JDAM drops, you can get precise coordinates on the F10 map by cycling left-alt Y to get different coordinate formats, then place your cursor over a target and take down it's precise coordinates. Then go back into your jet and configure for PP.

[naizarak]

also worth mentioning that the IN ZONE indicator is broken, don't be confused if you do everything right and your bombs plop short of the target

[Sylosis]

4 hours ago, Zyll said:

To further answer your question, JTAC is giving you degrees minutes seconds if it's ##'##'## format. If it were ##'##.## it would be degrees minutes decimal-minutes. Regardless, both are not accurate enough to hit anything smaller than a farmer's field.

If you want to practice precise PP JDAM drops, you can get precise coordinates on the F10 map by cycling left-alt Y to get different coordinate formats, then place your cursor over a target and take down it's precise coordinates. Then go back into your jet and configure for PP.

 

So you mean it indeed gives Degrees, Minutes, Seconds, but that without the decimal seconds it is not precise enough. Correct? 

[Recluse]

Yes, but ALSO the coordinates the JTAC gives you are USUALLY not a SPECIFIC TARGET but the general area where there may be multiple vehicles, so even if he gives it to you in PRECISE format (which that MOD allowed), you still can't really blindly drop a JDAM on the PP coordinates.

[AvroLanc]

4 minutes ago, Recluse said:

Yes, but ALSO the coordinates the JTAC gives you are USUALLY not a SPECIFIC TARGET but the general area where there may be multiple vehicles, so even if he gives it to you in PRECISE format (which that MOD allowed), you still can't really blindly drop a JDAM on the PP coordinates.

It depends on the group the JTAC is targeting. If the group size is only 1, then I’ve found the grid he passes is bang on. 
 

However, the 6 digit grid he passes is only accurate to 100m by 100m in theory, so not sure it should be as precise as it is. 
 

Normally a BOC or Bomb on Coordinate type attack should need a 8 or 10 digit grid. 

[Zyll]

 
So you mean it indeed gives Degrees, Minutes, Seconds, but that without the decimal seconds it is not precise enough. Correct? 

You need to switch to degrees minutes seconds decimal-seconds to be able to hit a vehicle in game