What will cause an AI aircraft to abort mission and RTB?

[Hoggorm]

From time to time I see that my AI bombers and SEAD aircraft abort their mission and RTB early. I was wondering why that happens.

 

I believe I have identified one cause to be fuel. In the first version of the mission all aircraft that did not carry fuel tanks would RTB before reaching the target area. After adding fuel tanks the aircraft at least fly for longer than what they did.

 

Still I see them RTB early from time to time so what other causes can be the reason for an aircraft to RTB without completing its mission? What can I consider that would prevent this?

[dorianR666]

too much danger will make them RTB

 

you can prevent this with the Reaction to threat waypoint action, by default its Allow abort mission. Pick the one next to it.

[Hoggorm]

Thank you,

 

I've set them to Evade Fire already, so this is already active. That is why I find it strange that they RTB still sometimes.

 

Can I see somewhere how much fuel they have left? Could it still be fuel even though they have drop tanks?

[Kang]

SEAD missions are unfortunately especially prone to this specific AI problem. Not only will they abort per se, but they also tend to jettison their stores to go evasive easily. One might find it a little bit silly that a flight specifically sent on a SEAD mission and equipped with state-of-the-art ARMs decides to throw both away at the first sign of a SAM battery.

Try all of those AI options available until they do anything reasonable. I found sometimes you have to set them to react to no threat at all, which comes with its own problems.

[Hoggorm]

1 hour ago, Kang said:

SEAD missions are unfortunately especially prone to this specific AI problem. Not only will they abort per se, but they also tend to jettison their stores to go evasive easily. One might find it a little bit silly that a flight specifically sent on a SEAD mission and equipped with state-of-the-art ARMs decides to throw both away at the first sign of a SAM battery.

Try all of those AI options available until they do anything reasonable. I found sometimes you have to set them to react to no threat at all, which comes with its own problems.

I see what you mean. I'll experiment with the no reaction action, but I then fear that the SAM will shoot them down before they shoot their ALARM missiles...

I do not allow them to jettison their stores with the "restricted jettison" action, so that does luckily not happen.