When to use RWS/TWS?

[dresoccer4]

Wondering what the different tactical situations would be for both RWS and TWS and when it's proper or improper to use them? What are advantages of each in the Jf-17? Then's there also the VS mode  

[TLTeo]

As a rule of thumb (with every jet really, not just the JF-17): VS for long range search, RWS for general scanning and building SA, TWS to maintain SA while tracking/intercepting/attacking something.

Edited August 20, 2021 by TLTeo

[dresoccer4]

6 minutes ago, TLTeo said:

As a rule of thumb (with every jet really, not just the JF-17): VS for long range search, RWS for general scanning and building SA, TWS to maintain SA while tracking/intercepting/attacking something.

 

 

does RWS have longer detection range, is that why you use it before TWS?

 

TWS seems to give more data and I like it more so was wondering why wouldn't just use TWS all the time

[TLTeo]

RWS displays just the radar returns, rather than trying to process those returns into tracks like TWS, so it's much simpler in terms of data processing. This means that in general RWS allows you to scan a wider area of the sky, which is why it's useful if you want simply to build SA. TWS on the other hand is more limited in the combination of azimuth/bars you can scan, so it's a bit less flexible.

 

That said if you already know exactly where you want to look at, and you don't need to scan a particularly large area, then sure, TWS works just fine.

Edited August 20, 2021 by TLTeo

[dresoccer4]

7 minutes ago, TLTeo said:

RWS displays just the radar returns, rather than trying to process those returns into target tracks like TWS. This means that in general it allows you to scan a wider area of the sky, which is why it's useful if you want simply to build SA. TWS on the other hand is more limited in the combination of azimuth/bars you can scan, so it's a bit less flexible like that.

 

That said if you already know exactly where you want to look at then sure, TWS works just fine.

 

thanks, that helps give a better high-level understanding of the why. also didn't realize RWS and TWS was the same in all jets

[Mustang25]

Different aircraft will have their quirks on how they build track files and differences in scan volume, etc. between radars but the general concept of RWS and TWS is the same between jets. IRL TWS is supposed to be a lot less reliable than it is in DCS as it does not seem to model a lot of the downsides of that mode.

[dresoccer4]

15 minutes ago, Mustang25 said:

Different aircraft will have their quirks on how they build track files and differences in scan volume, etc. between radars but the general concept of RWS and TWS is the same between jets. IRL TWS is supposed to be a lot less reliable than it is in DCS as it does not seem to model a lot of the downsides of that mode.

 

interesting. yeah as i've been learning and experimenting i've been more or less keeping it in TWS and it's seemed to be a great advantage and haven't really found many downsides. seems just as reliable

[Napillo]

You'd use RWS if there's more than 10 things to track in front of you (say 5 friendlies and 5 enemies). It should display up to 40 things, but as others have pointed out, it doesn't do tracking. So you have a dot, but you won't know which direction they're headed, you just have altitude. The good thing is, you can know which way they're pointed with the Link-17. So, if the awacs can see them you can see that on your SA page. You can get more range from RWS than other modes, but that's about it.

 

The radar itself should be able to calculate RCS (its listed as a feature of the radar itself) so you could theoretically identify which airplanes you're seeing, but they didn't put it in the game. Also RWS is supposed dto go into STT once you lock a target, but that doesn't seem to work well currently. STT is better for keeping a lock on a wildly maneuvering aircraft, its unbreakable. TWS is supposed to be easier to break (ex: if the plane goes into a steep dive or does a quick turn) but it's overperforming right now.

[dresoccer4]

12 hours ago, Napillo said:

You'd use RWS if there's more than 10 things to track in front of you (say 5 friendlies and 5 enemies). It should display up to 40 things, but as others have pointed out, it doesn't do tracking. So you have a dot, but you won't know which direction they're headed, you just have altitude. The good thing is, you can know which way they're pointed with the Link-17. So, if the awacs can see them you can see that on your SA page. You can get more range from RWS than other modes, but that's about it.

 

The radar itself should be able to calculate RCS (its listed as a feature of the radar itself) so you could theoretically identify which airplanes you're seeing, but they didn't put it in the game. Also RWS is supposed dto go into STT once you lock a target, but that doesn't seem to work well currently. STT is better for keeping a lock on a wildly maneuvering aircraft, its unbreakable. TWS is supposed to be easier to break (ex: if the plane goes into a steep dive or does a quick turn) but it's overperforming right now.

 

the STT isn't working right now? isn't that required for launching a missile?

Edited August 26, 2021 by dresoccer4

[Napillo]

so it works, but you have to switch modes a few times, or you can STT from TWS, but from RWS, no.

[dresoccer4]

13 hours ago, Napillo said:

so it works, but you have to switch modes a few times, or you can STT from TWS, but from RWS, no.

 

gotcha

[dorianR666]

On 8/20/2021 at 10:52 PM, dresoccer4 said:

Wondering what the different tactical situations would be for both RWS and TWS and when it's proper or improper to use them? What are advantages of each in the Jf-17? Then's there also the VS mode

VS: maximum range of detection, but cant tell you how far the targets are.

RWS: can determine range of targets and can have full volume (azimuth range * bar count)

TWS: like RWS but builds trackfiles (so you see where each target is flying), but has limited volume (so time between reflections from a target is small enough to maintain the trackfile). you can guide missiles against 2 targets simultanously in TWS.

 

usecases should be obvious from description above:

if you need to detect very far away targets, you use VS. if you are just scanning the airspace around (CAP mission), you use RWS to see maximum volume. if you know about a group of targets close to each other, you use TWS so you can attack 2.

Edited August 27, 2021 by dorianR666

[dresoccer4]

28 minutes ago, dorianR666 said:

VS: maximum range of detection, but cant tell you how far the targets are.

RWS: can determine range of targets and can have full volume (azimuth range * bar count)

TWS: like RWS but builds trackfiles (so you see where each target is flying), but has limited volume (so time between reflections from a target is small enough to maintain the trackfile). you can guide missiles against 2 targets simultanously in TWS.

 

usecases should be obvious from description above:

if you need to detect very far away targets, you use VS. if you are just scanning the airspace around (CAP mission), you use RWS to see maximum volume. if you know about a group of targets close to each other, you use TWS so you can attack 2.

 

 concise and descriptive. thanks

[WarbossPetross]

If you enable VS and try to lock a contact it displays it will switch to the previously selected mode but it will already be set up to display said target in regards to display distance and scan zone position. Helps a lot if you want to use Trick While Scam but don't know where to point the scan zone.