More Advanced SAM Options

[Exorcet]

With the SA-5 now in game we've seen a huge jump in maximum possible SAM coverage, and it will jump again if we get the Tall King search radar. Looking at current SAM behavior, this means we can expect SA-5's to burn through their missiles rather quickly as they'll probably launch at just about anything across a good quarter of a given map. This can be a problem for a number of reasons, so I think we need some additional options to help AI SAM's determine when to fire. Something like this is probably coming with the IADS being developed, but I think some simple options would be nice to have now/shorter term.

 

Some proposed options:

Target type - Fighter/bomber/tanker/AWACS/etc > limit a SAM to attack specific targets. For example, the SA-5 probably shouldn't be launching on fighters 200 miles away, but launching at an AWACS to suppress it or force it to move further out is reasonable.

 

Max range - Similar to restricting the AA attack range of fighters (but it would be better to have a % slider if possible), restrict the maximum range at which a SAM will fire.

 

Time between launch - An option to set a minimum time between SAM missile launches.

 

There are probably some other good idea as well, but this is what came to mind first. Thanks for any consideration of this idea.

[Northstar98]

+99999999999

 

Absolutely agreed on all points.

 

The only thing that this should take into account however is target identification, fortunately here (according to documentation found here) the 5N62V does have a crude form of NCTR by looking at the frequency distribution of the return from the target, allowing operators to guage what kind of target it is.

[Aarnoman]

11 hours ago, Exorcet said:

With the SA-5 now in game we've seen a huge jump in maximum possible SAM coverage, and it will jump again if we get the Tall King search radar. Looking at current SAM behavior, this means we can expect SA-5's to burn through their missiles rather quickly as they'll probably launch at just about anything across a good quarter of a given map. This can be a problem for a number of reasons, so I think we need some additional options to help AI SAM's determine when to fire. Something like this is probably coming with the IADS being developed, but I think some simple options would be nice to have now/shorter term.

 

Some proposed options:

Target type - Fighter/bomber/tanker/AWACS/etc > limit a SAM to attack specific targets. For example, the SA-5 probably shouldn't be launching on fighters 200 miles away, but launching at an AWACS to suppress it or force it to move further out is reasonable.

 

Max range - Similar to restricting the AA attack range of fighters (but it would be better to have a % slider if possible), restrict the maximum range at which a SAM will fire.

 

Time between launch - An option to set a minimum time between SAM missile launches.

 

There are probably some other good idea as well, but this is what came to mind first. Thanks for any consideration of this idea

You can already set max range - under advanced waypoint actions -> options -> set intercept range.

 

Pretty sure you can also set target type too already.

Edited October 2, 2021 by Aarnoman

[Exorcet]

18 hours ago, Northstar98 said:

+99999999999

 

Absolutely agreed on all points.

 

The only thing that this should take into account however is target identification, fortunately here (according to documentation found here) the 5N62V does have a crude form of NCTR by looking at the frequency distribution of the return from the target, allowing operators to guage what kind of target it is.

I was also thinking the SAM could use its own sides intelligence to help determine the target even if it doesn't have any kind of dedicated target identification (ie an AWACS identifies a bomber 50 miles from the SAM and relays this info). That can open up an entire other can of worms though if we want detailed intelligence settings for each side.

6 hours ago, Aarnoman said:

You can already set max range - under advanced waypoint actions -> options -> set intercept range.

 

Pretty sure you can also set target type too already.

 

You're right about the range, for some reason I forgot it applied to SAM's and thought it was only ships. Limiting SAM's to certain targets isn't possible though.