AI Helicopter escort possible???

[AvgWhiteGuy]

Anybody ever try having an AI helo escort an AI road convoy? Maybe a Hind escort a column of red tanks at XXX altitude in a circular or ??? flight pattern. Is it possible? In essence, can you 'attached' an AI air unit to an AI ground unit or group as it moves?

I'm trying to set up mission with this in mind and would appreciate a clue or two.

[dark_wood]

Yes you can, with the 'Ground Escort' task, see here:

Hope it helps

[AvgWhiteGuy]

Thanks Dark_wood, I'll play with that tonight. Should've known that if it can be done, has been done Suntsag did it.

Cheers, 

[AvgWhiteGuy]

Update after testing...it's even simpler now than Suntsag's YT posting.

I added 2 Ka-50s to the convoy, set one as CAS, the other as Escort, and set both of them with different altitudes. In Advanced (Waypoint Actions) I set different Forward Distances. All went well EXCEPT regardless of the Altitude setting, they both descended to about 325-360 ft within a minute. One did attack-destroy my UH-1 sitting idly by watching...as expected. 

If anyone knows how to set them to maintain altitude it would be great...can't imagine 350ft as good escort altitude....would be a pretty easy man-pad shootdown.

Edited March 22, 2022 by AvgWhiteGuy

[dark_wood]

I don't think you can trick the altitude - follow/escort tasks will make the AI follow a path relative and near to lead group.

Searched for real life convoy helo escort info, found this:

https://irp.fas.org/doddir/army/fm3-04-126.pdf (Chapter 3, 3-213)

350 ft is indeed, very close to a MANPAD threat, but that's the salt and pepper of DCS

Finally, a recent example (no politics intended here): https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1500022804900630528 - seems pretty low

[toutenglisse]

2 hours ago, AvgWhiteGuy said:

...If anyone knows how to set them to maintain altitude it would be great...can't imagine 350ft as good escort altitude....would be a pretty easy man-pad shootdown.

 

1 hour ago, dark_wood said:

...350 ft is indeed, very close to a MANPAD threat, but that's the salt and pepper of DCS ...

Helo escort for ground units has changed and I think it is still W.I.P.

Actually there are 2 options in M.E : 1) set Helo as CAS role, and use "ground escort" - the helo stays very low and maneuvers close to ground units, altitude unchangeable, but will work for defending units,

2) set Helo as Escort role, and use "escort" - the helo will stay at defined position/ground units, you can change altitude and other parameters, but won't work for defending units (will ignore enemy threats^^ despite escort settings).

There is also Script for a 3rd option : for example Helo will do an updated orbit (fix radius) above ground units at defined altitude (in script), and will work for defending units.

test-Apache-ground-escort-ME-or-Script.miz test-Apache-ground-escort-or-cas.miz