not realistic IHAADS azimuth switch between flight azimuth and head looking azimuth

[DmitriKozlowsky]

IHAADS azimuth switch between flight azimuth and head looking azimuth

If such an option exists in real AH-64D

[Raptor9]

There is no such option.

[DmitriKozlowsky]

Sad! Seems such an obvious capability in combat.

[Raptor9]

1 hour ago, DmitriKozlowsky said:

Seems such an obvious capability in combat.

Not if you consider the intent behind it. If the pilot needs to call out a target direction to the CPG, he simply tells him to slave to the pilot helmet line-of-sight with the TADS. If the CPG tells the pilot he sees a target, the pilot can simply set the TADS as the ACQ source, if not already. Even then, the CPG has a TADS azimuth indicator in the TADS video that tells him where the the TADS is looking.

So it's not about being able to see what azimuth you are looking per se, because that piece of information in itself isn't really useful. However, being able to associate target/sensor data to a relative direction from the nose is useful, but these functions are already provided by virtual symbology elements and ACQ cueing/slaving functions that not only provide azimuth, but relative elevation as well and show you where something truly is. Granted, elevation isn't as important when operating at very low altitudes, but the methods of gaining situational awareness or handing off locations/targets between sensors or crewmembers is already there. It just doesn't rely on a basic compass azimuth indication of where the helmet is pointed, since the avionics has the ability to display such information in a more detailed and automated manner.

The ACQ source and associated cueing indications and slaving functions is where it's at.

[DmitriKozlowsky]

On 7/14/2022 at 8:10 AM, Raptor9 said:

Not if you consider the intent behind it. If the pilot needs to call out a target direction to the CPG, he simply tells him to slave to the pilot helmet line-of-sight with the TADS. If the CPG tells the pilot he sees a target, the pilot can simply set the TADS as the ACQ source, if not already. Even then, the CPG has a TADS azimuth indicator in the TADS video that tells him where the the TADS is looking.

So it's not about being able to see what azimuth you are looking per se, because that piece of information in itself isn't really useful. However, being able to associate target/sensor data to a relative direction from the nose is useful, but these functions are already provided by virtual symbology elements and ACQ cueing/slaving functions that not only provide azimuth, but relative elevation as well and show you where something truly is. Granted, elevation isn't as important when operating at very low altitudes, but the methods of gaining situational awareness or handing off locations/targets between sensors or crewmembers is already there. It just doesn't rely on a basic compass azimuth indication of where the helmet is pointed, since the avionics has the ability to display such information in a more detailed and automated manner.

The ACQ source and associated cueing indications and slaving functions is where it's at.

I have not been in actual combat. But plenty of exercises during my active service in early to mid 1990's. I was 13A, which is Field Artillery Officer (Fires Suppourt Team) "Move, shoot, communicate" as training goes. In an endless cycle. Using Col. Boyd's OODA Loop. Consistently, orientation to threat, and communication of threat azimuth was the most time sensitive , i.e. slowest. Part of the delay was need to know one's own azimuth heading, azimuth to threat on map, conversion of map azimuth to magnetic azimuth or vice versa. This becomes a task saturation problem with multiple threats, in darkness, and fog of war. I am new to AH-64D, and even in the sim the task saturation is familiar nemesis. There are number of critical azimuths all changing at same time at different rates. Heading  mag azimuth of own ship, grid azimuth of same. Your head looking azimuth, magnetic, and grid.  CP/G sensor azimuth, again mag and grid. Threats azimuth, mag and grid. Threat location and proximity. Prioritization of threats. Azimuth to objective, mag and grid. Location and proximity.  Azimuth(s) of friendlies, mag and grid. For helicopter crew, add aircraft attitude, and azimuth with distance to obstacles. Having instant information of direction where one's eyes are looking is invaluable advantage. We don't have it in Apache. OK. Makes sense to me. Army used to have a program called Land Warrior, where the helmet sight would display to soldier his heading az, where he is looking az, and his 8 digit grid. Of course Army cancelled the program. During training, from BCT , through AIT, to advanced fieldEX, to combat deployments. The #1 task difficulty with which soldiers struggle is land navigation and battlespace awareness. Where you are, where are others(threat and friendly), is a constant struggle from private to general.

[Raptor9]

I understand what you're saying, and I know all too well the challenges you speak of. But in my experience, the existing functions and displays in the AH-64D are more than enough in assisting the crew in maintaining situational awareness of the surrounding battlespace. As for various azimuths, there is only one that is necessary, which is magnetic azimuth. Grid azimuth and true azimuth have no bearing (no pun intended) on the operation or employment of the AH-64D as a weapon system.

As stated previously, you have all the pieces of information that you need that already exist in the avionics. It's not in the format that you prefer, I get that, but that's what it is about when learning how to operate an aircraft such as the AH-64. It's about understanding how it fights, which drives how the avionics are designed for the human factors within that fight.