Problems with IR Mavs

[markturner1960]

So I am learning these and have some issues. I am using the excellent training missions and deep hacks you tube guide, but at a certain point  things diverge from the guides and training.....I have tried to attach the track but its 15mb and it wont let me...

Its all good until I have to lock the mav onto the target...it says wait until in range ( under 7.5 miles, I waited till 6 to be sure) but the gates never lock on. When I press TDC the seeker head moves to the velocity vector and seems to be stuck there. . In the HUD, the tgt range says 29.2 ( remember target was under 6 miles) so I try to undesignate whatever its now targetting using NWS switch and the readout adds TO next to it and it still appears locked.... I tried again on this occasion I could never get the mav to lock, even when I was 1 mile away...........whats happening and why please?

Edited July 23, 2022 by markturner1960

[Dogmanbird]

I find it erratic at times too.

Just to check - once you've uncaged the mavs, when you are slewing, are you in IRMV mode?  

[zildac]

1 minute ago, Dogmanbird said:

I find it erratic at times too.

Just to check - once you've uncaged the mavs, when you are slewing, are you in IRMV mode?  

This is what I was going to suggest..SS forward so IRMV is displayed in the MFD, then TDC depress

[Dogmanbird]

btw - to clear the current mav lock on the ground, re cage the mav, then press NWS button, then uncage it again

as zildac mentioned above - if you are using the tpod to set a target, when you uncage the mav, you then press sensor select forward one time to switch to IRMV mode, then TDC down. You need to "release" the tdc button for the mav to grab the target without having to slew slightly. Pressing the tdc down and not releasing it will not grab target.

So many iterations of the irmav operation, it's quite confusing when trying to find a good tute

are other jets as tedious to operate weapons as the harrier?

Edited July 23, 2022 by Dogmanbird

[markturner1960]

thanks let me try........it seems way more tricky than in the Hornet....

[Dogmanbird]

if you do get a lock and mavs won't fire

- engine nozzles need to be at 30 degrees or less

- mavs didn't complete their cooling, possibly because of entering tpod mode which disables the mavs as you enter it. (catches me out a lot), or the arm button got disabled

- sometimes the mavs just wont cool at all (unknown cause, aircraft damage?? bug??) if I can't get them to cool shortly after takeoff I just restart the flight as I can't seem to fix it. I'm usually in multiplayer when it happens so may be related to server bug?

 

 

Edited July 23, 2022 by Dogmanbird

[markturner1960]

Thanks I was in level flight and nozzles definitely at zero, My mavs always seem to be ready when I select....is this correct? is there a setting for this, like the INS alignment? 

Re entering TPOD mode, do you mean on the FLIR? (sss depress twice?) If not can you explain? sorry! 

Also, what is the consensus on the best and most up to date guide on Mavs for the harrier please?

 

[Dogmanbird]

You're welcome,

The missions that come with the AV8B have the irmavs pre cooled ready to go. You'll generally need to cool them manually if in multiplayer. I'm unsure how to change this in single player missions.

The TPOD (targeting pod) is an option that can attach to the harrier in place of a missile or other weapon (or tank?

i believe it mounts directly under the fuselage. It has a longer lens and other functions which offers a better view of targets from further out than the dmt (built into the harriers nose). Once you've lined up the target using the tpod, the irmav can then slave/align itself to this (using the steps mentioned above) for a lock, then once fired the mav is fire/forget as per usual

If the tpod is attached, you press the button you've assigned to "sensor select down" twice to get the tpod view to appear on the mfd. It always appears on the right mfd. In the current procedure you can't have both the tpod and IRMV show simultaneously.

This vid seems to be the same as current procedures that I'm aware of

 

 

Edited July 23, 2022 by Dogmanbird

[markturner1960]

Thanks, that tutorial is spot on!! I have spent several hours yesterday working on this and I think I have got it figured out now. If it helps anyone else, here is the sequence required: I have attached the .PDF if someone wants to use as a kneeboard page. Have I got it correct? 

AV8B-NA HARRIER IR Mav’s EMPLOYMENT

OVERVIEW:

IR Mavs can be deployed in several ways:

USING DMT

SSS aft to bring up DMT on RH MFD

Select AG master mode

Select STRS sub page on left hand MFD, select IRMV ( Ensure RDY is indicated, if not wait until cooled)

Manoeuvre jet to point at target and use TDC to slew to target, press to lock

Press Cage / Uncage to slave Mav seeker head to locked DMT target. Seeker head TV feed will appear in left MPCD

Press SSS fwd once to change mode to IRMV ( Top right of DMT feed on MFD)

Change polarity as required with OSB 20 on left MFD, this can be done using WP increment switch if no target is locked.

Target needs to be under 7nm to be in range

USING TPOD

Select AG master mode, if target is an existing WP, select using WP increment & designate using OSB 1 on EHSD

On RH MFD, select TPOD, and  depress SSS twice to enter TPOD HOTAS mode. The display should be slewed to the designated WP. If not using a pre designated WP, find target using TDC and select.

On LH MFD, select STRS, box IRMV on LH MFD

Press Cage / Uncage and the TPOD display will change to show the Mav seeker head feed. The MFD should have IRMV boxed in the top left and TPOD underneath it.

Press SSS forwards once to change the TPOD to IRMV mode

If within range, a slight movement of the TDC hat should cause the HUD to show a slewable box around the target and in the RH MFD, you should be able to slew the seeker gates to a target. It should auto lock once ready.

Fire weapon.

The above steps will need to be repeated to find a different target, if using the TPOD to do this. Note the TPOD display reverts to INS mode and will need to have TPOD mode selected again using the SSS and the STRS page will need IRMV boxing again. However, you can stay in the IRMV seeker feed mode and simply slew around to another target if the targets are all nearby, without using the TPOD if you wish.

 

Edited July 24, 2022 by markturner1960