Design Principles of the Rocket Symbology

[Cheetah7798]

So, instead of the usual 'how' questions related to rockets in the Apache, I'm more interested in the 'why'. In the admittedly limited thinking I've contributed to the subject, I'm curious why rocket employment requires aligning not only the helicopter with the target, but also the pilots head with the target, as opposed to just having a reticle that was ground-stabilised like the target marker you're actually shooting at. It just doesn't make sense.

I understand that the rocket pods pivot vertically, but it feels like there are far more intuitive ways to represent that then what was actually decided on. For example, a CCIP pipper that auto-slews in the Y-axis (as the pods articulate), but is locked in the X-axis. This is pretty much identical to how the Vikhr's reticle is represented in the Ka-50, and is a lot more intuitive. Not to mention has the added benefit of showing the pilot if the articulating mechanisms in the pylons are properly aligned.

But the part that really throws me off is that the rocket reticle is locked to the IHADSS despite the target and the rocket pods themselves having nothing to do with the pilot's head position. So, just one question.

Why?

Edited August 25, 2022 by Cheetah7798

[Raptor9]

From the FAQ section of the manual:

[Cheetah7798]

Thanks for the response. Interesting stuff, though it begs the question of why a system designed to provide accuracy for lofted shots at longer distances, where the target may not be visible, is the default targeting solution, and not some alternate method.

But running with the idea of a typical CCIP reticle being inaccurate. If the pitch axis is already handled by the pylon articulation (within reason), the pilot need only worry about the aircraft's yaw. At least in my mind, a single yaw deviation caret that was more sensitive than the 1-to-1 rotational movement of the helicopter would achieve that same result in a much more intuitive manner.

But fair enough. It's good to know their motivations behind the design.

[Raptor9]

44 minutes ago, Cheetah7798 said:

though it begs the question of why a system designed to provide accuracy for lofted shots at longer distances, where the target may not be visible, is the default targeting solution, and not some alternate method.

Because the AH-64 was originally designed to stop waves of tanks rolling across Europe, and to utilize stand-off outside the range of large caliber tank guns, ATGMs, and short-range air defenses like the ZSU-23-4. These longer stand-off ranges were intended to be the normal engagement method, whereas close-in engagements using the HMD were not, which are primarily defensive in nature.

44 minutes ago, Cheetah7798 said:

But running with the idea of a typical CCIP reticle being inaccurate. If the pitch axis is already handled by the pylon articulation (within reason), the pilot need only worry about the aircraft's yaw. At least in my mind, a single yaw deviation caret that was more sensitive than the 1-to-1 rotational movement of the helicopter would achieve that same result in a much more intuitive manner.

Not all rocket shots, especially during long-range engagements, are within the pylon articulation range to achieve the ballistic angle the rocket needs. This requires the pilot also adjust the aircraft pitch angle momentarily to achieve this alignment.

Helicopters maintain their airspeed by maintaining their pitch attitude. This pitch attitude is not absolute for any given airspeed, based on environmental conditions such as winds, or power required to maintain flight. If the aircrew needs to maintain a specific airspeed range (either above a minimum or below a maximum), being able to de-couple the pitch attitude of the aircraft from the pitch attitude of the weapon systems is an advantage. This is why the pylons articulate. But again, the aircrew may not always be able to achieve the required rocket pod elevation through pylon articulation alone, which is why the Rocket Steering Cursor is in two dimensions, not just yaw.

And the Rocket Steering Cursor is more sensitive than a 1-to-1 rotational movement, but this aspect in the DCS: AH-64D is still a WIP.