VEC and MAN steering

[Egri_komrade]

Good evening,

So my question is pretty straight forward: What does the VEC and MAN steering actually means? I don't remember ever using any of these, and never knew what their purpose was. I couldn't really understand it even from the manual, so can I anyone please give an explanation?

[RustBelt]

Vector was a part of the old ground control system. The idea was the carrier could directly fly or provide steering indications to get the pilot to intercept a threat. 
 

Not surprisingly for late 60’s early 70’s tech, this didn’t work so well. It was part of the system, but was quickly abandoned because unsurprisingly, pilots can actually fly the plane themselves.

I guess the F-106 also had this in the Airforce. And it also never really got used. 
 

Manual is a basic HSI where you dial in the heading and Course yourself no INS pointer steering, just heading and radio navigation.

Edited October 18, 2022 by RustBelt

[Egri_komrade]

2 hours ago, RustBelt said:

Vector was a part of the old ground control system. The idea was the carrier could directly fly or provide steering indications to get the pilot to intercept a threat. 
 

Not surprisingly for late 60’s early 70’s tech, this didn’t work so well. It was part of the system, but was quickly abandoned because unsurprisingly, pilots can actually fly the plane themselves.

I guess the F-106 also had this in the Airforce. And it also never really got used. 
 

Manual is a basic HSI where you dial in the heading and Course yourself no INS pointer steering, just heading and radio navigation.

 

Oh I see. Thank you for the explanation. So VEC is not functional in DCS and MAN is just less useful

[RustBelt]

Yea VEC is IN OP. MAN is handy but your navigating style may vary. 

[IronMike]

It was also intended that ground controllers or JTACs could steer the plane on a ground attack run via datalink. Which ofc also never happened.