Back scatter warning

[bond672]

Hi all, 

Decided to jump back in the aircraft after a few months away, I was in the cpg seat, selected hellfires, was in range, lased the target but got a back scatter error? 

Any ideas? 

Simon. 

[Floyd1212]

I looked it up in the Quick Start Manual. On page 304:

Quote

Backscatter can exist when an obscurant is between the aircraft and target, and/or the angle between the TADS LOS reticle and missile seeker differ by greater than 2°. When this 2° difference is detected by the aircraft, a “BACKSCATTER” message will be presented to the CPG, which will prevent the missile from being launched, regardless of which weapon trigger detent is used. The gunner should cease lasing, which will cage the missile seeker back to the TADS LOS and attempt to lase again. If backscatter cannot be overcome, the CPG should fire the missile using LOAL-Direct and then begin laser designation after the missile has successfully launched.

I only recall seeing the warning a couple times, but now I know what to do if I see it again.

[bond672]

Ahhhh OK that's super, many thanks! I will try LOAL

Kind regards 

Simon. 

[skypickle]

There is also a button on the TADS to change ‘first’ to ‘last’ in the event of backscatter

[AvroLanc]

23 hours ago, skypickle said:

There is also a button on the TADS to change ‘first’ to ‘last’ in the event of backscatter

I don’t think this has any effect on backscatter at all.

See the definition of BACK SCATTER someone posted above. 

A typical way around BACK SCATTER is to stop lasing and fire the missile in DIR LOAL and lase immediately after launch. 

I’m pretty sure Back Scatter is a safety inhibit, so the 2nd trigger detent won’t work in this case (unlike with a performance inhibit). 

Edited March 18, 2023 by AvroLanc

[ShuRugal]

On 3/17/2023 at 11:20 AM, Floyd1212 said:

I looked it up in the Quick Start Manual. On page 304:

or the angle between the TADS LOS reticle and missile seeker differ by greater than 2°. When this 2° difference is detected by the aircraft, a “BACKSCATTER” message will be presented to the CPG

that explains why was having so much trouble playing with AFAC guided missiles the other day.... I was wondering why i was getting "backscatter" warning when the laser was coming straight down...