What do they call fast air in with in Afghanistan?

[BT23]

Just watching the Ross Kemp documentary and I can't see the enemy when the camera is pointed at them... how do the F15's and 16's they call know where to drop bombs?

[Peyoteros]

Units on the ground designates target with the laser beam for laser guided "smart" bombs.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB3J0WnimME

LANGUAGE!

 

Or simply painting location for non guided rockets.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8LS7QWHyks&feature=related

Edited February 22, 2009 by Peyoteros

[Groove]

The units have FACs attached to them. This guys are trained to zero in fastmovers in CAS missions.

[BT23]

Regarding FACs, do the jets have to loiter around the target area for a while at least first? If I was going to simulate doing CAS with an FAC (and NO laser designator) in a Lock On Mission, would I basically require the player to make an orbit for 5 minutes before the attack? More? Less? Thanks for the info.

[Groove]

Usually the fastmovers loiter around "on station" and then they eventually will get a call to drop a bomb at XY.

 

Im just reading a book on British Apache pilot in Afghanistan, they have a spool up time of 30 Minutes. Then usually a flight of 20-30 Minutes til they arrive on spot.

 

Fastmovers might be faster there, depends on where their station is.

[BT23]

Once they get there though, how long to identify the target that the FAC is describing? Roughly? Also any idea what altitude they do this from? (Min/Max is fine.)

[Vekkinho]

Once they get there though, how long to identify the target that the FAC is describing? Roughly? Also any idea what altitude they do this from? (Min/Max is fine.)

 

Above AAA and MANPAD reach, cca 12000-15000ft!

[Groove]

Once they get there though, how long to identify the target that the FAC is describing? Roughly? Also any idea what altitude they do this from? (Min/Max is fine.)

 

It depends on the weapon which they want to employ.

 

Btw, here is a interesting picture, check the distance and the details:

 

[Vekkinho]

^^^^^^

Whoa, impressive, with lens like that you don't even have to be in the area to provide FAC!

[mvsgas]

[BT23]

Wow

[Geier]

 

Or simply painting location for non guided rockets.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8LS7QWHyks&feature=related

 

Hm, youtube says that there're laser guided missiles:smilewink:

[Peyoteros]

Hm, youtube says that there're laser guided missiles:smilewink:

 

Yes, they are indeed laser guided missiles :D

[JimMack]

See:- http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/rockwell-collins-tapped-for-british-itga-facfoo-system-03705/

 

Also look up ROVER on google. Also "nine liner"

 

If manpad threat then 15,000 ft is orbit height. However in Afghanistan no manpad threat so circle at 5000 ft.

[BT23]

So say I wanted to create a mission where the player had to loiter over a specific location in order to "qualify" for being present as air support fro ground troops. How long would be reasonable to require the player to circle the target area before they count as prsent, assuming no laser designators?

 

I'm especially thinking of countries that don't have that capability on hand in any quantity, nor expensive recon pods with high res IR equipment.

 

I mean, how did the Russians get Su-27's on target in Georgia?

[Teknetinium]

Its therefore Russian air force miss as much as they do, according to Russian soldiers the air support has not been that accurate if u dont account Su-25T , and su-30 witch we shouldn't. I guise everything depend witch wars you are involved in.

[JimMack]

So say I wanted to create a mission where the player had to loiter over a specific location in order to "qualify" for being present as air support fro ground troops. How long would be reasonable to require the player to circle the target area before they count as prsent, assuming no laser designators?

 

I'm especially thinking of countries that don't have that capability on hand in any quantity, nor expensive recon pods with high res IR equipment.

 

I mean, how did the Russians get Su-27's on target in Georgia?

 

The key thing is accurate ID of target so you do not drop on own troops. Typical patter. Pilot has a map, different scale from FAC. FAC says - Do you see village Amesbury (position Lat/long or an internal military co-ord position)? Look NW 500 metes, 3 buildings by road with trees alongside. That is your target."

Note, pilots have to at all times know their compass rose, ie where North is. CAS pilots must have situational awareness of ground objects and compass direction on the ground. It takes time to teach.

In the Ross Kemp documentary last night, the F18 pilot had obviously got lost, even though he had GPS and rover! That was why he did a "show of strength" flyby and did not drop bombs!

The pilot has an Ingress Point, about 10 miles away. He comes in and make sures he can really eyball the target as described. He might circle for 5 minutes until he has absolute clarification of ID. Apaches work in pairs, using a racetrack pattern over the target area.