F-15E Radar Modes HOTAS Diagram & Azimuth vs Elevation Plots

[CourageousPotato]

I made a diagram which shows all available transitions between radar modes in search and designated-target modes. I arranged the modes in how they are related by auto-aqc switch direction, so it's more of a map than just a table of state transitions like the manual provides. Inop modes are colored yellow.

I also made a plot showing the azimuth-elevation profile of all radar modes. These should be accurate to the degree, with the exception of maybe the boresight mode where I had to interpret "4 degrees circle" as an azimuth/elevation rectangle.

Source diagrams.net files are available upon request.

Note: Plot azimuth scale is 2.5 degrees per grid cell, and elevation scale is 1 degree per grid cell. This skews the representation of angular area (solid angle) subtended by each of these modes. Supersearch (SS) and Boresight (BS) should be square in shape.

Edited April 1 by CourageousPotato
Modes v2.2 adjusted Coolie behavior, NDTWS details

[DoorMouse]

This is awesome thank you! 

What is click Press on 4TWSH? I've never tried or seen NARROW.  Do you mean you cursor over to the text and click it? That's an oddball

[CourageousPotato]

1 hour ago, DoorMouse said:

This is awesome thank you! 

What is click Press on 4TWSH? I've never tried or seen NARROW.  Do you mean you cursor over to the text and click it? That's an oddball

Yes, move the Acq Sym (TDC Cursor) over the 4TWSH letters on the radar display and TDC Depress short to enter NARROW scan mode. NARROW is pretty situational; it helps when you have two TWS tracks that are separated by ~20,000 ft at ~40nm, but bandits separating in azimuth will quickly leave the scan volume.

[Beirut]

You're a special spud. A terrific tuber. You should be proud to say: "I yam what I yam!"

 

This is cool, thank you.  

[Tenkom]

There is one, sometimes, very useful mode you haven't mentioned. If you are in TWS and have two targets locked but you see that they will soon separate too far. If you long TDC depress on the non-starred target it will enter a sort of dual STT mode where it will skip back and forth between the two targets and keep lock even if they go far apart. You lose all other tracks though.

[CourageousPotato]

On 9/22/2023 at 1:32 AM, Tenkom said:

There is one, sometimes, very useful mode you haven't mentioned. If you are in TWS and have two targets locked but you see that they will soon separate too far. If you long TDC depress on the non-starred target it will enter a sort of dual STT mode where it will skip back and forth between the two targets and keep lock even if they go far apart. You lose all other tracks though.

Updated Radar Modes diagram to add DTT, Boat switch, and Coolie controls. Thanks for the reminder!

Here is another diagram I made, with the HOTAS sequences for front cockpit HUD/MPD/MPCD handling.

Edited September 26, 2023 by CourageousPotato

[CourageousPotato]

Hmm the elevation bars may not be correct on the AZ-EL plot. I just came across this figure in the manual, which says (at least for RWS INLV) that bar spacing varies with range (which I'm guessing is the range of the Acq Sym, or the radar range scale).

I had based the TWS scan sizes on the 1.5 degree bar spacing given for 2TWSH and 4TWSH and 1 degree bar spacing given for 3HDT and 2HDT. Does anyone know the exact behavior of the radar elevation bars in RWS? Do these elevation bars overlap, causing the typical double-returns that are seen sometimes?

[KlarSnow]

range scale on the radar determines bar spacing in RWS.

 

3.4 deg on a 10 NM scope

2.5 deg on a 20 NM scope

1 degree on a 40, 80 or 60 NM scope

 

[CourageousPotato]

On 9/27/2023 at 5:27 AM, KlarSnow said:

range scale on the radar determines bar spacing in RWS.

 

3.4 deg on a 10 NM scope

2.5 deg on a 20 NM scope

1 degree on a 40, 80 or 60 NM scope

 

Ok thanks, I'll edit the diagram accordingly.

Another item I just discovered is NDTWS has alternate functionality for Auto-Acq switch IIRC: Auto-Acq back short seems to switch between TWSH and TWSM.

Edited September 30, 2023 by CourageousPotato

[CourageousPotato]

A-A Master Mode diagram improved for version 2.0. I was able to cut out most of the overlapping flow lines.

 

Edited November 1, 2023 by CourageousPotato

[sobe]

CourageousPotato

Sent you a PM

[Hobel]

Am 1.11.2023 um 22:06 schrieb CourageousPotato:

A-A Master Mode diagram improved for version 2.0. I was able to cut out most of the overlapping flow lines.

 

 

 

looks good thx!
But as an F15 beginner, I have a question about the TDC short and long.

4TWS>TDC Short = NARROW

if I press TDC short in this scenario, however, this does not happen for me, nor does 3HDT TDC long for DTT.

of course it is possible that I am misunderstanding or do something wrong

 

 

[KlarSnow]

26 minutes ago, Hobel said:

looks good thx!
But as an F15 beginner, I have a question about the TDC short and long.

4TWS>TDC Short = NARROW

if I press TDC short in this scenario, however, this does not happen for me, nor does 3HDT TDC long for DTT.

of course it is possible that I am misunderstanding or do something wrong

 

 

It means put the cursors over the text in the Bit window in the lower left corner of the radar and TDC press short 

Like this...

Which then results in this...

l

For DTT this video when it uploads shows the process, go into a TWS mode, have a PDT, and an SDT, cursor on the SDT, and hold the TDC down long, you will after a second see the cursor jump towards the center of the scope and the bit window will show DTT, and you can see the sweep change from a TWS sweep, to a miniraster that bounces between the two targets.

 

Edited November 3, 2023 by KlarSnow

[Hobel]

vor 3 Minuten schrieb KlarSnow:

It means put the cursors over the text in the Bit window in the lower left corner of the radar and TDC press short 

Like this...

Which then results in this...

l

 

Ahh okay cool thanks.

[CourageousPotato]

Updated diagrams to v2.1. HOTAS diagram got extra details on SRM and GUNS modes, AZ/EL plot got slight formatting changes and markers for slew on guns mode.

[CourageousPotato]

Revised front cockpit displays diagram, v1.1.

[tiengo]

Hi Courageous Potato,

 

I am interested in the diagrams if you have it for all.

 

You did that with Visio ?

 

Thx

tiengo

[CourageousPotato]

6 hours ago, tiengo said:

Hi Courageous Potato,

 

I am interested in the diagrams if you have it for all.

 

You did that with Visio ?

 

Thx

tiengo

Diagrams.net. Here is the v2.1 file: 

F-15E Modes.xml

[tiengo]

18 hours ago, CourageousPotato said:

Diagrams.net. Here is the v2.1 file: 

F-15E Modes.xml 3.51 MB · 4 downloads

thx

[sobe]

I cannot seem to open the xml file.  How do you do it?

 

[CourageousPotato]

On 2/11/2024 at 4:46 PM, sobe said:

I cannot seem to open the xml file.  How do you do it?

 

https://www.drawio.com/doc/faq/import-diagram

[Darkdiz]

Really like these. One thing you can add that I just learned, is that the NCTR can be done WITHOUT going through the EID IFF matrix by coolie right short. Coolie right long will also do the NCTR, but the system will run through the complete EID IFF matrix (interrogate whichever modes you have setup under EID).

As well, another thing I discovered is that the AAI/EID works even if your radar is in stby. You get a return if a correct code is returned at the proper range and bearing of the contact on the radar display. It will either be a diamond (modes 1-3) or a circle (mode 4 friendly). Auto acq press will erase these mipples from the display. Obviously, you will get nothing if the tgt transponder is not replying (most hostiles dipn't reply, but friendlies do)

 

Edited March 21, 2024 by Darkdiz

[CourageousPotato]

On 3/21/2024 at 1:54 PM, Darkdiz said:

Really like these. One thing you can add that I just learned, is that the NCTR can be done WITHOUT going through the EID IFF matrix by coolie right short. Coolie right long will also do the NCTR, but the system will run through the complete EID IFF matrix (interrogate whichever modes you have setup under EID).

As well, another thing I discovered is that the AAI/EID works even if your radar is in stby. You get a return if a correct code is returned at the proper range and bearing of the contact on the radar display. It will either be a diamond (modes 1-3) or a circle (mode 4 friendly). Auto acq press will erase these mipples from the display. Obviously, you will get nothing if the tgt transponder is not replying (most hostiles dipn't reply, but friendlies do)

 

 

Oh that's neat! I'll take a look for myself and add this to the diagram.

[CourageousPotato]

v2.2:

• Coolie-short behavior added
• Entering NDTWS from Mini-Raster uses the same AutoAcq controls as entering TWS from STT
• Legend for block colors

Still unknown:

• What makes TWS switch TWSH <-> TWSM? Is it automatic with target distance?

Edited April 1 by CourageousPotato
Added pic to fix embed

[Darkdiz]

I haven't seen ANY reference to a MPRF TWS mode. Only thing I have seen anywhere is MPRF is used in the Auto Acq modes since they are generally short-range acquisition modes, with the exception of LR BST, which uses HPRF.