TDC press vs auto-acquisition press

[spidierox]

Hello,

I am getting into the F15 step by step and have a question:

When I am using the targeting pod (with laser guiding bombs - cbu12) I can put the crosshair over the target.
Then I press TDC --> I get the message DESIGNATE and I have target inidicators on hud so I can drop the bomb : all Ok

However, reading the manual it is suggested you press the AUTO-ACQUISITION first to start initiating a track.

What exactly is the difference between the two ?
I suppose starting a track then designating target is the (only?) correct way ?

If someone can explain would be great.

Thanks in advance.

Spidierox

 

[MagicSlave]

If I understand correctly, they are independent functions. TDC press / Designate designates the point the TPOD is pointing at, at the moment. Note that the designation does not follow the TPOD LOS after that, unless you have the CDES (continuous designation) selected. You can use the auto ACQ switch to enable point or area track modes. That means that the TPOD will track the point or area the pod was looking at when enabling the track. Note that this doesn't create a designation. You have to use the TDC press to designate and can select the CDES, especially if you wan't to have a designation of a moving target, together with point track. Hope this helps.

Sent from my FP4 using Tapatalk

[jaylw314]

The target designation is for the purpose of the pilot's guidance symbology (among other things)--the navigation cues and the AUTO cues.  Where the TPOD and laser are pointing can be completely independent.

If you designate a point A with the TPOD, and then slew it to point B and engage ATRK, the AUTO cues will guide you to A, even though the laser is pointing at B.  Likewise, if you designate point A and then engage PTRK on a moving vehicle, the AUTO cues will guide you to A, even though the TPOD has followed the vehicle elsewhere.

the CDES button is supposed to automatically designate after slewing, but it's bugged and doesn't work for PTRK right now

In practice, this means for LGB's, you should probably have the target designation pretty close to your actual target, but it doesn't have to be perfect since it's going to guide on the laser.  You just don't want it hundreds of meters away.

For dumb bombs, the TPOD doesn't matter at all, just the target designation.

 

 

Edited November 4, 2023 by jaylw314

[spidierox]

Guys, tnx for explaining. It does make sense now. 

[Hazardpro]

On 11/4/2023 at 1:23 PM, jaylw314 said:

For dumb bombs, the TPOD doesn't matter at all, just the target designation.

Note that you can use the laser before you designate to get an accurate slant range for dumb bomb delivery.