Request - New Self Escort Task in ME for all AI Tasks and Units

[Exorcet]

In DCS there is no way to control how multirole aircraft defend themselves. They tend to wait too long and get attacked before reacting, usually jettisoning payloads and being forced into inadvantageous positions as a result.

If we could assign self escort tasks, they would provide some degree of control over AI self defense.

I envision two primary tasks, but there might be a need for more:

1 - Self Escort - This is basically a copy of the existing Escort task except the group that is assigned the task will escort itself instead of another group. The purpose of this is to set a radius around the group within which they will automatically attack threats of the type specified in the task (fighter, interceptor, etc). An addition to this feature over the original Escort would be an option to only engage uncontested enemies. In other words if checked, the self escort only triggers on enemies that are not being engaged by other units on the same side/coalition as the self escorting plane. If checked, the AI does not engage fighters that are being attacked by other friendly fighters.

Example image:

xxxx

xxxx

2 - Search Then Engage [ also In Zone] - Similar to the existing Search Then Engage tasks, but also has the checkbox for engaging uncontested enemies. I would like to suggest implementing this previously requested change to Search Then Engage of all forms:

Summary - Give us control over what part of the route Search Then Engage covers to prevent the AI from chasing things 200 miles away.

 

These tasks should also be available for ALL Task categories.

Otherwise this existing problem may persist:

 

[twistking]

good point.

i do wonder however if the dynamic campaign tech will introduce a completely new framework for AI, so that there is no incentive for ED to keep improving that archaic system. there are so many low hanging fruits regarding potential AI tasking enhancements, that i want to believe that the dynamic campaign framework will make all current systems obsolete - even for less dynamic, more "scripted" missions.

[Exorcet]

It may be that a significant AI overhaul is coming, but even in that case some quick fixes/additions might be worth looking into since AI is such an important component of the sim.

Whether or not a pair AIM-120 armed strike fighters will defend themselves, or just wait for an enemy to get in NEZ and fire on them really changes how you approach mission design. It's also frustrating to see the AI trip over some very basic hurtles when can't even properly order around your own wingmen (no 2nd element commands for fighters, and whenever wingmen break off and finish what they were told to do, 95% of the time they run back in full AB and burn all their fuel). Depending on the exact situation, I might be willing to delay a complete overhaul if some simple additions can fix the AI's most major short comings.

[twistking]

15 minutes ago, Exorcet said:

[...] Depending on the exact situation, I might be willing to delay a complete overhaul if some simple additions can fix the AI's most major short comings.

Fair enough...