AGM-45……how?

[Goofy12]

Does anybody know the sequence how to use Shrikes from the front cockpit yet? Can’t really find it in the manual. I’ve made a mission with SA2 and SA6’s, but cant get the Shrikes to do anything, let alone launch….?

[tripod3]

Bots don't attack SAMs too(

[razo+r]

https://f4.manuals.heatblur.se/procedures/agm_45.html

Aiming: Point at the Radar source until your ears bleed, then press bombs release button.

Note: When pressing the bombs release, you get vertical guidance by your AoA indexer lights until they release.

Edited May 23, 2024 by razo+r

[SabreDancer]

There are a few more steps too, although I haven't been able to reliably get them on target:

For direct fire: set weapon delivery mode to DIRECT and weapon selector to ARM, point at the radar source until your ears bleed, then press bombs release button.

For WRCS mode (ostensibly the most accurate), set delivery mode to AGM-45 and weapon selector to ARM. On the center pedestal, set the tgt/norm switch to DEF REJ to prioritize WRCS firing command. Enable ADI needles, then follow the steering commands (which, in my little bit of testing, is the same as aiming right at the launcher). Have the WSO set target altitude above sea level as well. Hold bomb release button, then wait for steering commands via the AOA indicator as described above. Missile will automatically fire when release conditions met.

(Either there's a bug or I'm doing it wrong- the AOA cues don't appear unless I hold the bomb release button down, but if I hold down the bomb release button too soon, they also don't appear.)

LOFT mode is described in the manual, but the relevant Jester commands and lookup tables are currently absent.

Even following these to the letter, and having the correct seeker heads, the Shrikes rarely track radars, so I am in the same boat.

Edited May 24, 2024 by SabreDancer

[LizardKingYB]

I'm looking info for heads which one I should take for each SAM.

[Tiger-II]

They can only see certain RADARs, so ensure you're selecting the right type.

As for losing track - that is pretty accurate. The HARM-88 even has problems if the emitter shuts down, and the AGM-45 is a generation or two older. The emitter needs to keep radiating pretty much until impact, otherwise probability of a miss is high.

Edited May 24, 2024 by Tiger-II

[lee1hy]

There are a lot of procedures on YouTube, but you need to shoot at 3-4 nm. 

It is accurate when shooting at 4nm.

[1qsb28]

On 5/23/2024 at 9:01 PM, SabreDancer said:

There are a few more steps too, although I haven't been able to reliably get them on target:

For direct fire: set weapon delivery mode to DIRECT and weapon selector to ARM, point at the radar source until your ears bleed, then press bombs release button.

For WRCS mode (ostensibly the most accurate), set delivery mode to AGM-45 and weapon selector to ARM. On the center pedestal, set the tgt/norm switch to DEF REJ to prioritize WRCS firing command. Enable ADI needles, then follow the steering commands (which, in my little bit of testing, is the same as aiming right at the launcher). Have the WSO set target altitude above sea level as well. Hold bomb release button, then wait for steering commands via the AOA indicator as described above. Missile will automatically fire when release conditions met.

(Either there's a bug or I'm doing it wrong- the AOA cues don't appear unless I hold the bomb release button down, but if I hold down the bomb release button too soon, they also don't appear.)

LOFT mode is described in the manual, but the relevant Jester commands and lookup tables are currently absent.

Even following these to the letter, and having the correct seeker heads, the Shrikes rarely track radars, so I am in the same boat.

 

Two small items to add that might help:  1. make sure the Flight Director mode is set to NAV.  doing this will give you range to the target on the HSI...shooting outside of 10 miles is a waste.

                                                                    2. when entering target altitude in MSL on the WRCS as the WSO, also set the WRCS mode to "AGM-45"

 

I have done 5 or so runs using WRCS mode starting from FL250 to 300 and have had one Shrike successfully hit the radar, but it only did 25% damage. 

I have found pitching up too slow or pitching too late and the missile sails WAY high over the target.  pitch too fast or too soon and it falls short.

I begin holding down the pickle button about 15 miles out and that seems to work each time.

On 5/23/2024 at 9:46 PM, LizardKingYB said:

I'm looking info for heads which one I should take for each SAM.

The radars each missile can track are listed on the armament drop down selection.  you need to cross-reference which radars are associated with the SAM system your going after.   FWIW, so far I have not been able to get the appropriate shrikes to track a Bar Loc or Fire Can. 

Edited May 25, 2024 by 1qsb28