Radar elevation for finding targets at a known altitude?

[Darkrookie]

Is there a rule of thumb for determining how much radar antenna elevation I should use to find a target at an expected range and altitude?

For example, I have a training mission where a Mig-21 is flying 5000' above me head on. Sitting in the WSO seat I have no idea how much elevation that should be for a reasonable detection range (15 miles maybe). How did WSO's back in the day know how much to elevate/depress based on a GCI or AWACS call?

More modern jets tell you the scan elevation at a given TDC range...is there anything like that in the Phantom?

Thanks,

Darkrookie

[pokeraccio]

6 hours ago, Darkrookie said:

Is there a rule of thumb for determining how much radar antenna elevation I should use to find a target at an expected range and altitude?

For example, I have a training mission where a Mig-21 is flying 5000' above me head on. Sitting in the WSO seat I have no idea how much elevation that should be for a reasonable detection range (15 miles maybe). How did WSO's back in the day know how much to elevate/depress based on a GCI or AWACS call?

More modern jets tell you the scan elevation at a given TDC range...is there anything like that in the Phantom?

Thanks,

Darkrookie

I've not been in WSO seat yet, I don't know if this can help.

[Zabuzard]

Correct, this and similar tables is what they memorized and learned back in the days to roughly estimate the antenna angle. Also for the other way around, to tell rough target-return altitude based on antenna angle.

Which is btw something Jester does when he calls out target altitudes - it is based on this technique.

[Darkrookie]

Thank you both, very helpful. Next question: Does the antenna point perfectly level along the horizon when the indicator shows level on the radar scope, or is it depressed 2 degrees along the Radar Boresight line? Basically, do I need to add 2 degrees to the above chart to get actual antenna elevation above level in the Phantom?

[TerrorMango]

So reading this table pokeraccio provided, does that mean if I am 25nm away from target and I know it's 10,000 ft lower than me, the best elevation is -3.8°? (not accounting for ground clutter ofc)

Or if my WSO (assume human, not Jester in this case as J-man would call it out) sees a target 20nm away with the antenna at +2.4°, it's would be 5,000ft higher than us?

[jubuttib]

2 hours ago, Darkrookie said:

Thank you both, very helpful. Next question: Does the antenna point perfectly level along the horizon when the indicator shows level on the radar scope, or is it depressed 2 degrees along the Radar Boresight line? Basically, do I need to add 2 degrees to the above chart to get actual antenna elevation above level in the Phantom?

To my understanding reading the manual, the "radar boresight line" is used for the a-g radar stuff. A-A radar is horizon referenced.

[Darkrookie]

22 hours ago, TerrorMango said:

So reading this table pokeraccio provided, does that mean if I am 25nm away from target and I know it's 10,000 ft lower than me, the best elevation is -3.8°? (not accounting for ground clutter ofc)

Or if my WSO (assume human, not Jester in this case as J-man would call it out) sees a target 20nm away with the antenna at +2.4°, it's would be 5,000ft higher than us?

That's how I understand it yes.

 

20 hours ago, jubuttib said:

To my understanding reading the manual, the "radar boresight line" is used for the a-g radar stuff. A-A radar is horizon referenced.

Thanks Jubuttib.