not a bug Hellfire L starts looking for targets too early?

[hinapilot]

Hey guys,

 

Not 100% sure about this one, I could not find precise information on it.

 

I've had a case yesterday where I fired a radar Hellfire using the TADS as the sight (George as CPG)

I was looking at a vehicle around 9km away from me and fired when conditions for the Lima where met.

 

My lead helicopter was slightly in front and to the right of me (see Tacview and track). Right off the rail, the hellfire started tracking them instead, resulting in a blue on blue.

 

My understanding of the Lima was that the missile would fly to the coordinates that the TADS gave it, then start looking for a target at that location a few seconds before impact, not right after launch.

 

Repro:

-Ask George to WAS the HF Limas

-Look for a target in front of you at a good distance with George (TADS)

-Put a helicopter on the probable flight path of the missile

-Fire the Lima

-Observe that it can lock onto the helicopter

 

On the track, accident occurs around 0550L

Note that throughout the engagement, George was doing some weird calls about the aircraft being armed but that seems to be a different matter (it's not a track replay thing, it was happening yesterday in game too).

 

Is it possible that this specific Lima already had coordinates in from the FCR sweep that I was performing at the same time? (It did have the lead Apache as NTS for a bit then the NTS became a wheeled vehicle, but when I switched to the video page the FCR was still sweeping in the back even if George had selected that Lima and was using the TADS)

 

 

Bug_Hellfire_L.trk

Edited June 9, 2024 by hinapilot

[NeedzWD40]

Did you get an indication of LOBL before you fired? Because your team mate is almost directly in front of you and it looks like the missile might've acquired him during your lasing.

As an aside, this is also a good example of knowing your target and what's beyond it. In this case, knowing what's between your target would be pretty important, too.

[Lord Vader]

Hi @hinapilot

Unfortunately, your track doesn't play correctly on my side.

But, according to your description, several items seem to have caused the mishap. 

First, the position of your wingman is very wrong, he should be positioned anywhere but in front of you when you fire a radar seeking missile. The Hellfire L is a "fire and forget" missile, meaning that when off the rail it's on its own. Whatever it acquires it goes. We can give it coordinates and ranging to attack and it will fly a path to observe those, but if anything is on its way, there's a strong change it will acquire that instead. But, you already know this, I'm sure.

Now, just picking up your observation of: "Is it possible that this specific Lima already had coordinates in from the FCR sweep that I was performing at the same time?"

Of course the missile will pick up the FCR automatic assignments and it will prioritise the biggest threats. This could be the problem. Why were you commanding FCR sweeps if you were asking George to operate the weapons? 

[AirSenpai]

Always ask George to use limas as you select your targets with the fcr, tell him to engage infantry, preferably the iglas, as you engage vehicles ( WAS after he launches) with the fcr selected and the sight as fcr, always make sure your friend is not in front of you but to your 9-3 or 7-5