AI Group Attack Logic

[MBot]

The attached track features the following air-ground test scenario. 4-ship formation intending to attack a target in "one pass haul ass"-style attack. Straight-in, every aircraft in the formation attacking an individual target point simultaneously, straight-out.

There are 4 setups from top to bottom:

1. Target is a group of 4 vehicles, CAS, task "Attack Group"

2. Target are 4 groups of 1 vehicle each, CAS, 4 times task "Attack Unit"

3. Target are 4 static objects, CAS, 4 times task "Attack Unit"

4. Target are 4 coordinates, Ground Attack, 4 times task "Bombing"

(Task "Attack Map Object" is omitted, but would behave exactly like 4.)

 

Watch the behavior in the track:

1. Only with the task "Attack Group" are all 4 aircraft in the formation able to attack an individual target simultaneously (where all targets need to be in the same group). For the tasks "Attack Unit", "Bombing" or "Attack Map Object", only the leader will attack the first target. Only when the first target is destroyed and thus the task is completed, will No. 2 attack the second target. When the second target is destroyed, No. 3 will attack the 3rd target etc. It is thus not possible to create for example a single-pass strike on an airbase where let's say one aircraft hits the runway, one the tower, one a hangar and one a fuel tank (at least not with the tools given in the ME, with scripting you can task individual aircraft).

2. Observe the absurd of amount of crazy maneuvering over the target area. A smooth "in, strike and out" this certainly is not.

3. Four AI aircraft crash in this most simple scenario.

 

Before anyone mentions the option "Group Attack" in the taskings, this will simple cause all 4 aircraft in the group to simultaneously hit the same target. It is thus not suitable for targets with multiple elements.

These problems are as old as DCS. So what, 16 years now? Since this seems to have been completely forgotten, I thought I would mention it once a decade.

 

SimultaneousAttack.trk

[buceador]

Maybe the title should be Illogical AI Group Attack  - I have mentioned before that the list of 'fixes' needed for the ME is endless and will probably never be addressed as many of the more basic functions would require a total rewrite. With respect to AI attacking logic. try something as simple as getting a submarine to attack a stationary vessel...