Using of the MAN track

[Shadok]

Hello,

In CPG position, with the aircraft in motion, use of the MAN track does not focus the line of sight on the target area (the line moves across the ground at the speed of the aircraft). Engaging the linear motion compensator doesn't focus the line of sight either, it has to be done manually. I wonder if there's a method for making this system work, like the F14's lantirn or the Gazelle's viviane.

Thanks

[admiki]

If you have your sensor on target you could use IAT, but just for looking, no there is no way to make it ground stabilized.

[TheGhostOfDefi]

1 hour ago, Shadok said:

Hello,

In CPG position, with the aircraft in motion, use of the MAN track does not focus the line of sight on the target area (the line moves across the ground at the speed of the aircraft). Engaging the linear motion compensator doesn't focus the line of sight either, it has to be done manually. I wonder if there's a method for making this system work, like the F14's lantirn or the Gazelle's viviane.

Thanks

You did select the TADS as sight right? Otherwise please clearify what is your intend and what you do mean exactly by focus?

 

Edit if you want to stabilize to the ground use LMC AND Laser Rangefinder!

Edited June 26, 2024 by TheGhostOfDefi

[Grennymaster]

thats where the LMC comes to action. its a bit tricke i know. but with practice and a pilot who can fly realtiv steady you can make it "hold" on to a positon.

A Ground stable option is not in the TADS.

i think this is a leftover from the times the apache an Kiowas operatet together. The MMS of the Kiowa has an aera and an point track option.

[Raptor9]

3 hours ago, Grennymaster said:

A Ground stable option is not in the TADS.

i think this is a leftover from the times the apache an Kiowas operatet together. The MMS of the Kiowa has an aera and an point track option.

This is a bit of a misconception. Although it is true that the OH-58C used to be employed as an aeroscout for AH-64A's up until the early 90's, the OH-58D was never implicitly linked together with AH-64 teams. When the OH-58C's were removed from attack battalions (because they lacked any sensors or the speed and survivability to accompany AH-64's in a modern threat environment), AH-64A's took over their own scouting work, which was then subsequently assumed by the AH-64D equipped with FCR.

The reason the TADS didn't have a dedicated ground stabilization capability is because they were expecting to be fighting armor while operating at tree-top altitudes and at low speeds or a hover. This environment is what drove the TADS control methodology, where the sensor is looking across the ground along the horizon from a slow-speed platform, rather than down from high altitudes from a high-speed aircraft. The requirements are quite different.

The concept is more akin to sitting in the gunner seat of a tank and looking across the battlefield through the sight. If you wanted to stabilize the TADS, you simply turned off LMC and let go of the MAN TRK controller; the TADS would stop moving and would stabilize in azimuth and elevation. Wasn't that big of a deal if you are at a hover or low-speed.

If you really want to ground stabilize like an area track, simply store a point using the TADS and then slave the TADS to it. As for point track capabilities, the Image Auto-Track provides this capability.

[Shadok]

 Thanks for all the answers. I use the tads using the same method as for the gazelle's Viviane (at rather high speed) to aim at moving targets. Which doesn't seem to be the right thing to do. The FCR seems more appropriate for this, and it also locates several targets at the same time.

[TheGhostOfDefi]

@Raptor9 Quick sidequestion is the LMC we have right now in its final state or still Wip?