Why so late for Shilka to be detected by RWR?

[Hippo]

See attached track, it's only when I'm around 2.2 nm from the Shilka that I get a warning on the RWR.  According to this page,

Quote

"The RPK-2 "Tobol" a.k.a. 1RL33 radar operates in the Ku band and can detect aircraft up to 20 km (12 mi) away"

Shouldn't it be showing up on the RWR from further away?

shilka.trk

[Ramsay]

1 hour ago, Hippo said:

Shouldn't it be showing up on the RWR from further away?

My understanding (from other games) is that it is a "tracking" radar and in practice is only enabled when a threat is "in range", otherwise it gives away it's position "early" and becomes vulnerable to weapons with longer ranges i.e. HARMs, etc.

I assume DCS AI uses greatly simplified tactics compared to RL.

Edited December 31, 2024 by Ramsay

[Muchocracker]

just because the radar works out to that range, doesn't mean it's actually tracking and shooting you from that range.