investigating Radar losing lock way too easy in all modes.

[LaCiKa]

1st. So issues is that lock is lost very easy, target needs to do just crank left or right 45+ deg and lock is lost. And it doesn't matter if target is above horizon or under it. This aplies to all modes, worst is P mode, then AUTO CMBT and Head on is only mode that gives a chance to hit target before lock loss. This aplies to range up to 25km max.

2nd Issue comes from close range, if you hold lock and let target to come closer than 10km, 90% it will lose lock, only moment when it wont is when target is in your HUD.

3rd Vertical radar mode 99% won't lock target, only moment i found it that it works is when target is cold, not maneuvering and above horizon.

4th Issue with Persuit mode or Auto, scan rate is way too long it makes no sense. Again speaking for range up to 25km max.

 

Tacview-20250920-013550-DCS.zip.acmi

[NineLine]

Sorry we need a track file to take a look at this, thanks.

[LaCiKa]

1 hour ago, NineLine said:

Sorry we need a track file to take a look at this, thanks.

I just replicated this 5 times in row, i think something is broken for sure.

BrokenLock1AUTOCMBT.trk BrokenLock1HEADON.trk

Edited Saturday at 03:28 AM by LaCiKa

[AeriaGloria]

Did you turn compensation switch on? I know it’s supposedly unavailable but just wondering 

[LaCiKa]

2 hours ago, AeriaGloria said:

Did you turn compensation switch on? I know it’s supposedly unavailable but just wondering 

Here is what i tried with all radar modes:

Target Span from M to S to L to default, no difference, only on S you get maybe faster detection.

COMP Switch even if it says in manual not implemented

Foe or Friend

IR+RADAR (also not implemented)

and TWF/FHS or RHS

Still no luck.

[BIGNEWY]

Hi, 

 it looks like the radar is set to head-on (high PRF) and then the target goes low aspect. It will of course be lost in this case.

switch the radar to auto, or switch to Pursuit once the target goes low aspect

[ECTAE]

That 30 km shot is way too optimistic. I’d say that’s more for the "old 27ER" , but even then, you’ll see the enemy notch your radar. I’ve practiced this in PvP, and the only way I’ve found is to fire an ER (which is kind of dumb) when you see the Sparrow lofting—cranking at that moment makes your missile arrive much earlier. We’re talking about something like 15 km. In the video, you’re cranking as if you were in an F-18. That doesn’t work here. You need to get closer. This is basically a "phone booth fight".

Edited Saturday at 03:34 PM by ECTAE

[LaCiKa]

22 hours ago, BIGNEWY said:

Hi, 

 it looks like the radar is set to head-on (high PRF) and then the target goes low aspect. It will of course be lost in this case.

switch the radar to auto, or switch to Pursuit once the target goes low aspect

MiG-29A had look down shoot down. We know that if target is above horizon makes more sense since it gives radar better picture and no struggle to process terrain, when it comes to ranges less than 25km with this radar N019 it makes no difference except in HPRF mode which is worst for close range combat, but as in modes such AUTO and P it makes no sense to break lock depending on where target is, above or under horizon, giving a fact that target is closing fast, even with his crank to side i did same in his direction of nose so i don't lose closure speed.

My personal opinion it makes no sense since i know for sure how radar works in PRF modes.

Please take this as reason to take a good look in details more and do tests by yourself, thanks.

[IMGX]

There are many comments like yours on many different forums, and I agree. The general comment is that the MiG-29's radar is useless.

IR mode doesn't work well either; it's unusual for it not to detect a target until it's right above you, against the sky and in clear view. What use is this system when it's easier to detect a target visually?

Regarding the radar, the FHS or RHS aspect setting doesn't matter, or the radar is in auto mode... as you say, it's incapable of locking onto a target in close vertical mode, even if you're seeing the target right in front of you.

I also agree that you can lock onto a target (which is difficult since if it's not close, the radar can't see it), you fire your missile, you track it well with the nose of your aircraft, aiming where it should be, and it turns out that when the target approaches head-on, the lock is lost and the missile is lost... just before impact.

The RWR is as if it didn't exist. I suppose that in reality it may be like that, but they could have warned that the systems are toys, because it is somewhat disappointing.

That's my feeling, and it's a shame because I like the plane, the flight model, textures, etc., but you feel helpless in it. The GCI that guides you to the objective is very necessary for this plane. We were all hoping for a RedFor capable of taking on BlueFor in multiplayer, but this MiG-29 is too old.

[primus_TR]

1 hour ago, IMGX said:

What use is this system when it's easier to detect a target visually?

Sounds like the F4E's radar lol

[Thamiel]

1 hour ago, IMGX said:

We were all hoping for a RedFor capable of taking on BlueFor in multiplayer, but this MiG-29 is too old.

Its simply an ED version of / replacement for the phased out M2k-C. Because of that maybe thrown out too early for EA. Just look at the loadout. It is not meant to take on DCS's F14/16/18.

[okopanja]

@LaCiKaI think you did nothing wrong here, target was hot all the time, so HPRF made sense. Still traditional wisdom in DCS is that with flanker/fulcrum you have to switch to MPRF when you get closer purely for tactical reasons. One of the first things the blue learns in how to notch or even go cold. To counter that you have to switch to MPRF which is way more stable. Attempt next time to switch to Dogon mode once you are closer than 30-40km. From what I tried, it will keep the track or even lock if you are in the STT. 

Funny thing is that not even chaff got used.

I must say these issues with FF 29 would have been much more tolerable, if they did not choose to bring second breaking change and that it R-27 itself which also affects existing modules. E.g. if this was not touched now, you could still revert back to FC3 and give them more breathing time to fix FF 29. We are all eagerly waiting for the next patch. 

[LaCiKa]

1 hour ago, okopanja said:

@LaCiKaI think you did nothing wrong here, target was hot all the time, so HPRF made sense. Still traditional wisdom in DCS is that with flanker/fulcrum you have to switch to MPRF when you get closer purely for tactical reasons. One of the first things the blue learns in how to notch or even go cold. To counter that you have to switch to MPRF which is way more stable. Attempt next time to switch to Dogon mode once you are closer than 30-40km. From what I tried, it will keep the track or even lock if you are in the STT. 

Funny thing is that not even chaff got used.

I must say these issues with FF 29 would have been much more tolerable, if they did not choose to bring second breaking change and that it R-27 itself which also affects existing modules. E.g. if this was not touched now, you could still revert back to FC3 and give them more breathing time to fix FF 29. We are all eagerly waiting for the next patch. 

I tried to switch PRF from Auto/High to P just before lock and still lock is breaking and also i tried old school trick that i do in FC3 is after i get lock in HPRF i switch to MPRF so i don't lose lock while he is notching or going cold, but here on this FF 29 is not possible since IR+RADAR is not working to give it support of not losing lock while radar is switching mode.

[AeriaGloria]

Well, there is also no memory mode currently implemented. 

[okopanja]

1 hour ago, LaCiKa said:

I tried to switch PRF from Auto/High to P just before lock and still lock is breaking and also i tried old school trick that i do in FC3 is after i get lock in HPRF i switch to MPRF so i don't lose lock while he is notching or going cold, but here on this FF 29 is not possible since IR+RADAR is not working to give it support of not losing lock while radar is switching mode.

Don't use Auto,  Use P (150km scale) for situation awareness then switch to Dogon, this is what (Boro Zoraja actually did). For a kick try to make the transition too early (e.g. around 50km) and the RL will start fleshing and drop lock after 2-3 seconds, but if you wait a bit longer it will not loose it. 

[Thirsty]

I agree that something on the radar is not okay. 

Been flying a lot of BVR against Mirage 2000s just today, and the lock is lost every single time with zero effort. (I have track files I will upload them later to this post)
Tried also switching radar modes when the target goes to a lower aspect, but when switching is tried loses the lock the moment you try to switch,
feels like no memory mode is implemented at all making it impossible to switch to the proper radar mode in combat. 

The vertical mode absulutly does nothing as well, like the above mentioned main post. 
 

[AeriaGloria]

1 hour ago, Thirsty said:

I agree that something on the radar is not okay. 

Been flying a lot of BVR against Mirage 2000s just today, and the lock is lost every single time with zero effort. (I have track files I will upload them later to this post)
Tried also switching radar modes when the target goes to a lower aspect, but when switching is tried loses the lock the moment you try to switch,
feels like no memory mode is implemented at all making it impossible to switch to the proper radar mode in combat. 

The vertical mode absulutly does nothing as well, like the above mentioned main post. 
 

You probably just changed modes at wrong time. Like for example change from HPRF to MPRF only under 30-35 km max.