Sead in the -T, help needed

[Dark_Sceptre]

So far I've mostly played around with the TV guided missiles, but I thought I'd get some training in SEAD next. One thing that strikes me as very different in 1.1 is the behaviour of the various SAM radars - for instance, whereas the Strela used to light up like a christmas tree a long time before actually firing, I now have to be almost within its engagement envelope before it shows up on my RWR.

 

This is smarter AI than then old one, but it does pose a problem; the radar takes just a couple of seconds from switching on before it fires on me - the transition is almost instantaneous. So in just a couple of seconds I must acquire, lock and fire at the target then dive like crazy (can't turn this behemoth around fast enough to drag the missile) to survive.

 

I guess that SEAD is one of the most dangerous missions you can be tasked with, but can a Strela really go from cold to missile launch in just 2-3 seconds?

 

I wasn't able to test any of the long range, stationary SAMs last night (actually I tried, but was unable to build a functional patriot or HAWK site hehe) but I'm curious about other people's findings.

[berkoutskaia]

You must be talking about the ZSU-23-4 Shilka actually (AAA), since the Strela is an IR-homing SAM launcher, and does not have a radar.

 

And yes, I think the AI of Shilkas is definitely smarter. The Shilka can only fire at a range where the enemy aircraft is visible, so the radar is just there to help ith accuracy, not to detect the targets. And because the Shilka commander doesn't want you to spot him from 10 miles away, he just switches the radar when he wants to soot at you !

 

Anyway, IMO short range SAMs and AAA (Shilkas, Vlcans, Avengers, Strelas, etc...) is to be taken out with short-range weapon systems (Vikhr, KH-25ML, S-25L...). You need to look more carefully to the vehicles on the ground, but with a magnification of x23, I assure you it's not that difficult to distinguish a Strela from a UAZ ;)

[MBT]

Somewhere I read that the Shilka's radar is too weak to properly engage with the anti-radar missiles, so you need to use the Phantasmagoriaismthingy to find it, but then use a vikhr to attack it...

[Dark_Sceptre]

Sorry, my mistake. I was refering to the Tunguska but somehow my brain got crosswired. The testing I did was with a tunguska in a column that did not illuminate me with radar until I was very close, and which would fire on me almost immediately after showing up on my RWR.

[Ironhand]

Sorry, my mistake. I was refering to the Tunguska but somehow my brain got crosswired. The testing I did was with a tunguska in a column that did not illuminate me with radar until I was very close, and which would fire on me almost immediately after showing up on my RWR.

 

Okay. Now I'm really confused. :) Is the Tunguska available for any nationality other than Russia? If so, I haven't found it and would like to. But, if not, how is it that it's locking you up at all, since you're in an aircraft (Su-25T) only available to fly under the Russian flag?

 

As far as the Shilka is concerned, it's radar is too weak to be detected in time to use either the Kh-58 or -25MP.

 

Rich

[berkoutskaia]

since you're in an aircraft (Su-25T) only available to fly under the Russian flag?

 

In FC, Georgian pilots are also able to fly the -25T ;)

[Ironhand]

In FC, Georgian pilots are also able to fly the -25T ;)

 

Ahhh!!! Of course! Why didn't I think to look there??? Especially with Tbil Avia Msheni being located in Tbilisi.

 

Thanks.

 

Rich

[Ironhand]

 

(snipped)

...but I'm curious about other people's findings.

 

Now that others more knowledgeable than I have pointed me in the right direction, here's a track you might find helpful. There should be no problem taking out your Tunguskas unless terrain was, perhaps, interfering.

 

Demo track: SEAD Tunguska

 

Hope this helps.

 

Rich