Night attack flying

[tonym]

Can the Vikhr missiles be used at night. I find it impossible to get them to lock on. To get any sort of image on the target screen is almost impossible, despite trying every sort of playing with the brightness and contrast. Any good ideas re night attack procedures. The manual seems sadly lacking in advice,

[Insanatrix]

You can load out with the S-8OM rockets which are Illumination rockets( correct me if I'm wrong) along with your vikhr's. Best way to employ them is be about 5-7km out and in a nice hover by hand and just rock back to about 10-15 degree's pitch up and let a couple loose over the target area.

[Sticky]

If the targets arent moving you can guide missiles to them without a lock. Do you use the nightvision goggles? With nightvision switched on I can sometimes make out targets on the target screen and if they are non moving get a kill with the vikhrs without a lock.

 

EDIT: Since the word lock can cause confusion, fear, misunderstandings etc I will try to refrase:

 

If the targets arent moving you can guide missiles to them without the Shkval camera automatic optical tracking mode. Do you use the nightvision goggles? With nightvision switched on I can sometimes make out targets on the target screen and if they are non moving get a kill with the vikhrs without engaging the Shkval camera automatic optical tracking mode.

 

EDIT2: You can of course do this with moving targets also but I didnt write that the first time since its hard enough to do that in daytime with a moving target (depending on angle ofc) I didnt think you would be interested to try that at night. But yes you can do the exact same thing with moving targets aswell. :)

Edited September 5, 2010 by Sticky

[Frederf]

I'm really not a fan of the word "lock" when dealing with the Vikhr missile. The missile is steered actively by laser projection from the launching platform. If the laser points left, the missile goes left.

 

The Shkval chooses where to point the laser and the "lock" behavior is simply the automatic optical tracking using the TV image from the Shkval camera. Optical tracking of the target via Shkval is really just a luxury. The pilot should be perfectly capable of keeping the Shkval (thus laser) pointed at any location on the TV image manually.

 

Indeed, day or night there's the chance that the optical tracking won't be effective and thus manual tracking is required. Leading fast moving targets can also be done with manual tracking.

 

Usually the problem at night is initial acquisition and being able to see the TV image of the target at all to accomplish manual tracking. There it helps to be aggressive dimming the cockpit and cranking up the NVDs. Sometimes you just have to admit the Ka-50 is a day time attack helo and throw in the towel.

[Sticky]

Nitpicking? Its a good word IMO even if it may not be 100% correct in describing what actually happens and they use the word "lock" in the manual, im guessing they chose that in order to help the learning process.

Edited September 5, 2010 by Sticky

[Frederf]

It's all Russian loose translation. I think it's a bad word as it oversimplifies and breeds confusion. The OP himself is a victim of this word as he's asking about being unable to get them (Vikhr) to lock, as well all know the Vikhr never locks, it only steers. The phrase "a locked missile" carries a lot of assumed meaning with it that doesn't really apply in the Ka-50's case.

 

The Shkval can lock in the EO sense but it's easy and common for the Shkval and the Vikhr boundaries to get blurred by the average user. The Ka-50/Vikhr combination could have easily been designed without any optical tracking capability whatsoever and been plenty effective.

 

The concept of a "missile lock" sounds necessary and central to weapons delivery contrary to an "optical tracking assist" which accurately belies the nature of the Shkval's extra feature. That change of thinking really allows a ready conclusion that "Hey, if I can point the Shkval at it, I can shoot it. Auto tracking is just a helper." Building one's awareness around the "missile lock" concept leads to the mistaken conclusion "Aw man I can't fire; I don't have a lock" which is what happened here.

 

Also, just noticed this feature at the bottom of the page "Similar Threads" and should have some good reading material on the night attack topic.

[Sticky]

You are right of course, it is technically wrong, but I think its a good word for most situations, because most ppl in here knows what we mean when we write "lock" : "automatic optical tracking using the TV image from the Shkval camera". If its good enough for ED to put in the english manual its good enough for me.

[STP Dragon]

Back to topic:

 

@ tonym: This is the How-To of my mission "Operation Umbrella".

The importent thing is to adjust your TFT contrast.

If you can't see the switches in the black cockpit you will not be able to find enemys.

 

 

How-to Operation Umbrella [ENGLISH]

 

You start the mission in complete darkness!

Your first challenge therefore is to find the switches for batteries and cockpit-lights.

Depending on the contrast-settings of your display, this can be quite difficult.

Therefore the necessary hotkeys to activate them via keyboard will be in the mission-briefing as well as they are shown right after the mission starts.

Battery 2x [L.Ctrl - L.Shift - E]

Cockpit - lights [R.Shift - K]

 

After that you should be able to see the switches you need and can start up your Ka-50 normally.

As soon as you are ready for takeoff you should adjust your instruments and displays for the night mission.

 

- Activate the NVG and increase brightness as much as possible. You can do that by turning the knob directly behind the cyclic.

 

- Deactivate the cockpit- and instrument-lighting, so you can see them with your NVG.

Once that's done the HUD will also be clearer, as there are no longer reflections from any in cockpit lighting.

 

- Switch the HUD to Night-setting or tune down brightness until the remaining greenish reflections on the HUD are gone as well.

- You also have to tune down the brightness of the ABRIS with the tuning knob at the lower left of the ABRIS.

After adjusting this setting, you should be able to read the ABRIS with your NVG.

 

- Activate the Shkval and look at the landscape around.

Adjust the contrast to achieve a setting that allows you to see as good as possible.

The right turning knob behind the cyclic can be used for that.

 

After these adjustments you should be able to see the surrounding terrain as well as the cockpit instruments.

You should also be able to detect and ID your enemies.

 

You've got S-8OM Illumination-rockets attached to your pylons.

They can light an area of 4-5 Km.

You have to fire them 20 degrees upwards into the night sky.

It will then travel for about 6-7 Km, deflate a chute and sink slowly to ground.

 

Be advised, though, that you have to deactivate your NVG before utilizing the S-8OM,

because their light is so bright, it will blind your NVG and you won't be able to see anything, especially through your Shkval.

If you deactivate your NVG though, the cockpit will be dark again.

So be sure to switch on cockpit lighting again.

 

Over the battlefield, it's advisable to switch between both settings according to the situation.

If it's dark all around, switch lighting off and NVG on.

If an S-8OM has been deployed, switch NVG off and cockpit lighting on.

 

Okay, let's start with the mission description.

Once you managed startup and take off, you can fly towards the target area.

You should stay low over the treetops, so the enemy radar won't be able to get a lock on you.

Just before you reach the Umbrella-Radar-stations you'll see a ridge where you can take cover.

From this position you can slowly pop-up and scan the area.

Move your cursor directly on the marker on the ABRIS.

This way you should quickly find the targets.

It's advisable to first destroy the three Strelas and three Shiklas.

You primary target of course is the large antenna as well as both S-300 radar-installations.

Note: You can't lock up targets in completely darkness (TA).

You have to manually lead the Vikhrs to the target by decreasing the size of the target-box as much as possible

and keeping them manually on the target until impact.

 

Once you destroyed the radar-installation and all three of the Umbrella-installation and it's defense, you can advance cautiously.

Illuminate the area behind the radar-installations.

There's a restricted area, so keep your eyes open for checkpoints.

Additionally, 20 Shilkas are scattered over the area, 5-7 are triggered randomly.

 

If you don't find any more enemies, you can decide to make a quick high-speed pass.

If there are enemies remaining, their tracers will be easily visible in the darkness.

 

Inside the restricted area with the checkpoints you'll also see an enemy camp with tents that will have some surprises for you.

Once you cleared your way through, you're almost at the main target.

The base should be already in range of your illumination-rockets.

Stay alert - there are three Strelas located in the area that will engage you from distances up to 6 Km.

 

Your top priority is the T-80 tank division, nicely lined up targets, but you will need a lot of Vikhrs, so you shouldn't just waste them.

Once all T-80 have been destroyed, your mission is accomplished.

Edited September 6, 2010 by =STP= Dragon

[Schweppes]

Wow great tutorial there =STP= Dragon!

Ive never been very good at night missions, thanks.

[Toast]

Thanks Dragon. I knew most of this, but turning off the blue lights to reduce the hud glare further is a very nice tip, as well as turning down the abris brightness which I never thought to do.

[Zenra]

Excellent, Dragon!! I've been flying your missions but have not gotten to this one yet - anxious to try it now!

 

Those were some great screen captures - any chance you can upload a track?

[STP Dragon]

...any chance you can upload a track?

 

I only fly in multiplayer. 90% of my MP-tracks are corrupt.

But maybe we will fly this mission today evening (ca. 20:00 UTC+1+1).

Feel free to join on our STP-Server and TS3.

[tonym]

I would like to try the illuminating rockets, but can't find S80-M's anywhere in the standard loadouts. How do I get them on board?

[STP Dragon]

It have to be set by the mission designer.

In "Operation Umbrella" the S-8OM are the default payload at mission start.

If you want to rearm after you are empty, just choose "Default payload" in the radio-menu.

[Frederf]

Flight planner can make custom weapons loads.