How to fire flares and chaffs

[shea1980]

Hi guys i was just wondering if how do i fire chaffs and flares from the dcs a-10,if on auto does the flares deploy automatically when a missile is fired?and if on manual what button deploys them?also one more question,what is the difference between chaffs and flares,sorry for all the questions,thanks all:thumbup:

[MTFDarkEagle]

I would highly recommend you do the countermeasures training lesson.

[Eddie]

Countermeasures are dispensed using the CMS (Countermeasures Management Switch) on the HOTAS. I don't know the key commands off the top of my head, but if you look in the control options under HOTAS you'll see them there.

 

In automatic mode, the CMSC will dispense countermeasures automatically when a threat is DETECTED, the dispense promgram is uses will depend on what is determines is most appropriate for the detected threat type. It may or may not be the best choice.

 

As to the difference between chaff and flares. Chaff are budles of carbon filiament used to decoy/fool radar emmiters, be they in the guidance system of a missile or a search/tracking radar in the air or on the ground.

 

Flares are normally made from magnesium (or another metallic substance that burns at high temperature) and are used to prevent IR guided missile systems from obtaining and/or maintaining a lock.

 

Neither Chaff or Flares are perferct, and many modern weapon systems are designed to resist them. Some will ignore them totally after launch, some will ignore them even before they are locked on to a target and other older systems are easily fooled by them.

[Runibl]

As said above, highly recommend the countermeasures training lessons, as well as reading the manual. Page 400-410 and Page 501-502 deals with the issue.

 

Chaff: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaff_%28radar_countermeasure%29

Helps to counter against radar guided weapons.

 

Flare: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flare_%28countermeasure%29

Helps to counter against Heat seaking (IR) weapons.

 

Someone else might perhaps give a more detailed explanation. (Edit: like Eddie above :) )

[Sinky]

Default key commands are '7' and '8'. One dispenses and one stops the dispensing, can't remember which does what though.

[RogueRunner]

Oh and the programs that worked for me against MANPADs were either D or E, the others throws too much chaff and little or no flares.

[CarneyUK]

As said read the manual and do the training missions. They are a great help and will give you a better understanding of the system......

 

....but just a basic thing, you have the CMS (Countermeasure switch) which will do the following,

 

Forward (7 on keyboard) = Start Program (dispensing)

Aft (8 on keyboard) = End program (dispensing)

Left (9 on keyboard) = Next program (A-M)

Right (0 on keyboard) = Previous program (A-M)

 

The Mode switch on the CMSP needs to be set to 'MAN' so you can start and stop the dispensing and chose the program. If set to 'AUTO' it will do everything for you, but this can waste flares and chaff and when set to semi you chosse when to start and stop the programme but the system choses the program that best suits the threat.

 

Page 405 of the manual will tell you what programs will fire what and when.

[shea1980]

Thanks for the help guys:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: