LGB's, lasers, and dropping the J-Dams

[Ramstein]

LGB's, lasers, and dropping the J-Dams. First of all, I went through the trainign video (I went through al of them), and have been trying to learn how to drop J-dams. I have been trying manually and auto...

 

I have only bene successful a couple of drops..

 

I even tried to write down step by step instructions...

 

 

the training video has one going through the profile screen several times setting up, or looking at all the the different options, and which OSB buttons on the MFCD's to push when. I can't remember al the different buttons and when, and even wrote them down..

 

Is there a quck and dirty guide or checklist for what to setup on a J-Dam run, or other run and mission to drop bombs gudied by lasers?

 

I can't believe I have to go through 30 steps just to drop them... there has to be a way where you just do an engine startup, load weapons, select them, and drop them without all the stuff to select (and long routine) in the training video?

 

thanx..

:joystick::doh::book:

[159th_Viper]

JDAM:

 

1 - Set SPI with TGP.

 

2 - Select bomb via DSMS.

 

3 - Set CCRP with master mode switch.

 

4 - Drop bomb.

 

Laser:

 

As above with laser toggled on (NWS button) 12 secs from impact.

 

 

Edit: If you require more specifics, shout and I'll post a track or two together with explanation..

Edited November 28, 2011 by 159th_Viper

[FreeFall]

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/3171145/How_to_use_weapons_Picture_gui.html#Post3171145

[Ramstein]

JDAM:

 

1 - Set SPI with TGP.

 

2 - Select bomb via DSMS.

 

3 - Set CCRP with master mode switch.

 

4 - Drop bomb.

 

Laser:

 

As above with laser toggled on (NWS button) 12 secs from impact.

 

 

Edit: If you require more specifics, shout and I'll post a track or two together with explanation..

==================

 

well,

 

I have been doing all that... I have tried coming form long distance and trying to keep the aircraft as stabile as possible,,,, tried both auto and manual...

 

still most the time there is no drop..

 

and I circle several targets for an hour trying everything..

 

if it were so simple, I must have something on or off that isn't listed in all instructions..

 

Thank you for the short list.... only things that works, is using the training video, step by step, which is crazy long.. the short list doesn't work for me...

[MTFDarkEagle]

The list is accurate and includes everything. Could you provide a track of where you are having trouble? That way we can more accurately give advise.

[Evil.Bonsai]

make sure that you press the release button at least 5-10s BEFORE release and HOLD the release button until AFTER the bomb drops. I had trouble with this, too, but now I know what I was doing wrong and have not failed to drop since. It really is that easy.

 

The times this has NOT worked is when I failed to set spi from strpt to tgp. I was flying over target wondering why it wasn't working and then realized my spi was strpt.

[kylania]

I tried to make a little demo mission of blowing up a bridge with a GBU-38 via MRGS coords then using a GBU-12 to knock out a truck that was driving towards the bridge. However, with the new AI instead of the truck just stopping at the destroyed bridge it drove up the river and forded across at a low point!! Damn you smart AI! :)

Edited November 29, 2011 by kylania

[Ramstein]

I found a lot of info in other threads... and will work on the info given.. It appear you need to do more with steerpoints I was unaware of...

I amjust so frustrated,, it isn't enough to make a quick mark and drop,, you have to do other things too...

 

I thank you,. and after doing more research and testing I will come back, until then,, it's back to learning how to do it..

:doh:

[nomdeplume]

I found a lot of info in other threads... and will work on the info given.. It appear you need to do more with steerpoints I was unaware of...

 

You don't have to use steerpoints at all. The A-10C's weapon system is centered on the concept of "Sensor Point of Interest", or SPI. Any guided weapon you employ will attempt to hit your SPI. The SPI can be generated by any of your "sensors", which includes your steerpoint, the HUD's TDC, the TAD's hook, the targeting pod, or the Maverick seeker.

 

Just make sure your SPI is set correctly. You can see what your current SPI is in the bottom-left of the HUD; if you're using the targeting pod it'll say TGP.

 

I am just so frustrated,, it isn't enough to make a quick mark and drop,, you have to do other things too...

Viper's instructions are accurate, however it might also be worth mentioning that you need to set the master arm switch to 'armed' before you can deploy any weapons.

 

If you're talking about "make a quick mark" as in creating a mark point and then dropping on that, there's a few more steps, but it's not necessary. Just use the TGP until you're comfortable with the symbology and procedure, and then other methods of designating your target will fall into place.

 

Oh, you also mentioned 'ramp start'. So, make sure you're doing the startup properly, in particular that you're waiting for full alignment of your EGI (waiting for INS NAV READY to blink before switching to NAV mode) and enabling EGI mode for navigation (on the front center panel). JDAMs are highly dependent on your aircraft having a good fix on its own location, and won't work properly/at all if your position info is substandard.

Edited November 29, 2011 by nomdeplume

[Ramstein]

I found a helpful video on the J-Dam:

 

this is what I wanted...

unless there is an easier way..

 

thanx..

[159th_Viper]

Just keep in mind that dropping multiple JDAM's on a group of vehicles will not necessarily be very fruitful. Vehicles evade when under attack so whilst the first JDAM might hit, subsequent will probably miss.

[nomdeplume]

I found a helpful video on the J-Dam:

 

this is what I wanted...

unless there is an easier way..

That video is for dropping multiple JDAMs in a single pass. If that's what you're wanting to do then that's exactly what you need! But your first post didn't seem to be asking that, and so that video will include a bunch of steps that aren't necessary if your aim is to drop a single JDAM on a single target.

 

For that, all you need to do is what Viper said. Select your JDAM as your active weapon via a profile or directly from the DSMS; make sure your master arm is on (:)); designate a SPI on your target using whatever means you wish - most likely the targeting pod; follow the steering cues until you're within parameters for the release; hold the pickle button until the bomb falls off.

[Dejjvid]

Your only cue that you can give consent for weapon release is a small indication to the left on the hud, below the speed. It should say 'MAN REL'. When it does, HOLD DOWN the weapon release button until it is released. Have DSMS page visible so you can see that it's released.

 

Else you will get a hung store, and if you don't drop it within 15 sec, it's wasted.

[159th_Viper]

Your only cue that you can give consent for weapon release is a small indication to the left on the hud....

 

You are forgetting the Release Cue in the CCRP Reticle. Also tells you the parameters within which you can release.

[kylania]

You are forgetting the Release Cue in the CCRP Reticle. Also tells you the parameters within which you can release.

 

 

Wait for the Release Cue line to be between the Min and Max Range Carets and drop then. While it's between them the MAN REL will appear above the ARM notation on the left.

[genbrien]

JDAM: HOLD the pickle button once your inside the drop envelope

LGB: HOLD the pickle button when at about 6sec on release time (when the cue start to descent)

:thumbup:

[FreeFall]

This video (link below) is quite good, only a couple of exceptions:

 

1.You don't have to keep aircraft steady after releasing GBU-38. If you had the proper SPI, GBU-38 is fire and forget. With laser guided bombs like GBU-15 it's essential that you can lase the target. Then you keep the aircraft steady, so that laser can lase the target.

 

2. I myself have the habit of keeping the Azimuth steering line (the long green vertical in the HUD) inside the CCRP reticle.

 

 

Just pause the vid if it goes too fast.

[Ramstein]

With all the info I gathered, I found some parts of the procedures that I was not enabling correctly to setup the weapons drop. It wasn't enough for an easy checklist, I needed more info, as using my joystick and keyboard I was still getting things wrong. I got a much better understadning with a little more information.

 

Using the Saitek stick, setting up long and short key presses,, remember what is where.. using the keyboard instead of the stick for some commands.. and more.. I can't be absolutely sure which commands I screwed up, but found the keys that enabled me to properly make the drops.. now I have to find out the names of the commands the keys do, before I post what I was getting wrong and now getting right..

 

In other words, On the hud I was screwing up some settings,,, whichj caused problems like not getting the proper setup that makes the hud say 'manual drop', or I could not get the lock where it was needed and had to make more than one or two passes.. unlocking eh caret, moving it, getting the line next to the circle... long list of screwups,, and finding out which keys in which order..

 

I am getting closer to being able to get the target on the first pass... as soon as I have time to report which keys I discovered were useful in my discovery of what I was lacking..

 

basically, the c,v,m, end, delete, and insert keys were giving me a hard time, because I was not using the commands correrctly..

 

The Youtube videos helped as they provided actual pictures of what was happening when and what things should like like... only problem is sometimes the author of the video moves too fast and it is hard to see what they press.. there are still some things I don't understand,, back the books and videos for me..

 

Thanx for the help..

 

(as soon as I find the correct names for all the buttons I was screwing up I will put them... maybe they wil help someone else... and by the way,, last night, after a better search for answer,, I found these forums already had my answer, I just didn't see them until after I had started this thread, there are plenty of threads with info on J-dams and how to drop them..).

 

It would be much easier if I just had a Warthog stick... would not have to go through these acrobatics with my Saitek and the keyboard.. but not possible right now... too much money for upgrades...

:joystick:

[kylania]

Don't map separate buttons for "short" and "long". Simply press and release a button for "short" and hold it for a second and release it for "long", just the one button.

 

Also, yes, the Warthog stick totally changes the game. As you guessed you stop having to remember what's mapped to what and you end up flying the plane rather than flying the controller. :)

[Ramstein]

Don't map separate buttons for "short" and "long". Simply press and release a button for "short" and hold it for a second and release it for "long", just the one button.

 

Also, yes, the Warthog stick totally changes the game. As you guessed you stop having to remember what's mapped to what and you end up flying the plane rather than flying the controller. :)

 

actually with the Saitek SST software, you can program down to thousand_ths of a second.. say .50 sec..

but the problem is trying to get it close to the .50. it take many trial and errror, and when they say .50 (do they mean about, exactly, no more than.. etc ???)

 

I can have up key = long and right-up = short. These are example of how to do it,, and if I decide to just not use the short programmed keys, no harm, no foul, just don't use them..

 

my problems are remember the keys.. commands... and having to flip pages of notes in a binder while I fly...

 

if I had a laptop I would keep it next to my pc, and keep it on the instructions ... but I currently don't have one available.

again, remember which keys is hard. keep in mind I fly IL-2 at least 3 times a week, then there is Black Shark, A-10C, and soom probably, if my squads makes it part of our routine, IL-2 COD (which was a POS, but maybe they will fix it..) we fly long campaigns... on custom maps. When we are done say on the twenth mission we change sides, and fly 10 more. We have a server which parses the code, and determines the points, types of ppoints, wins and lossess for each pilots, each squad..

 

these campaigns are historic WWII campaigns..

so you can see my brain can't hold much more, expecially when I am full of heavy narcotics too because of serious health issues which is another story. So, having to deal with remembering extravagant extensive commands to fly sims is lot for my fried brain...

 

:cry:

 

that's enough for excuses... but that's life...

ont he good side, doing this keeps my mind healthier than just laying around watching tv..

:doh::pilotfly:

[kylania]

Here's a video that shows setting up AutoLase for a GBU-12 and dropping it on a target then dropping a GBU-38 on a bridge. I put both keyboard shortcuts and HOTAS commands for reference. Hope it helps. :)