IP TOWEL

[bluepilot76]

Hello Wathog Gurus,

 

The flight plan provided in a mission will include an IP.

 

When I contact a JTAC he typically gives an offset to a target from a different (named) IP, I think the one I flew the other day was called "IP Towel", and he might give a instruction to turn back to IP Towel after the attack. Its a little bit strange because IP Towel does not coincide with IP on my flight plan. Why is that?

 

I set up a nice orbit around IP "Towel" whilst we agree on the target and weapon etc then prosecute the attack from there as instructed.

 

I know how to view the IP that the JTAC provides, and have been changing the Anchor point from the bullseye to the IP so that it is easy to go from the target to the IP and back to the IP.

 

Alternatively I was thinking about making a new flight plan with "IP Towel" as the starting point and the target as the first waypoint etc, but that seems like a bit too much unnecesary hastle. Maybe worthwhile if told an attack heading that is not on the direct course though?

 

So I was wondering if there is a reason for the use of the different IP, and what other people did in these situations?

[jib]

It sound like a difference between the two names in the Mission Editior.

[bluepilot76]

On the missions I have been flying, the position of the IP that is on the flight plan and the position of the IP that the JTAC refers to is not the same.

 

The JTAC IP will be available in your navigation database if you do a search so it is a valid IP point etc, I just wondering why the flight plan doesnt use the same IP?

[EtherealN]

Most likely because that JTAC might lead multiple flights, so the flights set their own flight plan but also keep in database the relevant points that assets they liaise with will be using. Not 100% sure how this is done IRL though.

[Eddie]

Because depending on the type of control the JTAC uses, and where the JTAC is they may use different IPs. If you are contacting the JTAC after you've taken out your briefed target to see if there are any additional tasking the IP the JTAC references might not be relevant to your planned primary target, and as such won't be part of the pre-planned mission flight plan.

 

The mission IP points can remain in the same place over a series of missions (in reality, many (up to hundreds) navigation points are pre-loaded in to aircraft navigation systems for enemy & friendly positions, nav beacons, IPs etc etc) and they may or may not be part of the flight plan for the individual mission you're flying.

[bluepilot76]

That makes sense; thanks guys!

[RodBorza]

Good info, didn't know that. Time to replay some missions using this procedure.