Proper Operating Procedures

[NineLine]

So I apologize if this has been asked before, but as I have no real military experience except many hours pretending, I have a few questions on a couple different items...

 

1) AWACs: How close do they operate to the front lines of a battlefield, what kinda flight path (speed, altitude) should they have, is orbit ok? Right now I have one in orbit, but it looks like they are up there doing donuts :)

 

2) Predators: When I set it to JTAC should I assume it will just do its thing as far as speed, and path, etc? I know when I set an altitude it ends up doing its own thing, also what about range? How close to an active battlefield do they generally get?

 

3) Refueling: Again, what altitude, speed, etc for a refueling plane is generally used? Or is it based on the aircraft it is refueling? And if so, what would it be based on refueling an A-10?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Snoopy]

So I apologize if this has been asked before, but as I have no real military experience except many hours pretending, I have a few questions on a couple different items...

 

1) AWACs: How close do they operate to the front lines of a battlefield, what kinda flight path (speed, altitude) should they have, is orbit ok? Right now I have one in orbit, but it looks like they are up there doing donuts :)

 

2) Predators: When I set it to JTAC should I assume it will just do its thing as far as speed, and path, etc? I know when I set an altitude it ends up doing its own thing, also what about range? How close to an active battlefield do they generally get?

 

3) Refueling: Again, what altitude, speed, etc for a refueling plane is generally used? Or is it based on the aircraft it is refueling? And if so, what would it be based on refueling an A-10?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

1 and 2 I honestly don't have an answer for you...

 

3) The norm per A-10C-1 when refueling from a KC-135 is 220 KAS at a base planning altitude of 15,000 feet but of course real world situations vary.

[Backy 51]

SithSpawn,

 

Tanker tracks are usually set at FL180 to FL280 depending on aircraft being refuelled. Tanker orbit is approx a 25nm racetrack with left-hand turns at 275KIAS.

 

I'd put the AWACS up at FL300+ with some escorts with same pattern/speed as tanker. This keeps AWACS out of everyone's hair.

 

The recce ISR platforms are whatever the tactical situation requires ... and they are expendable. ;-)

[Ripcord]

The recce ISR platforms are whatever the tactical situation requires ... and they are expendable. ;-)

 

Like hell.

 

Only one sensor can tell you what is going to happen next, or in the immediate/near future. And they are on most often found on a recce bird, drinking crappy in-flight coffee (unless DCS wants to start modelling satellites).

 

EDIT: Obviously you are referring to unmanned aircraft -- yes, in that case, I agree they are a heckuva lot more expandable than a recce bird.

 

Guess I am just gettin' old!! I'll go back to my cave now!!

Edited July 17, 2012 by Ripcord

[Druid_]

1) IRL AWACS operate well away from the action. Its an asset the enemy would love to destroy. Outside of 100nm from front lines wouldn't be too far off. They also fly a figure 8 pattern (or at least they do in the RAF) which we cant do in DCS. They would normally operate in the low 20s as far as altitude is concerned when in orbit (otherwise fule burn increases dramatically and their orbits are county/state wide).

 

2) Predators are used over battlefields when the threat of detection and destruction is low. Some are designed to have a stealthy low Radar sig. Speed 85kts is good and path is up to you. Altitude would normally be around 20k. Fly em to zone and place an orbit. Range is not great as they are slow but endurance is huge (longer than yr mission I shgould think).

 

3) Altitude and speed vary depending on aircraft type being refuelled. Again in reality tankers would be allocated a block of airspace (in which they fly a race track orbit) and also an altitude. Paul is right for A10s I would use 18-22k and 220 IAS. Beware though in MissEditor you have to convert 220kts IAS (Indicated Air SPeed) to TAS (True Air Speed) and enter that figure. Rough rule of thumb is TAS = IAS + Altitude/200. Therefore if you want the tanker to fly 220kts Indicated at 18,000ft you would have to enter the figure 310 into speed in Mission Editor.