Air-to-air radar - Revision history

Neuro at 15:01, 4 April 2017

2017-04-04T15:01:37Z

Neuro: /* CRM modes */

2017-04-04T15:00:48Z

CRM modes

Neuro: /* CRM modes */

2017-04-04T14:59:11Z

CRM modes

Neuro at 14:57, 4 April 2017

2017-04-04T14:57:22Z

DarkFib3r at 23:55, 19 March 2017

2017-03-19T23:55:06Z

DarkFib3r at 00:46, 18 March 2017

2017-03-18T00:46:09Z

DarkFib3r at 00:22, 16 March 2017

2017-03-16T00:22:51Z

DarkFib3r at 00:21, 16 March 2017

2017-03-16T00:21:46Z

DarkFib3r: /* B-Scope */

2017-03-15T00:58:37Z

B-Scope

DarkFib3r at 03:04, 14 March 2017

2017-03-14T03:04:40Z

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 * RWS-SAM (situational awareness mode) allows the pilot to gain additional information on a bugged target, while still scanning the surrounding airspace. It is automatically accessed by commanding TMS - up (bugging, or softlocking) a radar contact in RWS mode.
-* STT (single target track) mode is used to guide semiactive missiles, and it gives the most detailed and frequent updates on a single target, sacrificing all other contacts. It should be only employed when weapon release is imminent, to reduce the time spent in a degraded SA situation. It is automatically accessed when commanding TMS up on an already bugged (RWS-SAM) target.
+* STT (single target track) mode is used to guide semiactive missiles, and it gives the most detailed and frequent updates on a single target, sacrificing all other contacts. It should be only employed when weapon release is imminent, to reduce the time spent in a degraded SA situation. It is automatically accessed when commanding TMS up on an already bugged (RWS-SAM) target.  This is the ONLY radar mode that will set off the target's RWR radar lock warning.
 The other primary mode of operation is Track While Scan, or TWS (Twiz). TWS offers additional information on a smaller lateral volume of airspace; for example, when spotting a group of contacts flying in formation, it can show the individual headings of the targets at a glance, without need of switching to SAM or STT modes. TWS is also the mode of choice for multiple target engagements using the AMRAAM; it can track and guide weapons on multiple targets and provides a very useful hands-on shortcut to quickly "bug" targets in sequence.

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 * RWS-SAM (situational awareness mode) allows the pilot to gain additional information on a bugged target, while still scanning the surrounding airspace. It is automatically accessed by commanding TMS - up (bugging, or softlocking) a radar contact in RWS mode.
 * STT (single target track) mode is used to guide semiactive missiles, and it gives the most detailed and frequent updates on a single target, sacrificing all other contacts. It should be only employed when weapon release is imminent, to reduce the time spent in a degraded SA situation. It is automatically accessed when commanding TMS up on an already bugged (RWS-SAM) target.
 The other primary mode of operation is Track While Scan, or TWS (Twiz). TWS offers additional information on a smaller lateral volume of airspace; for example, when spotting a group of contacts flying in formation, it can show the individual headings of the targets at a glance, without need of switching to SAM or STT modes. TWS is also the mode of choice for multiple target engagements using the AMRAAM; it can track and guide weapons on multiple targets and provides a very useful hands-on shortcut to quickly "bug" targets in sequence.

@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 RWS mode can scan the entirety of the horizontal range of the radar, albeit somewhat slowly. It's the primary mode of operation for cruise and general AA operations. It covers a lot of space and gives a general overview of the airspace in front of you.
-RWS has two submodes, SAM and STT.
+RWS has two submodes, SAM and STT:
-RWS-SAM (situational awareness mode) allows the pilot to gain additional information on a bugged target, while still scanning the surrounding airspace. It is automatically accessed by commanding TMS - up (bugging, or softlocking) a radar contact in RWS mode.
+* STT (single target track) mode is used to guide semiactive missiles, and it gives the most detailed and frequent updates on a single target, sacrificing all other contacts. It should be only employed when weapon release is imminent, to reduce the time spent in a degraded SA situation. It is automatically accessed when commanding TMS up on an already bugged (RWS-SAM) target.
 The other primary mode of operation is Track While Scan, or TWS (Twiz). TWS offers additional information on a smaller lateral volume of airspace; for example, when spotting a group of contacts flying in formation, it can show the individual headings of the targets at a glance, without need of switching to SAM or STT modes. TWS is also the mode of choice for multiple target engagements using the AMRAAM; it can track and guide weapons on multiple targets and provides a very useful hands-on shortcut to quickly "bug" targets in sequence.
@@ Line 90: / Line 89: @@
- {{Nav UOAF}}
+<nowiki> </nowiki>{{Nav UOAF}}
 [[Category:UOAF]]
 [[Category:UOAF: BMS Codex]]

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 =Radar Modes=
-So, what radar mode should you use?
+The F-16 radar offers a few distinct modes and submodes of operation, and to be proficient in air to air missions, one must understand when to use them.
-You should stick to TWS unless engaged in a dogfight. You can use RWS to find targets and then switching between TWS and RWS to occasionally see what the targets are doing and then back to the wider scan area provided by RWS without having to bother modifying the radar antenna too much.
+Radar modes fall under two categories: CRM (combined radar mode) and ACM (air combat maneuvering). CRM modes are generally used for BVR engagements and long rage scanning, while ACM modes are intended for WVR situations (dogfights) and are most often used in conjunction with the dogfight master mode, and short range missiles.
-==LRS (long-range scanning)==
+== CRM modes ==
-Exactly like RWS, only that the radar takes a bit more time when sweeping, thus increasing the chances of detecting a contact at longer ranges. Scans the same large area as RWS.
+The "default" mode is Range While Search, or RWS. In this mode, radar contacts are displayed as small solid boxes with a line extending towards the top or bottom of the screen (closure rate line). A contact with a line going up is moving away from you, and the other way around. This allows to "sort out" which contacts pose a threat at a glance, but is not enough to plan an intercept.
-==TWS (track-while-scanning)==
+RWS mode can scan the entirety of the horizontal range of the radar, albeit somewhat slowly. It's the primary mode of operation for cruise and general AA operations. It covers a lot of space and gives a general overview of the airspace in front of you.
-==VSR==
+RWS has two submodes, SAM and STT.
-==RWS-SAM==
+RWS-SAM (situational awareness mode) allows the pilot to gain additional information on a bugged target, while still scanning the surrounding airspace. It is automatically accessed by commanding TMS - up (bugging, or softlocking) a radar contact in RWS mode.
-A sub-mode of RWS, it can be thought of as a compromise between RWS and TWS, in that it provides more information about a locked target than TWS, but doesn't provide nearly as much information about other targets
 =Quick tips=
 ==FCR==
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 #Left of that is target airspeed
 #all way to left is heading of target
   {{Nav UOAF}}

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 ==ACM (air combat mode)==
 It's actually a series of sub-modes dedicated to dogfigthing. All modes will automatically lock onto the first available target they spot, although the various sub-modes will change how the radar searches for the target. If you are using any ACM mode for BVR engagements, you might as well fly with your radar off.
   {{Nav UOAF}}

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 # Understand the Collision Antenna Train Angle (CATA) cross
 # Sorting targets
 =B-Scope=

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 Here you can see three contacts. On the B-Scope, they look like they are to your front and offset significantly, but in real life, they are not as wide as you are led to believe, especially at close ranges.
 [[File:bscope-contacts.jpg||none|500px|left|]]
 [[Category:UOAF]]
 [[Category:UOAF: BMS Codex]]

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	=Learning objectives=		=Learning objectives=