Threat Emitters not Radiating - cannot fire weapon

[BKL]

I am playing Operations Lions Den and I can fire on one radar station without any issue. For the other radar stations, even though we are in range, it says "automatic fire is not possible, no threat emitters are currently radiating." What does this mean?

[CHM]

It means the radar is not turned on.

[BKL]

ORIGINAL: CHM

It means the radar is not turned on.

So is this saying the enemy radars need to be on in order for the weapon to locate and fire at them?

[SeaQueen]

It may be turned on and the platform is not receiving the emission.

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: SeaQueen

It may be turned on and the platform is not receiving the emission.

I think that is the best answer. Most of the anti-radiation missile's seeker cannot have a big unit for scanning bigger wavelength. If the target radar is emitting a longer wavelength or other emission that cannot be seeked by the missile, then it cannot be locked on.

[SeaQueen]

I think that is the best answer. Most of the anti-radiation missile's seeker cannot have a big unit for scanning bigger wavelength. If the target radar is emitting a longer wavelength or other emission that cannot be seeked by the missile, then it cannot be locked on.

It could also be as simple as just being too far away. I've been playing around with PAK-FA and the semi-ballistic ARM it's got in the database, trying to use it as a standoff ARM and take advantage of its long range. I've had mixed results because the aircraft needs to be able to somehow detect emissions remotely, and I either haven't found a good way to do it, or there's a Russian capability out there which might not be reflected in the database.

In the end, it hasn't gone too badly in my scenario, because the low observability of the PAK-FA makes it less worrisome if it has to get closer to a SAM site, but it's still not ideal. Why shoot from 50NM when you can shoot from 100NM?

[wild_Willie2]

@SeaQueen,

BOL launches do not need a transmission to lock on too before launch and seem to work pretty well for me.

[SeaQueen]

ORIGINAL: wild_Willie2

@SeaQueen,

BOL launches do not need a transmission to lock on too before launch and seem to work pretty well for me.

That's true, but getting the AI to shoot "bearing only" is a current shortcoming. It would be cool if you could get the AI to do things like "timed shots" and what not, but that's currently beyond the capability of the sim.

[rmunie0613]

ORIGINAL: BKL

ORIGINAL: CHM

It means the radar is not turned on.

So is this saying the enemy radars need to be on in order for the weapon to locate and fire at them?

Yes, Anti-radiation missiles home in on the radar signal...so if the radar is off, they cannot fire at it, in which case part of your mission is already successful- radar off means it cannot direct ITS missiles at you, either... so the cost of "saving itself" is "not accomplishing its duty"...perhaps a good reason, but not bad for your part, either.