AMRAAM CEC not enabled?

[Struan76]

I have been attempting to run an air to air engagement using the CEC function. The idea of for an F-35 to be the launch platform for the AIM-120D without turning on its radar (and giving away its position). To achieve this I've put an E-2D on station to the rear of the F-35. A target drone approaches from the south-east. The detection is as expected from the E-2D radar. Once the target crosses the 160nm AIM-120 datalink range (from the E-2) I engage it manually with an AMRAAM. This part is fine up until weapon launch.

I've set it up so the launch aircraft flows cold from the target and has no EOTS detect. Once the missile launches, it is supported by the second F-35, which switches on its radar (what I don't want!). The E-2D does not support the missile in flight. I also tried using the SPY-1 on the Arleigh Burke to the south-west - this has the same result (ie only another F-35 can support the missile in flight).

I'm not sure if this is something incorrect in the settings I am using?

Any help greatly appreciated (and apologies for the earlier cross-post, I should have read the post titled 'Read This Before Posting' before I posted...).

(edit - Build 1147.30, DB3K 488 and 489)

[Struan76]

Screen shot attached where the action is happening.

Played around with this by adding units to the scenario - using an F/A-18F as the supporting radar unit works (ie the Hornet can support the JSF shot and JSF stays EMCON or shoots 'over the shoulder'). So possibly just the E-2D model / AMRAAM link not working?

[alphali]

I dont know what you mean when you said you tried the SPY-1 radar on the Arleigh Burke as the Arleigh burke doesn't have an AIM120 datalink to guide the missile. The CEC capability is also between the AB and the E2D (as the E2D has AEGIS datalink), so you can fire SM6's blindly and they can be guided by the E2D.

I tried your scenario and I moved the AB closer to the target and launched SM6 at it. As soon as it exits the ship its guided by the E2D as expected.

As for the AIM120, I am getting inconsistent results. From the attached picture you can see the same aircraft firing 3 different missiles and each behaving differently. One wasn't guided by anything and it flew to the wrong location, the other was guided by the E2D, and the last one was guided by the F35 even though it still had all the sensors turned off.

There might be some requirements am missing.

[thewood1]

I have tried this 12 times now and every single time, as soon as the 120 is off the rails, the datalink is handed off to the E-2D. I maintains and guides until the 120 itself locks on. The only settings I had to be careful of is that if I don't force both F-35s into passive through doctrine, they will, as expected, light off their radars.

So it appears CEC from F-35 to E2D to AIM-120D is functioning. Note the datalink connection from the E-2D to the 120 as its launched.

[OldSarge]

ORIGINAL: alphali
As for the AIM120, I am getting inconsistent results. From the attached picture you can see the same aircraft firing 3 different missiles and each behaving differently. One wasn't guided by anything and it flew to the wrong location, the other was guided by the E2D, and the last one was guided by the F35 even though it still had all the sensors turned off.

I haven't had any misfires, but in each case the F-35's IRST took over guiding the missile as the drone was well within its range.

The only way I could get the CEC handoff to the E-2 was by disabling the IRST, and when I do the E-2 takes over as expected. Seems okay to me.

[thewood1]

I think that depends on range. The optics have a shorter range so if you fire as soon as the drone is in missile range, it won't use the optics. Thats why I fired as soon as it was in range.

[OldSarge]

That was probably it as I was auto attacking. I tried it again with a manual attack and the first missile off was immediately handled by the E-2, it missed needed <= 85 but rolled an 88 (not my day for the lotto [:'(] ). By the time of the second launch the drone was in range of the 2nd F-35's IRST and it guided the firer's missile. So, answering the OP's question, CEC appears to work correctly.