How do Laser Target Designator sensors work?

[fatgreta1066]

Some drones and AC have a check box in their sensor display for laser target designator that does not turn on when radars set to active mode. Are these controlled by the AI when needed to designate targets, or must I turn them on manually? Do I need to aim them or point them at anything if I want to light it up? If they are active but radar is not active, will there be emissions that the enemy can detect?

Thanks,

Chris

[BDukes]

Should work automatically. The designator has to be used for both the receiver(weapon) and the sender (sensor). Buddy lasing is possible as well. The same rules apply.

If something is not working best to put in a ticket for the db guys to fix. The linkage happens there.

Mike

[fatgreta1066]

Should work automatically. The designator has to be used for both the receiver(weapon) and the sender (sensor). Buddy lasing is possible as well. The same rules apply.

If something is not working best to put in a ticket for the db guys to fix. The linkage happens there.

Mike

I'm not sure if it's working right or not. When a unit or weapon needing a laser designator is set to attack a target, does the AI turn them on if they're in range automatically? Does checking the box to on even if there are not strikes in progress have any benefit (or detriment) to my forces? I know I've played scenarios where AC with loudouts specifying the need for buddy stores with designators were stationed at the same base, when I assigned them to a strike they seemed to work together. I'm not sure what happens in other situations.

[BDukes]

Should work automatically. The designator has to be used for both the receiver(weapon) and the sender (sensor). Buddy lasing is possible as well. The same rules apply.

If something is not working best to put in a ticket for the db guys to fix. The linkage happens there.

Mike

I'm not sure if it's working right or not. When a unit or weapon needing a laser designator is set to attack a target, does the AI turn them on if they're in range automatically? Does checking the box to on even if there are not strikes in progress have any benefit (or detriment) to my forces? I know I've played scenarios where AC with loudouts specifying the need for buddy stores with designators were stationed at the same base, when I assigned them to a strike they seemed to work together. I'm not sure what happens in other situations.

Yes, it is automatic. The only catches are weather and line of sight. If it is too cloudy or there is terrain in the way between the illuminator and target it won't work which is a good model. Sometimes you have to adjust your altitude to accommodate for this. Sometimes it might not be a good day to use laser-guided weapons at all but should instead use GPS (GBU-38, GBU-31 etc.) or dual (GBU-54 etc.).

Mike

[wyskass]

I was using B-2s (#3220) with the GBU 28B/C LGB loadout (#17838).
These are laser guided, yet the B2 was not equipped with a laser designator. I had a B1 nearby just in case it for a designator, but found that the B2 was able to drop these bombs successfully without any need for a laser.

Was it just using GPS and being less precise in the case?
How would one use the B1s for buddy lasing in this case? How do you tell the other aircraft to lase the target without attacking it itself?

[thewood1]

Did you check the db? B-2 #3220 only has two loadouts with GBU-28s in them.

Screenshot 2022-04-23 143213.jpg (58.11 KiB) Viewed 714 times

In fact, you don't even have to look at the GBU's db info. GPS is in the name. db# 493.

[wyskass]

Yes, and LGB is also in the name, with an on-board laser spot tracker.
Weapon id #251. Hence my question, wondering if it simply doesn't use the laser in that case. And wouldn't that affect accuracy? The CEP of 2 meters, would that be with laser tracking or not?

[thewood1]

I think its pretty easy to assume if nothing is designating its GPS. If its launching and hitting, I think that answers the question.

Went back and double checked. The db info for that particular GBU-28 says GPS/INS and pre-briefed target only as weapon properties. Not sure how the pre-briefed target only is enforced with the weapon outside the scenario designer. But no mention terminal or buddy illumination, like in other laser guided weapons.

[wyskass]

Ah yes, it does note Pre-briefed target only. That would seem to make the laser spot tracker extraneous and the bomb not a LGB at all. Oh well. Maybe it just refers to the bomb's sexual orientation instead of guidance method.

[nkocevar]

Ah yes, it does note Pre-briefed target only. That would seem to make the laser spot tracker extraneous and the bomb not a LGB at all. Oh well. Maybe it just refers to the bomb's sexual orientation instead of guidance method.

Wow lol... Clever.

[BDukes]

Ah yes, it does note Pre-briefed target only. That would seem to make the laser spot tracker extraneous and the bomb not a LGB at all. Oh well. Maybe it just refers to the bomb's sexual orientation instead of guidance method.

Dual LGB and GBU guidance are modeled in the game as a GPS with the ability to hit a moving target (specified in the legal target list). You can see this in the DB viewer. It is done that way because it works for most cases.

I think the only case where there might be a problem with this model is one where GPS wouldn't work and you'd want to use laser only. CMO doesn't do GPS jamming (I model it in Lua) so not a thing yet.

Mike