AI: Follow waypoint path, then execute mission

[Craigkn]

I am sorry if this is covered somewhere - I did try to search first. I would like for an AI mission to follow a set of waypoints, routing it around SAM sites for example, and then execute a mission. This needs to occur totally hands off, as its for an AI side (as the subject stated). The aircraft would need to start from an air base, launch, follow a route, execute the mission, and then ideally retrace their steps to safely return to base. The path I need is simple, just skirting around the range of a few SAM systems.

I sort of feel that first I need a marshalling support mission, that launches the aircraft and routes them to a location, then I gather the GUID's that are at that position, and then send them on their waypoint path. Once the final waypoint is reached, the strike or patrol mission is activated

[KnightHawk75]

Using staging mission my or may not be worth it depending on what your doing.

unit:launch(true)
detect it being airborne
set\replace course table on unit with your waypoints.
setup small ref pt area around final waypoint.
upon that being triggered, assign to mission you want executed.
somehow detect when that is finished...(gonna depend on what the mission is...in terms of what your options are there)
unassign from any mission if needed to remove any auto waypoint generation.
set\replace course table on unit with desired return waypoints.
[if unit not already in rtb state - and you probably shouldn't if you want real control over speed\alt]
setup small ref pt area around final return waypoint.
upon that being triggered rtb the unit.

Just passing on how generally used to do it in 1147.x
beta 12xx has way more niceties now to probably reduce amount of code needed to achieve same result now that you can play around with generated flight-plans for strikes and what not, and even set the waypoint 'type' when doing replacements, but I've not worked much with all the new betas yet (sorry I'm waiting for it to get to a more stable state, so going mostly by release notes) so can't say for sure.