How do you target a specific component of a SAM site

[Correcaminos]

e.g., the FCR or a particular TEL, when the game only displays the battery as a single unit?

I’m trying to plan a precision strike on a SAM system using weapons like SCALP or GBU, not anti-radiation missiles.
The problem is that many SAM sites appear as a single grouped contact, and I cannot select individual components such as:

the Fire Control Radar (FCR)

a specific TEL

the search radar

the C2 vehicle


In the UI, the whole SAM battery shows up as one target, and I don't see a way to pick a single sub-unit for the strike.

Is there a method or workflow in CMO to:

“expand” the SAM group into its individual vehicles,

or otherwise designate a single component (FCR/TEL/etc.) for a guided weapon strike?


Or is this simply not possible unless the game reveals the components one by one?

Any insight on how you guys do precise component-level strikes on SAM sites would be very helpful.
Thanks!

[Knightpawn]

I don't believe it is possible (other than emitting components with anti radiation missiles) with "out of the box" units

[Correcaminos]

Thanks for the info. I have another question related to this:

When you strike a SAM battery as a grouped unit, does the game prioritize the destruction of specific components (for example: Search Radar → FCR → TELs), or is the damage assignment completely random among all vehicles in the group?

I’m trying to understand whether CMO has any internal logic that makes support radars or the FCR more likely to be hit first, or if every component has the same probability of taking damage when the battery is targeted as a single unit.

Do you know how this is handled?

[Knightpawn]

The way I handle SAM batteries (assuming no micromanagement at all) is that I set up a SEAD patrol area of a/cs loaded with HARMs around 60-50 nms from target and a prosecution area enclosing the location of the SAM(s). I untick the "investigate contacts within weapons range" (or whatever that option is called) and keep ticked only the other one that permits setting up the prosecution zone (PZ); the reason to do this is to prevent the HARMs firing outside the PZ to unimportant emissions). I also set up a ASuW (Ground) patrol with SLAMMERS I assign the same PZ. In the mission window I prioritize as target the type of SAM I am after. The ASuW is set to arrive five mins after the SEAD. When the SLAMMERS are in the air, the SAM turns on radars to defend against the attack offering firing opportunity to the HARMS. Most of the time at least one or two HARMs goes through (which is what I need in the first place)

A sub optimal (and more risky) method, if SLAMMERS (or equivalent) are not available, is to set a TARCAP at around 50% of the SAM's range (always in conjunction with the SEAD patrol above). They will act a live baits and tempt the SAM battery to illuminate so that it becomes a target for the HARMS. Hopefully the TARCAP a/cs will be close enough to temp the SAM battery and far enough to escape its attack. CBUs may come latter to clear the TELs

[Correcaminos]

Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation, it really helps to understand how you approach SAM systems in CMO.

In my specific case I’m running into a problem:
I’m playing the French side, and as far as I know France does not operate HARM or any other ARM.
And in this scenario I don’t have access to any anti-radiation weapons at all.

Because of this, the usual “force illumination → kill the FCR with HARMs” workflow is not available to me.

The SAM I’m trying to neutralize is the Bavar-373, which has very long-range search/TTR radars and excellent missile performance. I’ve tried multiple SCALP strikes from different directions, but without ARMs the system keeps shooting all of them down before they reach the battery. Since the battery appears as a single grouped unit, I also can’t target the FCR or any specific component directly.

So I’m basically stuck with having to do SEAD/DEAD without anti-radiation missiles, against a very capable modern SAM that doesn’t expose individual contacts unless it decides to illuminate.

If you (or anyone else) has any advice on how to deal with this kind of situation—pure stand-off strike without ARMs—I would really appreciate it.

Thanks again for your help!

[BDukes]

Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation, it really helps to understand how you approach SAM systems in CMO.

In my specific case I’m running into a problem:
I’m playing the French side, and as far as I know France does not operate HARM or any other ARM.
And in this scenario I don’t have access to any anti-radiation weapons at all.

Because of this, the usual “force illumination → kill the FCR with HARMs” workflow is not available to me.

The SAM I’m trying to neutralize is the Bavar-373, which has very long-range search/TTR radars and excellent missile performance. I’ve tried multiple SCALP strikes from different directions, but without ARMs the system keeps shooting all of them down before they reach the battery. Since the battery appears as a single grouped unit, I also can’t target the FCR or any specific component directly.

So I’m basically stuck with having to do SEAD/DEAD without anti-radiation missiles, against a very capable modern SAM that doesn’t expose individual contacts unless it decides to illuminate.

If you (or anyone else) has any advice on how to deal with this kind of situation—pure stand-off strike without ARMs—I would really appreciate it.

Thanks again for your help!

France doesn't have pure SEAD capable aircraft yet. They largely depend on the having US/German/Italian aircraft to pick up the role. They do have glide bombs though which can be launched in bulk (ranged from 35nm!--maybe needs to be looked at as some might be rocket assisted).

Without knowing the exact setup and assuming Rafale I'd stay low and use any terrain to mask my approach until radar horizon (~50nm). Goal is to make the Iranian side start its OODA loop as late as possible. I'd probably use glide bombs as I can launch more giving the battery more things to shoot at. Warheads are generally big enough to kill launchers and radars.

M

[Dimitris]

When you strike a SAM battery as a grouped unit, does the game prioritize the destruction of specific components (for example: Search Radar → FCR → TELs)

Yes.

(It's not a guarantee, but it's more likely)

[Correcaminos]

When you strike a SAM battery as a grouped unit, does the game prioritize the destruction of specific components (for example: Search Radar → FCR → TELs)

Yes.

(It's not a guarantee, but it's more likely)

Hi,
I’ve been running some tests against a Bavar-373 SAM battery and I’ve noticed something interesting about the way CMO resolves damage inside multi-unit SAM groups.

Even when attacking with guided weapons like SCALP or AASM (non-ARM), the game does not seem to follow any internal priority like:

Search Radar → FCR → TELs → C2

What I’m seeing instead is that the first impacts often destroy whatever unit happens to be closest to the group’s aimpoint dispersion.
For example, in one test:

First hits destroyed several TELs

Then the SR / TTR radars

And the C2 vehicle last

This behavior was consistent across different runs, so it seems that—unless using ARM weapons—the destruction order inside a SAM battalion is random / proximity-based, not based on system importance.

If there's any way to explicitly target a specific component (like the FCR) with non-ARM weapons, I haven't found it.
It looks like only ARMs can single out emitters, while other weapons resolve damage normally inside the battalion.

Just sharing the results in case it helps clarify how the engine handles internal SAM structures.

[Dimitris]

Thanks. Moved topic to Tech Support for follow-up investigation when we can.

[thewood1]

I tend to treat large SAM units like single unit airbases. I use them carefully to make sure they don't need to be attacked. If I think a SAM might become a target, I build a group out to represent. I know this is a generalization, but its usually what I try to do.