AI Not Dropping CBUs

[NefariousKoel]

The SEAD-armed A-7s, in the first tutorial scenario, are not dropping the CBU cluster bombs when given the order to Auto-Engage the radar & SAMs.

They fly over the target and show the mission "engaged offensively" but pass right over at about 4980m altitude. I believe the altitude limit listed for a launch of the CBUs is around 560m so they're obviously not lowering altitude to launch. They dive down to approximately 4200 or 4300m on the run-in, then pull back up to almost 5000m again. Just flying back and forth over the SAMs.

Are they ignoring the thousandths position for altitude, thinking they're actually under the 500m launch envelope, when they drop to 4300m on the attack run (and failing of course)?

[NefariousKoel]

This seems to be the case since manually overriding the altitude, and setting it below the CBU launch ceiling, got them to drop.

[NefariousKoel]

Also.. there's no mention of the results of the CBU attack. Just a note that the radar I forced them to attack "has been lost".

[Dimitris]

Did you see the bomblet cloud scattering? (You need to zoom fairly close to see this).

[Der Zeitgeist]

In my case, the bomblet cloud was visible, but the AI didn't use CBUs automatically, either. I started out with setting up reference points around the SAM sites, and then assigned the A-7s with Shrikes to a SEAD-patrol mission. They launched from NAS Fallon as a group, fired off their Shrikes to good effect, and then circled the target area, exactly as NefariousKoel described.

In the mission "Raid on Kismayo" I also saw some strange AI behavior with the AH-1 Cobras. When I assigned them targets to automatically engage, they didn't fire on them once they were close to the target, but circled and turned around, but never were able to line up a shot because they were already too close. Normal behavior would have been to fly away a certain distance (allowing them to get the target inside boresight limits again) instead of immediately turning around and missing it again.

[NefariousKoel]

ORIGINAL: Sunburn

Did you see the bomblet cloud scattering? (You need to zoom fairly close to see this).

No.. it dropped nothing until I took manual control of all the A-7's altitude and forced them down below the 600m max launch alt listed for the CBUs.

Only after I forced them down to the appropriate alt did each one drop the two CBUs and then release the bomblets in the little expanding cloud. The AI-operated aircraft just wouldn't drop below 4200m when ordered to attack with their only remaining ordnance - the two CBUs.

I'm just assuming that it's not taking into account the extra 4000m altitude on the aircraft, because it does dive down to ~4200m (from nearly 5000m) as if it's gonna drop the bombs, on the ingress. But they never go below that and since the bombs need to be dropped from 600m or less, they never get released. The A-7s keep flying over the SAM/radar targets, dipping down on the run-in, and then flying back up to 5k to turn and do the same thing over again - never dropping their bombs of their own accord, when ordered to do so via either Auto-Attack or manual alottment of the CBUs to the target.

[GBS]

Interested to hear how this turns out. My A-7s just circled around as well until ordered to RTB.

[Jim D Burns]

I think what the issue is here is the Strike Profile for the particular loadout of the plane. If you look at them you see all strike profiles for the GBU armed planes that have Paveways as well are Hi-Med-Hi altitude, so the AI pilots are apparently not allowed to over-ride this profile.

The planes should probably revert to the GATOR loadout at the top of my screenshot after they release their other ordinance.

I should mention I have yet to read the manual, so I may be totally off on my guess.

Jim

Edit: Whoops was looking at the wrong airframe, but the point about profile altitudes is still valid. OK, edited in correct airframe loadout screen.

[starbird7]

I'm not up to speed on all CBU types, but shouldn't they generally be released at 3 km altitude? They can be set to break open at ~500 meters, and they need extra time to arm after release. Are there any high drag, low alt types?

[NefariousKoel]

ORIGINAL: starbird

I'm not up to speed on all CBU types, but shouldn't they generally be released at 3 km altitude? They can be set to break open at ~500 meters, and they need extra time to arm after release. Are there any high drag, low alt types?

Yes, I'm pretty sure I recall seeing examples of low-altitude cluster bombs before, complete with parachutes.

These specific CBUs, used in this first tutorial on the A-7s, have a listed maximum drop altitude of somewhere around 600m. 650.. something like that. Much lower than the 4 to 5km alt they were flying at when attempting to drop.

Whether the max drop envelope for the CBUs is proper still wouldn't address the behavioral issue, though.