Air To Air Combat

[burasko]

Thank you for this simulation, I waited for a long time. In the production of the mission, I found many inaccuracies that would be good to fix, for example: F-4E Phantom II has better radar as the most advanced Russian aircraft, the evidence guided missile at a greater distance than even the SU-35 with Irbis Radar, you can check on the attached mission. I do not understand why the enemy missiles so easy detectably with radar. The only information we have realistic about the missile launch is at RWR receiver, because the enemy radar switched to STT mode. Then there is a very high efficiency AIM-54 Phoenix against maneuverable fighter aircraft, the Phoenix missile designed primarily against bombers and its possibilities against maneuverable fighter is limited. and much more, as I write, when the interested ...

[TMP95]

Is there a quick way to look at all the weapon stats? How and with what program can we look at them if Yes?

[TMP95]

I for the most part am finding missile accuracy to seem fair.

of course would like to see the stats in DB. Perhaps I find the R-27 a little too accurate. I have read of accounts (fights of SU-27 and MIg-29s) that R-27s performed awful. Could be very reasons for this of course.

[burasko]

a

[burasko]

I think the accuracy of missiles is ok, I'm talking about the F-4 shoots AIM-7 as the first, although it has a SU-35 much more powerful radar and R-27ER {in command is incorrect name R-27RE} they have more range than the AIM-seventh The problem is Irbis radar in SU-35 which has a poor performance in the simulation, Irbis detects the F-4 at a distance of 60nm, AN/APQ-120 in F-4 detects the SU-35 at a distance of 50 nm, the difference would be much greater, because Irbis is a modern radar with a passive phased antenna array with 3 m2 RCS - 350-400 km. AN/APQ-120 in Command have better characteristics than Irbis guidance for SAHR missiles, because F-4 shoots first in the Maximum range AIM-7 and Irbis shoots later although duties some time ago on the range, in Weapon Allocation / Suitable weapons is Posted: Weapon is unable to engage imprecise target, F-4 has no problems with it at a greater distance. Hit probability is mainl depends on countermeasures as visible in the Message Log.

[TMP95]

Upon further playtesting. I'm starting to wonder some if AIM-9M is not accurate / successful enough. Ditto that for later version AIM-7s

I've set up and number of computer AI VS AI scenarios - I'm seeing F-14Ds firing 10-12 shots off and maybe scoring 2 hits. Be it 4 AIM-54s, 4 AIM-7s and 2 AIM-9Ms. The late addition AIM-7s seem to miss much more than I suspect they should. Understand earlier 1970s, 80s AIM-7s had a low 25% hit rate. But I believe the lateer 90s updated AIM-7s should have a better success rate.

I'm play testing with "ACE" US. and "Averge" Opfor units. In 2 Vs 3 engagements (computer AI both). Basically losing 2 Tomcats for 2 Mig-29s. Starting out coming head on at 70NM + .

I've also noticed. The AI does not seem to to a good job of datalinking a target so that it will be fired upon. Via that datalink. It seems the F-14Ds will not fire upon Migs until they have their OWN radar turned on. Yet the E2C in the air has them (MIGs) spotted and is showing them on the map. F-14s will not fire until their radar is turned on and locked up on them. Which should not be the case. Now if you manually take over, I can have them Fire via the Datalink. But they don't seem to on their own. Plan to test this further.

[TMP95]

What I'm noticing is that the Migs are never designated "hostile" by the AWACs or the F-14Ds until the battle is within 20NM or closer. Should this be the case? I have both sides set to "hostile" with one another. It seems the E2C block II should be able to ID the Migs has hostile before 20NM?

Last encounter had me step in with Migs around 50 NM out. hit the "H" key and immediately F-14s engaged. End of battle saw both F-14s Winchester of missiles as well as all 3 Mig-29s. 1 Mig was downed by AIM-54. 1 by AIM-9 and the last Mig was downed in a long turning gun-fight! But again, all 6 AIM-7s have missed.

[Blu3wolf]

ORIGINAL: TMP95

Upon further playtesting. I'm starting to wonder some if AIM-9M is not accurate / successful enough. Ditto that for later version AIM-7s

I've set up and number of computer AI VS AI scenarios - I'm seeing F-14Ds firing 10-12 shots off and maybe scoring 2 hits. Be it 4 AIM-54s, 4 AIM-7s and 2 AIM-9Ms. The late addition AIM-7s seem to miss much more than I suspect they should. Understand earlier 1970s, 80s AIM-7s had a low 25% hit rate. But I believe the lateer 90s updated AIM-7s should have a better success rate.

I'm play testing with "ACE" US. and "Averge" Opfor units. In 2 Vs 3 engagements (computer AI both). Basically losing 2 Tomcats for 2 Mig-29s. Starting out coming head on at 70NM + .

I've also noticed. The AI does not seem to to a good job of datalinking a target so that it will be fired upon. Via that datalink. It seems the F-14Ds will not fire upon Migs until they have their OWN radar turned on. Yet the E2C in the air has them (MIGs) spotted and is showing them on the map. F-14s will not fire until their radar is turned on and locked up on them. Which should not be the case. Now if you manually take over, I can have them Fire via the Datalink. But they don't seem to on their own. Plan to test this further.

hmm... where are you getting that 25% Pk rate from?

with the AIM-7s - are any of them the result of your aircraft no longer supporting the missile?

[TMP95]

I believe I read the AIM-7 accuracy was around the 25-30% hit rates in 70s / 80s conflicts. Could be wrong.

And no, F-14Ds are not breaking contact on Migs while AIM-7s are in the air (not going defensive at this point in fight).

[Dimitris]

ORIGINAL: burasko
Thank you for this simulation, I waited for a long time. In the production of the mission, I found many inaccuracies that would be good to fix, for example: F-4E Phantom II has better radar as the most advanced Russian aircraft, the evidence guided missile at a greater distance than even the SU-35 with Irbis Radar, you can check on the attached mission. I do not understand why the enemy missiles so easy detectably with radar. The only information we have realistic about the missile launch is at RWR receiver, because the enemy radar switched to STT mode. Then there is a very high efficiency AIM-54 Phoenix against maneuverable fighter aircraft, the Phoenix missile designed primarily against bombers and its possibilities against maneuverable fighter is limited. and much more, as I write, when the interested ...

Thanks for posting the save. We'll examine it for any issues.

[Dimitris]

ORIGINAL: TMP95
Upon further playtesting. I'm starting to wonder some if AIM-9M is not accurate / successful enough. Ditto that for later version AIM-7s

I've set up and number of computer AI VS AI scenarios - I'm seeing F-14Ds firing 10-12 shots off and maybe scoring 2 hits. Be it 4 AIM-54s, 4 AIM-7s and 2 AIM-9Ms. The late addition AIM-7s seem to miss much more than I suspect they should. Understand earlier 1970s, 80s AIM-7s had a low 25% hit rate. But I believe the lateer 90s updated AIM-7s should have a better success rate.

What does the message log say? Why do the missiles miss? Are the decoyed? Are they jammed? Are they outmaneuvered? Do they run out of energy?

Remember guys, this is not Harpoon. There are multiple discrete steps in the missile endgame. Before getting to the "sexy" manouvering part, the missile first has to run the electronic warfare gauntlet - not sexy, but often much more important than pulling Gs. We hoped that the message log was making this abundantly clear but we begin to suspect that people read the message log about as much as they read the manual.

I'm play testing with "ACE" US. and "Averge" Opfor units. In 2 Vs 3 engagements (computer AI both). Basically losing 2 Tomcats for 2 Mig-29s. Starting out coming head on at 70NM + .

If you think there is a problem, please post a save.

I've also noticed. The AI does not seem to to a good job of datalinking a target so that it will be fired upon. Via that datalink. It seems the F-14Ds will not fire upon Migs until they have their OWN radar turned on. Yet the E2C in the air has them (MIGs) spotted and is showing them on the map. F-14s will not fire until their radar is turned on and locked up on them. Which should not be the case. Now if you manually take over, I can have them Fire via the Datalink. But they don't seem to on their own. Plan to test this further.

This is a popular misconception. F-14s cannot fire the Phoenix silently. They must illuminate the target at launch, and they must also provide illumination during mid-course at very regular intervals or else the missile will lose guidance. Only at the terminal phase, when the missile goes active, can the F-14 break off.

[Dimitris]

ORIGINAL: TMP95
What I'm noticing is that the Migs are never designated "hostile" by the AWACs or the F-14Ds until the battle is within 20NM or closer. Should this be the case? I have both sides set to "hostile" with one another. It seems the E2C block II should be able to ID the Migs has hostile before 20NM?

How? If the bogey is radiating they will attempt to classify/identify it by its emissions but that takes time. Other than that, it's down to eyeballs.

There are several ways you can instruct your forces to engage contacts not yet positively classified as hostile. You can, for example, set their "Engage non-hostiles" doctrine option to YES. Or you can define a forbidden zone around the unit/area you want to protect, and configure it so that any contact detected inside it is auto-declared hostile. Of course in both cases you run the risk of shooting down airliners but this is your call.

Last encounter had me step in with Migs around 50 NM out. hit the "H" key and immediately F-14s engaged. End of battle saw both F-14s Winchester of missiles as well as all 3 Mig-29s. 1 Mig was downed by AIM-54. 1 by AIM-9 and the last Mig was downed in a long turning gun-fight! But again, all 6 AIM-7s have missed.

"Missed" how? Jammed? Spoofed? Outrun? Outmanouvered? What does the message log say?

[navwarcol]

I think that for many years, all of the "cool" videos/movies, showed a missile 'locking on' then fired, then exploding fighter, but yes the pk always has been low against enemies who were capable in their aircraft.
Same on the ID.. radar sees an aircraft, but radar alone cannot classify it as anything more than a blip onscreen. If the target is not emitting, the only way to know what it is exactly is eyeballs, though at some range you can assume it hostile by its speed, maneuvering, etc.
The USS Vincennes incident in the Persian Gulf showed one what may happen when you assume that however.

[bsq]

You are setting a 3rd Gen interceptor against a 4th Gen Multirole with some of the best countermeasures there are - why are you so surprised that the results are the way they are?

[RoryAndersonCDT]

Missiles miss. [:D]
Missiles

If you really want something destroyed I'd highly recommend something with a few more kilo tones of explosive power.

[TMP95]

ORIGINAL: bsq

You are setting a 3rd Gen interceptor against a 4th Gen Multirole with some of the best countermeasures there are - why are you so surprised that the results are the way they are?

An American F-14D Vs a N. Korean MIg-29A is not exactly what you suggest above. Added to that we have pilot skill of "Ace" Vs "Cadet" or "Average".


But irregardless of that I have been at work all day and plan to do more play testing. What I am seeing is the AI flown F-14Ds do not seem to take the tactical advantage of reaching out BVR on the Migs.

[thewood1]

Do ROE settings have a role here. I have found myself frustrated at times until I look at those and adjust. This especially true now with new engagement options.

[TMP95]

ORIGINAL: thewood1

Do ROE settings have a role here. I have found myself frustrated at times until I look at those and adjust. This especially true now with new engagement options.

I'll look into this, very well could be it. I could be missing something. and my OP was not really a critique (though it does come off that way) more just an exploratory question to throw out at others.

I definitely can get higher kill ratings/ratios if I take over these AtoA engagements. It has just been entertaining to try and set up and number of different "what if" encounters.

I do say I've seen more AIM-7M misses than I think seems right. In fact, I don't know if I've seen one hit with an AIM-7M that was launched via AI (I know I have scored hits with them when micromanaging).

This is a great SIM.

[TMP95]

Just did another playtest now home. Took control of F-14Ds. Fired 11 missiles. All 4 AIM-54s missed (message given was missed). Jamming of them failed. But they missed target. 4 AIM-7s fired. 1 Hit. 3 Miss. 2 AIM-9s fired both missed. (message missed).

2nd Run through tonight. Fired 4 AIM-54s (3 miss / 1 hit). Fired 4 AIM-7s (all miss). Fired 4 AIM-9s (3 miss 1 hit). All of these shots are taking place inside of 45nm mark. Vast majority of misses are just that misses (all jamming is failing except twice I've seen).

[bsq]

ORIGINAL: TMP95

ORIGINAL: bsq

You are setting a 3rd Gen interceptor against a 4th Gen Multirole with some of the best countermeasures there are - why are you so surprised that the results are the way they are?

An American F-14D Vs a N. Korean MIg-29A is not exactly what you suggest above. Added to that we have pilot skill of "Ace" Vs "Cadet" or "Average".


But irregardless of that I have been at work all day and plan to do more play testing. What I am seeing is the AI flown F-14Ds do not seem to take the tactical advantage of reaching out BVR on the Migs.

Sorry to disagree, but the F-14D is a 3 Gen Interceptor - even if its developement was at the tail end of 3G. MiG-29 is a 4 Gen Air Superiority Fighter albeit with short legs and a light load out.

The advantages that your interceptor has with BVR are almost certainly lost when you consider the handling characteristics and the EPM systems etc on the MiG.

Sure the MiG will have to close in order to get a shot at the F-14 but there is no reason why this wont happen.