Matrix Games Forums

Hi, my build is 1.092 and I found that in the game, the harrier gr3 needs a buddy illuminator so it can use paveway II laser guided bombs. However, in reality, harrier G.R.3 was equipped with LRMTS, an laser illuminator which is used to illuminate the target for GBU bombs. As the harrier GR.3s served in the falkland war whith using GUB bombs in operation, and the FAA and RAF did not have any other fixed-wing aircraft on board, if harriers can not illuminate targets on their own, then who could do this? Hoping some improvement on this. BTW, you made a fatanstic game!

Sorry, forgot one thing, the LRMTS was installed on the long nose of Harrier GR.3.

LRMTS is a ranging and spot tracker, not a designator (in most cases).

[Wikipedia]LRMTS installations (particularly fixed internal units) of the 1970s often did not have a laser of sufficient power and slant range to designate targets, although they could provide rangefinding. Such units still required targets to be designated by a ground designator or forward air controller in another aircraft.[/Wikipedia]

Thanks alot, but my question is if Harrier GR.3 used GBUs in the operation, than who was the illuminator? Troops on the ground?

I mean Harrier GR.3 used in Falkland War

According to the Osprey book Air War Falklands 1982 (Chant & Rolfe), "...Harrier warplanes achieved the first successful attack of the campaign with a laser guided bomb when an Argentine headquarters position on Tumbledown, laser designated by a ground-based forward air controller, was destroyed."

Yeah add in a SAS unit with a laser designator and LOS to the target, drive your Harrier GR.3 nearby, and the the SAS unit will automatically provide illumination [8D]