Static SAM Out of Weapon Dynamic Launch Zone

[reezing]

I have a group of Su-24s armed with AS-12 ARMS pitted against a static SA-3C. The AS-12 has a range of 20nm, but even at 36000 feet altitude and 16nm range to target I get the message that the target is out of the DLZ. Why would a static target with a known location be out of the DLZ?

Also, is there any way I can override DLZ settings? I rather miss the target than risk entering into the SAM's engagement zone.

[dcpollay]

The Dynamic Launch Zone has a number of conditions you must meet. Some things to start with...

Are your aircraft and ARMs pointed at the target? If your group is loitering and circling away from the target, they will not be able to engage.
Will that missile fire from that height? Systems have varying altitude requirements. Check the weapon database for altitude requirements.
Is the SA-3 site emitting? There must be a radar signal for the ARM to lock onto. It is not enough to know the location.

If they don't work, maybe someone else has some other suggestions.

[reezing]

1. Yes the aircraft is facing the target.
2. The aircraft is well within the launch altitude
3. SA-3 Site is continuously emitting

Anyways, the error message for all 3 of the above situations would be different from what I am getting right now.

I redirected the aircraft to SA-4s south of its current location and the missiles launched as soon as I entered the 20nm circle on the map.

[wild_Willie2]

Ah yes, the ALARM also has this nasty tendency. You can only launch them well within their max range, even at max altitude.

Would be nice to see what the devs make of this one.

W.

[thewood1]

I am asking because I don't know...can the ALARM detect a SA-3's radar? Not sure and never looked before.

[Dysta]

Run the savefile recently, the AS-12 just met the DLZ while SA-3 is already launched, but the missile still need time to detect it. As Willie said, air launch ARM has to work within the max range:

[RoryAndersonCDT]

Need to climb higher to get the most range out of your missiles



Here I am able to engage SAM site out of its range using your save.

[Dimitris]

It's often overlooked that DLZ calcs take into account not only target position/altitude and velocity, but also the same properties for the launching platform.

This is why fighters try to maximize their speed & altitude before launching BVR missiles.

[Dysta]

Ohhh. I forgot the altitude isn't locked at the maximum height.

[kevinkins]

Since Command is not a flight sim, the role of altitude was initially forgotten when I first started. Probably because I was not looking out of a "cockpit" into a 3D environment. Maybe because there are new concepts to master as well. But altitude is fundamental to your attack runs and egress. Takes a bit of practice, but the light goes off eventually. Practice helps across the board, not just in this particular case.

[Dysta]

ORIGINAL: kevinkin

Since Command is not a flight sim, the role of altitude was initially forgotten when I first started. Probably because I was not looking out of a "cockpit" into a 3D environment. Maybe because there are new concepts to master as well. But altitude is fundamental to your attack runs and egress. Takes a bit of practice, but the light goes off eventually. Practice helps across the board, not just in this particular case.

I do check over the altitude, but I am confused if ARM have to be leveled to the target in able to lock on. So it can fire downward with no problem as I know it right now.

[RoryAndersonCDT]

Missiles generally trace a ballistic path through the air, their rocket motors only lighting for the first dozen or so seconds of flight. Altitude is essential for hitting targets at long range.

[reezing]

I always assumed that the missile max effective range is denoted by the circles on the map, since the circles shrink/expand when I change the altitude.

[Dimitris]

The ASuW-Land circle expands/contracts by altitude only when you are carrying unguided weapons. When carrying guided weapons, the circle remains fixed in range (denoting max nominal) but the actual DLZ is variable (and calculated only on-demand since it is an expensive computation).

[reezing]

Neat! Thanks!