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A newbie question, I am trying to test the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) ability in this game.

My initial test with AMRAAM P3I.4 works perfectly. Supporting AEW guided the AAM to its targets while the launching aircraft keeps its radar off. GREAT. In this case, the AEW is E7-A Wedgetail and AAM launcher is FA-18D.

But when I tried the same with PL-15 with PLAAF AEW (be it KJ600 or KJ300), the PL-15 launching aircraft keeps their radar active even with AEW is closer to the targets. KJ-3000 has a LOS-limited PL-15 Command datalink with 150nm. In the tests, the targets are within 50nm with clear LOS. KJ600 has 'China JSIDLS' comm link. In both cases, datalink cannot be established between the PL-15 and the AEWs. The only establish datalinks are those between the PL-15 and radar active launcher (be it J-10 or J-20). Is this the expected behavior?

Build 1676, DB3000 v511

Thanks

I you need to have both units with the CEC capable property flagged.

Where is the CEC capability property flag? I though if In the unit's COMMS/Datalinks section has the same datalink, it should be able to communicate.

For AMRRAM, E7A, FA-18D and AMRRAM shares the same AIM-120 Command Datalink [Two-Way]. That works.

For PL-15, KJ-3000, J-35 have the 'PL-15 Command Datalink' and PL-15 has 'PL-15 Command Datalink [Two-Way]'. That does not work.

Look in the unit properties with things like airborne refueling type, Night ops capability, etc.

CEC requires compatible datalinks, not unit properties.

In my experience it's really hard to get working for air to air weapons. Datalinks go to the closer unit. Since AEW aircraft are generally behind fighters, the missiles fired by the fighters default to their firing aircraft. Try moving the AEW aircraft out in front of your fighters (bad idea in an actual scenario)

If you want a more reliable way to see it in action, use a Burke with SM-6s supported by an E-2D against incoming cruise missiles. If the incoming missiles are below the radar horizon of the Burke then the E-2D should guide the SM-6s. You'll see the max number the Burke fires is equal to the number of channels on the E-2D datalink.

Apparently this capability is being added. In this Chinese military aviation blog it is said:

The #10 KJ-600 appears to have a bulge underneath the fuselage housing an experimental CEC dish antenna. Therefore at least one AWACS is thought to possess the cooperative engagement capability similar to the American E-2D.

https://chinese-military-aviation.blogs ... tml#KJ-600


Also.

Just a great image showing the KJ-600 no. 10 + CEC dish antenna

https://x.com/RupprechtDeino/status/1963902837949104262

I know what happened. Lots of PLAAF aircrafts have comm/datalink as "PL-15 Command datalink". However for weapon PL-15; the comm/datalink is "PL-15 Missile Datalink [Two-Way]". These are two different values. I believe if the value is the same, it could work. Just post it in the tech support.

In that case, you can add comm devices in the editor to the ACs in question and test

The aircraft or weapon platforms can be modified in editor? I thought these are only be modified through the database.

You can, but be aware that all edits will be lost once the aircraft returns to base. Lua scripting would be required to continuously maintain edits without having to manually re-add them to every plane.

nogravity wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2025 3:35 pm The aircraft or weapon platforms can be modified in editor? I thought these are only be modified through the database.

You can remove or add sensors, comms and weapons to a platform.

But you cannot modify them, or so I think

Nikel wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2025 3:48 pm

nogravity wrote: Thu Sep 25, 2025 3:35 pm The aircraft or weapon platforms can be modified in editor? I thought these are only be modified through the database.

You can remove or add sensors, comms and weapons to a platform.

But you cannot modify them, or so I think

That's right.

What makes a weapon CEC capable is the datalink and if it has the property supports CEC.

Any hint about how to add Comm/Datalink to platforms? I tried to use INI but i cannot see any changes. Here is the INI. What I am not sure is the <Unit_I4URB5-0HNFT9FQ585LI> part. Is it just appending 'Unit_' with GUID?
325 is the database id of the Comm/datalink to be added. Thus <CommAdd_1_325 />

<ScenarioUnits>
<Unit_I4URB5-0HNFT9FQ585LI>
<CommAdd_1_325 />
<!--PL-15 Missile Datalink [Two-Way]-->
</Unit_I4URB5-0HNFT9FQ585LI>
</ScenarioUnits>

I also looks at Lua functions, are there any example of use ScenEdit_SetUnit or ScenEdit_UpdateUnit to add comm/datalinks?

Thanks

Oh, sorry. In the editor, clicking on the comms button of the unit, the same for sensors and weapons, a window like this should appear.

Oh, I never noticed the two buttons there. Thank you Nikel.