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[B 1892] Cranking - Illumination arc

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2026 9:12 pm
by Knightpawn
I am referring to this post in the main forum

https://forums.matrixgames.com/viewtopic.php?t=417663

The illumination arc of the F16 radar in the icon on the unit tab is 120 degrees (60 to each side). Meaning that after shooting the missile the f-16 would crank (i.e.) turn and put the target at 50 degrees port or starboard and keep it there until there was need to go defensive. I used to be very strong at this two centuries ago when I used to fly Falcon BMS shooting AIM120 at 12nm and getting away :-)

But in the test the F16 keeps its illumination arc narrow and cannot execute a crank maneuver. This could mean two things
  • Either the illumination arc icon of that particular radar model is misleading or,
  • if not misleading, it does not work as it was supposed to be
Note 1 : My conjecture is that this does not relate to the particular radar model but a lot of radars that have two arcs (one search and one illumination) do not work as supposed to be
Note 2:: contrary to the F-16 the behaviour of Mig-29 in the same dogfight is as expected (it cranks at 45-50 degrees and keeps guiding the missile); the illumination arc however shown on the map is does not become wide.
Screenshot 2026-06-29 020613.png
Screenshot 2026-06-29 020613.png (3.22 MiB) Viewed 183 times

Re: [B 1892] Illumination arc stays narrow after launch

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2026 7:14 am
by Dimitris
I responded about this on the original thread, please see there.

Re: [B 1892] Illumination arc stays narrow after launch

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2026 1:27 pm
by Knightpawn
Dimitris wrote: Tue Jun 30, 2026 7:14 am I responded about this on the original thread, please see there.
In the attachment below feel free to run a few times and observe the BVR behavior of the F15C intercepting Russian fighter WSW of Ireland. It is clear that they move straight in towards their targets and end up becoming easy prey. They simply do not crank. They prioritise "normal" illumination and move nonchalantly towards the enemy missiles. I have difflugid to believe that this was designed with this behavior in mind

Re: [B 1892] Illumination arc stays narrow after launch

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2026 1:32 pm
by blu3s
Please, always post a scenario with the minimun amount of units needed to reproduce the issue and not one with 1k units to report a fighter behavior...

Re: [B 1892] Illumination arc stays narrow after launch

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2026 1:52 pm
by Knightpawn
blu3s wrote: Tue Jun 30, 2026 1:32 pm Please, always post a scenario with the minimun amount of units needed to reproduce the issue and not one with 1k units to report a fighter behavior...
There are only a few blue units airborne most related to the case reported.

You can see the behavior in isolation in the original post. You cannot get any more minimalist than that

Re: [B 1892] Illumination arc stays narrow after launch

Posted: Tue Jun 30, 2026 7:43 pm
by Knightpawn
blu3s wrote: Tue Jun 30, 2026 1:32 pm Please, always post a scenario with the minimun amount of units needed to reproduce the issue and not one with 1k units to report a fighter behavior...
Hi

Check also this save from the same incident. The F16s know that there are enemy missiles in the air (see detections on the side) but they don't crank and they don't engage defensive.
[to make you happy, I deleted all other units from the scenario

Do you wish me to post this separately? I believe they are all interconnected