Can some one confirm or otherwise my assumption that an aircraft radar with LDSD flag, but no other air search flag, has a blind spot through the tail?

TIA Don

Can some one confirm or otherwise my assumption that an aircraft radar with LDSD flag, but no other air search flag, has a blind spot through the tail?

TIA Don

 

Yes. You need the "AS (360 degree)" flag to avoid that.

Can some one confirm or otherwise my assumption that an aircraft radar with LDSD flag, but no other air search flag, has a blind spot through the tail?

TIA Don

 

Yes. You need the "AS (360 degree)" flag to avoid that.

Thanks,

So how does that actually work? I presume facing is decided by course. I suppose a loitering aircraft turns around according to some algorithm. How big is the search angle or blind angle? And ultimately, for what aircraft (gemneral types) is this of practical significance?

So how does that actually work? I presume facing is decided by course. I suppose a loitering aircraft turns around according to some algorithm. How big is the search angle or blind angle? And ultimately, for what aircraft (gemneral types) is this of practical significance?

 

The air search radar angle is 60 degrees off the nose. A loitering aircraft will turn in a slow circle and you can observe this by watching the direction of the heading arrow.

 

This is significant for every aircraft not having a 360 degree search radar, so in effect most types, fighters, attack aircraft, etc.

This is significant for every aircraft not having a 360 degree search radar, so in effect most types, fighters, attack aircraft, etc.

 

If we state this the other way round, is it correct that dedicated "radar" aircraft such as AEW, EW, ASW types, plus ships, do have 360 degree radars?

 

Because I hardly ever use the radars on fighters and attack planes for locating enemy units, I don't really care what type of radars they have. The only time I normally use their radars is to guide missiles, and the game doesn't seem to care which direction the launching plane faces.

If we state this the other way round, is it correct that dedicated "radar" aircraft such as AEW, EW, ASW types, plus ships, do have 360 degree radars?

 

There is no hard and fast rule, and it will depend on the radar type and according to the platform.

 

Ships will have the 360 degree radars, almost all AEW types of aircraft, and only certain of the others.

 

... the game doesn't seem to care which direction the launching plane faces.

 

That's right. There are no arcs in effect for missiles launched from aircraft, and only the most basic of links between radar and radar guided weapons.

So an old F-4 Launching Sparrows does not have to stay pointed at target post launch?

So an old F-4 Launching Sparrows does not have to stay pointed at target post launch?

 

Oh yeah, launch, turn and burn, baby! (Also known as dropping rocks down the castle wall, or in SFB terms, the retrograde!)

 

Come to think of it, the Phantom facing at missile launch doesn't seem to matter either. I guess the radar arc only matters for search purposes, but why would you want to be searching with a Phantom? It seems to be a bad idea.

*snip*

 

... or in SFB terms, the retrograde!

 

*snip*

 

Actually, no. The retrograde in SFB involved actually moving in reverse, not just launching and leaving. It was VERY effective, when done properly ...