Radio Command and Semi Auto Command Guidance...

[tiopilotos 2,504]

After experimenting with Radio Command missiles, I want to ask how this guidance method actually works in SF2.

 

I converted the AIM-7F Sparrow from SARH to Radio Command and realized that only against ground targets can be launched (with very high success rate). However the real interesting thing is that when I converted SA-3s and SA-8s to Radio Command their effectiveness was increased significantly! Really can't understand how this thing works. Also what's the difference between RC and Semi Auto Command?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

[BlitzGreek 34]

  Semi auto radar homing stands for the SARH ..and to explain it simple the missile has an image-data transmitter to the aircraft-station radar so it weights less and has better range and performance as it is needed a big antenna to lock the target and the tip of the missile is too small to be effective enough..That is what i know about SARH missiles..if i am mistaken please correct me so i don't talk nonsense 

[tiopilotos 2,504]

I'm talking about Semi Auto Command Guidance not for Semi Active Radar Homing. SARH missiles demand a radar lock on for launching them. SACG just needs a ground target lock which can be done by pressing E button. 

[Snailman 517]

Not all the guidance types are usable for weapons. Although some weapons can be used by ground AND/OR air units, they might not work properly.

 

Difference between CG or SACG is unclear. I suppose, CG needs the seeker head to see the target, SACG might work with mid-course correction, this case it can be launched on a target out of seeker range, and will lock only when arrives into seeker proximity. These are for Air to ground missiles, not for SAM.  SAM uses Beam rider and SAHM, perhaps ARH (and of course IR), the difference is the same as well.

[mehlmehlmehl 11]

May these helps to answer the question:

 

Manual Command to Line-Of-Sight (MCL)

Both target tracking and missile tracking and control are performed manually. The operator watches the missile flight, and uses a signaling system to command the missile back into the straight line between operator and target (the "line of sight"). This is typically useful only for slower targets, where significant "lead" is not required. MCLOS is a subtype of command guided systems. In the case of glide bombs or missiles against ships or the supersonic “Wasserfall” against slow-moving B-17 Flying Fortress bombers this system worked, but as speeds increased MCLOS was quickly rendered useless for most roles.

  Semi-Manual Command to Line-Of-Sight (SMCLOS)

Target tracking is automatic, while missile tracking and control is manual.

  Semi-Automatic Command to Line-Of-Sight (SACLOS)

Target tracking is manual, but missile tracking and control is automatic. Is similar to MCLOS but some automatic system positions the missile in the line of sight while the operator simply tracks the target. *SACLOS has the advantage of allowing the missile to start in a position invisible to the user, as well as generally being considerably easier to operate. SACLOS is the most common form of guidance against ground targets such as tanks and bunkers.

  Automatic Command to Line-Of-Sight (ACLOS)

Target tracking, missile tracking and control are automatic.

 

 

Command Off Line-Of-Sight (COLOS)

 

This guidance system was one of the first to be used and still is in service, mainly in anti-aircraft missiles. In this system, the target tracker and the missile tracker can be oriented in different directions. The guidance system ensures the interception of the target by the missile by locating both in space. This means that they will not rely on the angular coordinates like in CLOS systems. They will need another coordinate which is distance. To make it possible, both target and missile trackers have to be active. They are always automatic and the radar has been used as the only sensor in these systems. The SM-2MR Standard is inertially guided during its mid-course phase, but it is assisted by a COLOS system via radar link provided by the AN/SPY-1 radar installed in the launching platform.

  Line-Of-Sight Beam Riding Guidance (LOSBR)

LOSBR uses a "beam" of some sort, typically radio, radar or laser, which is pointed at the target and detectors on the rear of the missile keep it centered in the beam. Beam riding systems are often SACLOS, but do not have to be; in other systems the beam is part of an automated radar tracking system. A case in point is later versions of the RIM-8 Talos missile as used in Vietnam - the radar beam was used to take the missile on a high arcing flight and then gradually brought down in the vertical plane of the target aircraft, the more accurate SARH homing being used at the last moment for the actual strike. This gave the enemy pilot the least possible warning that his aircraft was being illuminated by missile guidance radar, as opposed to search radar. This is an important distinction, as the nature of the signal differs, and is used as a cue for evasive action.

LOSBR suffers from the inherent weakness of inaccuracy with increasing range as the beam spreads out. Laser beam riders are more accurate in this regards, but are all short-range, and even the laser can be degraded by bad weather. On the other hand, SARH becomes more accurate with decreasing distance to the target, so the two systems are complementary.

 

 

Manual Command to Line-Of-Sight (MCL)

 

Both target tracking and missile tracking and control are performed manually. The operator watches the missile flight, and uses a signaling system to command the missile back into the straight line between operator and target (the "line of sight"). This is typically useful only for slower targets, where significant "lead" is not required. MCLOS is a subtype of command guided systems. In the case of glide bombs or missiles against ships or the supersonic “Wasserfall” against slow-moving B-17 Flying Fortress bombers this system worked, but as speeds increased MCLOS was quickly rendered useless for most roles.

  Semi-Manual Command to Line-Of-Sight (SMCLOS)

Target tracking is automatic, while missile tracking and control is manual.

  Semi-Automatic Command to Line-Of-Sight (SACLOS)

Target tracking is manual, but missile tracking and control is automatic. Is similar to MCLOS but some automatic system positions the missile in the line of sight while the operator simply tracks the target. *SACLOS has the advantage of allowing the missile to start in a position invisible to the user, as well as generally being considerably easier to operate. SACLOS is the most common form of guidance against ground targets such as tanks and bunkers.

  Automatic Command to Line-Of-Sight (ACLOS)

Target tracking, missile tracking and control are automatic.

 

 

Command Off Line-Of-Sight (COLOS)

 

This guidance system was one of the first to be used and still is in service, mainly in anti-aircraft missiles. In this system, the target tracker and the missile tracker can be oriented in different directions. The guidance system ensures the interception of the target by the missile by locating both in space. This means that they will not rely on the angular coordinates like in CLOS systems. They will need another coordinate which is distance. To make it possible, both target and missile trackers have to be active. They are always automatic and the radar has been used as the only sensor in these systems. The SM-2MR Standard is inertially guided during its mid-course phase, but it is assisted by a COLOS system via radar link provided by the AN/SPY-1 radar installed in the launching platform.

  Line-Of-Sight Beam Riding Guidance (LOSBR)

LOSBR uses a "beam" of some sort, typically radio, radar or laser, which is pointed at the target and detectors on the rear of the missile keep it centered in the beam. Beam riding systems are often SACLOS, but do not have to be; in other systems the beam is part of an automated radar tracking system. A case in point is later versions of the RIM-8 Talos missile as used in Vietnam - the radar beam was used to take the missile on a high arcing flight and then gradually brought down in the vertical plane of the target aircraft, the more accurate SARH homing being used at the last moment for the actual strike. This gave the enemy pilot the least possible warning that his aircraft was being illuminated by missile guidance radar, as opposed to search radar. This is an important distinction, as the nature of the signal differs, and is used as a cue for evasive action.

LOSBR suffers from the inherent weakness of inaccuracy with increasing range as the beam spreads out. Laser beam riders are more accurate in this regards, but are all short-range, and even the laser can be degraded by bad weather. On the other hand, SARH becomes more accurate with decreasing distance to the target, so the two systems are complementary.

[jeanba 1,915]

Not all the guidance types are usable for weapons. Although some weapons can be used by ground AND/OR air units, they might not work properly.

 

Difference between CG or SACG is unclear. I suppose, CG needs the seeker head to see the target, SACG might work with mid-course correction, this case it can be launched on a target out of seeker range, and will lock only when arrives into seeker proximity. These are for Air to ground missiles, not for SAM.  SAM uses Beam rider and SAHM, perhaps ARH (and of course IR), the difference is the same as well.

For the AS30 command guided versions, there were 2 variants :

The command guided version required the pilot (the Mirage III was a single seater !) to guide with a joystick the missile on the target, while obviously piloting his plane.

The "improved version" was based on some kind of inertial guidance, and the pilot "simply" had to keep the target in his gunsight.

The main drawback is that the inertial system (in french Centrale à Inertie) required 6-7 hours of tuning a carefull manipulation to avoid "detuning" the gyroscops.

[tiopilotos 2,504]

Mehlmehl, I didn't ask how the missile guidance works in real life but how Radio Command and Semi Auto Command work in SF2.

 

In real life aircraft radars have air to ground modes and can lock on ground targets. In SF2 ground map mode provides only the location of a target but you can't track it via radar. Locking ground targets can be done by pressing E key (red box).

 

Radio Command and Semi Auto Command are being used mostly for air to ground missiles. I have seen that RC is used for short range AGMs like AS.30 or Kh-23 and SAC is used for anti ship missiles like AM.39 Exocet. So, my question is what's their difference? 

 

Snailman said that SAC can be fired from outside seeker range (obviously when Max. Launch Range > Seeker Range). Any other thoughts?