To F-14 fans, would like your enlightment on avionics. Thank you.

[Boresight 51]

Hello everyone,

 

Decided to ask this here at CombatAce, because who better to know about the F-14 Tomcat ?

 

I know this theme might not mean much for many of you, but to everyone who could shed some light on this matter, F-14 avionics, I would really appreciate if you could leave your opinion about the diagrams below.

 

It's of great interest for me to know:

 

How did the old AIM-9 Sidewinders (G or J models) seeker was operated in the F-14A.

(Employment modes / procedures.)

 

- Never had Fleet Defender, although I've been consulting the manual;

- Aerosoft F-14X is very simplistic yet about the AIM-9 procedures;

- On the upcoming Leatherneck's F-14, the forum members don't know much also.

 

So I've done a great deal of research, (streakeagle shared knowledge also), with several people through web forums, from aircraft sim manuals, etc.

Most of my guess work on the " F-14A, AIM-9 G employment modes " is attained by comparison and pure speculation.

 

Used mainly BMS Falcon 4.32 (and it's manuals) to establish how an AIM-9 L or M seeker is used, and from there and searching the web, tried to establish how an old variant (AIM-9 G or J) was used in the Tomcat.

 

As a starting point (on the F-16C), I do not refer in the picture to JHMCS, or Radar specific ACM modes - I'm mostly focused on the AIM-9 seeker head behavior / procedures.

 

On the F-16C, AIM-9 L picture, I'm most certain of the options in the diagram I made.

It's on the F-14A, AIM-9 G picture I would appreciate your opinion.

 

Pictures reading labels:

 

TD - treshold;  seeker automatically uncages if heat signature rises above preset value.

BP - bypass;  bypass treshold mode, pilot press button to uncage.

SEAM - Sidewinder Expanded Acquisition Mode.

 

"auto looking by Radar" only, means that if the AIM-9 seeker isn't uncaged also, it will lose sight of target in case Radar lock is lost.

 

(Although TD and BP modes are part of the F-16 software, doesn't mean they where called exactly like that on the F-14.) 

 

 

Thank you for your time.

Edited April 18, 2016 by Boresight

[+331Killerbee 840]

Your Bottom Graph is a perfect explanation for a "Lima" Missile. SEAM expanded the Seek of the G&C. Aircraft with Radar could lock on to Target and Missile G&C would Track same "Painted" Target. But Aircraft without Radar could not take advantage of this, But still had a Sidewinder in "Expanded" Mode and could Lock a Target at greater Angles of attack.. The "Lima"s on, needed a larger Nitrogen Bottle under more pressure in the LAU-7's for the demand of the G&C s.

 

For a F-14 Tomcat Era study, See if this helps......

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIM-9G   U.S.NAVY  (Upgraded AIM-9D)  1972-1976

 

The "Golf" and featured a solid state design that improved reliability in the carrier environment where shock from catapult launches and
arrested landings had a deteriorating effect on the earlier vacuum tube designs. The "Golf" was an improved version of the basic AIM-9D
featuring larger forward canards as well as a more aerodynamic IR seeker and an improved rocket motor. The missile, however still had
to be fired at the rear quarter of the target, a drawback of all early IR missiles.(Boresight)

 

 

AIM-9L  U.S. NAVY    1977-1982

 

The "Lima"was the first "all-aspect" Sidewinder with the ability to attack from all directions, including head-on,(SEAM) which had a dramatic
effect on close in combat tactics. Its first combat use was by a pair of US Navy F-14s in the Gulf of Sidra in 1981 versus two
Libyan Su-22 Fitters, both of the latter being destroyed by AIM-9Ls. Its first use in a large-scale conflict was by the United Kingdom
during the 1982 Falklands War. In this campaign the "Lima" reportedly achieved a kill ratio of around 80%, a dramatic improvement over
the 10–15% levels of earlier versions, scoring 17 kills and 2 shared kills against Argentine aircraft.The "Lima" was distinguished from
earlier Sidewinder variants by its double delta forward canard configuration and natural metal finish of the guidance and control section.
(DSQ-29 seeker unit)
There are a number of "Lima" variants in operational service at present. First developed was the 9L Tactical, which is an upgraded version
of the basic 9L missile. Next was the 9L Genetic, which has increased infra-red counter counter measures (IRCCM); this upgrade consisted of
a removable module in the Guidance Control Section (GCS) which provided flare-rejection capability. Next came the 9L(I), which had its
IRCCM module hardwired into the GCS, providing improved countermeasures as well as an upgraded seeker system. Diehl BGT also markets the
AIM-9L(I)-1 which again upgrades the 9L(I)GCS and is considered an operational equivalent to the initially "US only" AIM-9M.

 

 

AIM-9M   USAF U.S.NAVY  1982-Present

 

The subsequent AIM-9M ("Mike") has the all-aspect capability of the L model while providing all-around higher performance. The M model
has improved capability against infrared countermeasures, enhanced background discrimination capability, and a reduced-smoke rocket motor.
These modifications increase its ability to locate and lock-on to a target and decrease the chance of missile detection. Deliveries of the
initial AIM-9M-1 began in 1982. The only changes from the AIM-9L to the AIM-9M were related to the Guidance Control Section (GCS). Several
models were introduced in pairs with even numbers designating Navy versions and odd for USAF: AIM-9M-2/3, AIM-9M-4/5, and AIM-9M-6/7 which
was rushed to the Persian Gulf area during Operation Desert Shield (1991) to address specific threats expected to be present.

The AIM-9M-8/9 incorporated replacement of five circuit cards and the related parentboard to update infrared counter counter measures
(IRCCM) capability to improve 9M capability against the latest threat IRCM. The first AIM-9M-8/9 modifications, fielded in 1995, involved
deskinning the guidance section and substitution of circuit cards at the depot level, which is labor-intensive and expensive—as well as
removing missiles from inventory during the upgrade period. The AIM-9X concept is to use reprogrammable software to
permit upgrades without disassembly.

 

 

 

Semper Fi!

 

331KillerBee

[+EricJ 4,238]

331Killerbee pretty much nailed it. Quite frankly I was in the US Army, and not in the US Navy, so I have no real experience (only SF2 experience).

Edited April 20, 2016 by EricJ

[Boresight 51]

Thank you for your attention guys.

 

331Killerbee, great deal of information there !

 

You got me confused:

- the "Lima" (AIM-9 L) is supposed to be the 1st. graph (working in the F-16C) ;

- i thought the SEAM feature was not available in the Lima ;

- G&C stands for "guidance and control" ?

 

Thank you for your time.

Edited April 20, 2016 by Boresight

[Boresight 51]

I know the several modes / submodes add more confusion in the 1st. diagram ( F-16C and AIM-9 L ), let me explain in example :

 

Slaved to Radar  &  AIM-9 caged  -  if Radar lock is lost, the AIM-9 seeker also loses the target.

( AIM-9 seeker was only "looking" at target, pointed by Radar. )

 

Slaved to Radar  &  AIM-9 uncaged  -  if Radar lock is lost, the AIM-9 seeker will stay on target.

( AIM-9 seeker now has true "lock" on target. )

 

Besides the above stated, in the F-16C, the seeker uncage process can be manual or automatic.

 

I'm trying to establish which and how, of these possibilities were on the F-14A & AIM-9 G, or J models, and their interaction with Boresight (also called "caged" back then), and SEAM modes.

Edited April 20, 2016 by Boresight

[+Gepard 11,287]

To say, that the AIM-9L was the first all aspect IR guided missile is popular, but not 100% correct. (Its perhaps 95% correct.)

In reality is was not able for a direct nose shot. There was a cone of perhaps 5° in which the Lima was unable to lock on.

I must look into my archive to find an east german graphic about this subject, which was really close to reality, how i found out in the early 90th when i discussed this topic with  west german F-4 pilot.

In 1982 the AIM-9L was used in Lebanon War. Only in the first battles the Israelis used the AIM-9L in head on shots, because the most shots missed the target. Shots from a slighty sideward moved position already hit the target. But there was a big problem with Friend or Foe discrimination, so that they used the Lima in tail on dogfights in the most cases.

 

Up today, i have not yet seen a HUD screen movie of a AIM-9L head on target shot and kill. Perhaps someone of you has a link to such a video.

[+Gepard 11,287]

I must correct myself. The AIM-9L in 1982 was able to do a head on shot if the incoming enemy plane was on afterburner. Under such condition it was truely an all aspect missile.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Gepard

[Boresight 51]

Hello,

 

Yes, also have read that in some DACT a Tomcat jockey turned off the engines temporarily, so that the opponent couldn't get a heat-seeker lock on him when they were facing each other, at the begining of the merge.

 

 

But again, CombatACE forum members;

 

I'm counting on you people, jet fighter enthusiasts, simmers, US jet fighter knowledgeables, everyone, to shed some light on this matter - feel free to say what you think on the F-14A diagram:

 

- do you think there were other modes ?

- possibly manual seeker uncage (instead of automatic), in some of them ?

 

Heck, some of my assumptions like : the "seeker moving search pattern" (in SEAM mode) may also imply automatic seeker lock / uncage, come from Fleet Defender manual.

Even bearing in mind it was just a PC sim, some info there is quite logical and consistent - can give examples if needed.

Edited April 22, 2016 by Boresight