FCR - CRM

RWS / TWS: Search modes

SAM / STT: Track  modes

FCR Power On

FCR MFD SOI

RWS

TMS Up Target Designation

TMS Down Unlock Target

TMS Left  Short IFF Scan

TMS Left  Long IFF LOS

TMS Right Short Change Primary Target in DTT

TMS Right Long RWS <> TWS

Bug SAM

TMS Up STT (Single Target Track)

TMS Up DTT (Dual Target Track)

TMS Right Short Change Primary Target in DTT

Situational Awareness Mode (SAM) acquisition. Target acquisition and lock is initiated by placing the acquisition cursor over a target, positioning the TMS on the stick forward once, then releasing the TMS. This starts the Situational Awareness Mode (SAM) acquisition sequence.

During acquisition, the antenna is directed to the last known target position, and a 4-bar, ±10-degree Spotlight search is performed.

If a target is not under the acquisition cursor when TMS forward is released or no target is detected, the scan coverage reverts to the previous scan pattern.

After a successful acquisition, the SAM mode is entered. The target is tracked but the radar continues to scan the area and display additional targets. This is commonly referred to as ‘designating’ or ‘bugging’ a target.

SAM mode may be exited with TMS aft on the stick.

Positioning TMS forward with the acquisition cursor over the SAM target enters Single Target Track (STT) mode.

Single Target Track (STT) acquisition. Target acquisition and lock is initiated by placing the acquisition cursor over a target, positioning the TMS on the stick forward twice in quick succession, then releasing the TMS. The acquisition sequence is the same as above except only one target is tracked.

The radar now focuses all its energy on a single target and provides constant updates. However, the radar will no longer detect other contacts and the enemy may be alerted by this radar lock.

STT mode may be exited with TMS aft on the stick. TMS Aft once returns to SAM mode with the target bugged.

TMS Aft twice returns to RWS mode.

TWS

TMS Up Target Designation

TMS Down Unlock Target

TMS Left  Short IFF Scan

TMS Left  Long IFF LOS

TMS Right Short Target: Track > System > Bugged

TMS Right Long RWS <> TWS

Targets: Search > Track > System > (Cursor) > Bugged > STT

Track targets can be transitioned to system targets in two ways: either place the radar cursor over a track target and TMS Up on the stick to transition only that target or TMS Right on the stick to transition all track targets to system targets if no other system targets are displayed.

One option that then becomes available is establishment of a Cursor Target. This is done by positioning the cursor over any system target. This transitions the scan to 3-bar, ±25 degrees centered on that target to provide faster updates and reduce the chance of losing the track. This does not designate the target for AIM-120 employment but increases its priority for radar updates. The priority target can be changed by slewing the cursor to another system target. Slewing away from all system targets returns to the normal scan. System targets can be designated as the bugged target by placing the radar cursor over it and TMS Up on the stick. This transitions the scan to 3-bar, ±25 degrees centered on the bugged target to provide faster updates and reduce the chance of losing the track.

Track files are established on up to 10 targets based on information received on each radar sweep. The radar scan volume options are identical to those used for RWS but are reduced to 3-bar, ±25 degrees when a target is designated.

RWS

• Wider angle/area

• Faster display

• Stronger lock

• Performs better against maneuvering targets

• Harder to jam

• Use without AWACS

TWS

• Multiple Targers (support 6 missiles in flight)

• Silent lock

• Use with AWACS

To Radar του F-16 μπορεί να κάνει Lock στα 40nm

4 Bar = 12o

Στα 10nm το εύρος ύψους του radar είναι 12.000ft

Στα 20nm το εύρος ύψους του radar είναι 24.000ft

STT lock (from SAM or TWS) doesn't give launch warning, it gives lock warning. It's sometimes enough to make bandit go defensive if they are not aware of your weapon envelop. It's used IRL for example when bandit come too close of a country border.

When in SAM mode, your radar will not adjust its elevation based on the target altitude, therefore, it is easier to lose lock when the target is dropping or increasing altitude (or the target gets too close it and goes below or above your radar elevation, which was set before you lock your target). TWS will also adjust your radar elevation automatically to maintain a lock, although rapid change in altitude brakes TWS Lock. Thus, TWS mode does not drop lock as easily as SAM mode does. (SAM should follow elevation of the bugged target(s) at least when in AUTO SAM. That'll come when it's finished.)

Since TWS scan and lock takes longer than RWS, when you are in a hurry try to use RWS to lock your target and engage your target in SAM mode (not STT because they will receive a lock warning).

Even in RWS the radar does not always show a digital contact symbol on the first detection. The radar has a memory and may detect the target two or more times before deciding it has enough confidence to display a symbol on the FCR format.

TWS displays track files which require at least two scans of the target and generally more than RWS. This is why searching in TWS results in delayed symbol display, not because TWS is weak or didn't see the target earlier but because it must build up the detections into a track. If memory serves it will display contacts that it hasn't built a track yet for.

Lastly track file building is happening all the time, even in RWS, so that when the display mode is changed those tracks are immediately available. There is a lot to the radar happening "behind the curtain" that's not obvious by the display. Similarly even when the range scale is 10nm it's still looking out to 160nm.

Operationally RWS is going to give you the fastest display of a new contact compared to TWS. RWS-SAM is going to hold onto a track (slightly?) better than bugged TWS although at the risk of lock-alerting the target (depends on range, target's EW gear). The benefits of TWS are mostly showing all that pretty track file information and being able to support six missiles in flight. In terms of raw performance TWS is equal or inferior in all cases. TWS is only preferable for its information displayed and potentially subtlety to detection.

Why would you ever use RWS compared to TWS mode? Wider angle/area for finding targets. Particularly when there’s no Link-16 or when AWACS can’t be relied upon for accurate information. You should be using TWS any time you know general whereabouts of hostile contacts and you plan to engage said contacts. Because the radar waveforms in RWS are better at picking up beaming and dragging targets. TWS you will lose contacts unless they’re flying at you.

In DCS as currently modeled the reasons to use RWS are somewhat limited. It generally performs better against maneuvering targets. If DCS ever gets a more robust EM simulation going on, RWS allegedly burns through jamming better than TWS as it directs more energy at a much smaller volume of space (assuming the platform has a large enough radar, i.e. Eagle or Tomcat). Another reason may be as simple as timeline and mutual support contracts if you're in an organized group.

For some fun anecdote, several RW Viper and Hornet drivers have said that TWS is extremely unreliable on those platforms. They often call it "Track While Lie" because the data shown is usually inaccurate. Pretty sure it's because they have smaller radars and just can't push the power needed for it to meet the design intent of the mode.

So honestly radar in this game isn't the best designed thing ever. TWS is a lot more effective in DCS than it is in real life. Think of radar as a spotlight. In TWS it's moving side to side and your only update on where the person is the last time the light shined on them. In RWS the spotlight is focusing on one target so you always know where they are. Because of that, RWS is a lot more effective at tracking a target. TWS may be a silent lock but if someone notches your radar it'll be a lot easier for your radar to lose sight.

One thing you should know is that TWS in DCS is highly overperforming compared to real life. In DCS the weaknesses of TWS aren't modeled for the most part. So use whatever you want.

IRL TWS is much more imperfect than STT, can produce false targets, has much less accuracy (especially in altitude), can't deal with maneuvering targets as well and can be jammed easier than STT. So it has limited use. Essentially if you want to track and shoot someone then IRL you're going to want to use the mode that gives you the most solid tracking capability rather than some dubious more that may or may not work.

That's all about traditional mechanically scanned radars. AESA radars are a different story, but there's none in DCS.

Development Report

Phase 1 of our new radar model for the F-16C and F/A-18C provides more realistic radar target detection and tracking in different modes of operation. It incorporates many new features like signal-to-noise ratio calculations that determine a target’s detection range, signal-to-clutter ratio, and receiver dynamic range calculations. The latter may limit detection of small targets in the presence of strong ground clutter. The new modeling also better accounts for the unique aspects of different waveforms.

For example: Velocity Search (VS) and Range While Search (RWS) both include High Pulse Repetition Frequency (HPRF) waveforms; however, RWS provides range measurement because it uses Frequency Modulation (FM) ranging, that also results in a loss of sensitivity. Our model accounts for such losses, and detection range depends on the type of FM-waveform. Also, HPRF modes can only detect closing targets; detection of low aspect targets are generally limited by strong side-lobe clutter. The Medium Pulse Repetition Frequency (MPRF) mode has eight distinct waveforms. Whereas the use of so many waveforms cause a proportional reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio (thus a reduction in detection range relative to HPRF), it does provide all-aspect target detection aside from beaming targets that may be obscured by main lobe clutter. Phase 1 of our new model accounts for these effects, and faithfully models the detection range ratio between HPRF and MPRF modes.

Another new feature is an adjustable speed gate option. This provides the ability to select the width of the main-beam clutter notch filter that adjusts the threshold of minimal radial velocity that can be detected. This may assist in filtering unwanted, slow targets.

Upon Phase 1 release and tuning, we will implement Phase 2 that will include the effect of radar azimuth and bar settings on detection ranges and the inclusion of more accurate look down radar performance.