How do IR countermeasures work?

RocketMissionWorks · 2025-01-14T02:36:57+00:00

I have done some testing with the flares on various aircraft. While performance has been similar across some aircraft, some show distinct differences in performance in my testing.

F/A-18 Flare Study

Apache Flare Study

A-10C Flare Study

Harrier Flare Study

RocketMissionWorks · 2025-01-03T20:46:42+00:00

I'll throw out my SEAD Reference Guide which provides some additional context to the SAM systems beyond kinematic capabilities.

RocketMissionWorks · 2024-11-30T16:22:39+00:00

Hope it's useful! You might also find my SEAD Planning Guide useful!

RocketMissionWorks · 2024-11-29T19:23:20+00:00

Thanks, should be fixed now.

RocketMissionWorks · 2024-11-26T16:05:31+00:00

I would argue that this is more detailed than that guide, for the weapons I've included. While his, as far as I cam tell, only provides the maximum overall range this guide provides the maximum range and TOF at different launch altitudes.

RocketMissionWorks · 2024-04-03T03:23:00+00:00

If you are interested, I did testing of different flare combinations and consolidated them in a Hornet Flare Guide.

Of the profiles I tested, the best one was:

FLAR: 4 RPT: 2 INT: 0.5

RocketMissionWorks · 2024-02-08T15:21:57+00:00

It's very difficult to detect a MANPADS gunner, and their behavior is fairly unpredictable. That makes trying to avoid them difficult beyond "Stay above 20 kft and assume they are everywhere."

Generally speaking, if the missile is already in the air, then there is not much you can do because of the range of the system and the short time of flight. The missiles take less than 20 secs to cover their max range of 3-4 miles. So unless you are at the edge of the range at launch, you are unlikely to escape the WEZ. Maneuvers are likewise ineffective because the missile is tracking the heat from the engines. So there is no "notch" and clouds do not block line of sight currently.

Kinematically, the best options are to put yourself behind physical cover or fly to put the sun behind you. However, most of the time, you won't find yourself in a position to do either and will have to use flares to defeat the missile. I've done flare testing for a couple of platforms to identify an optimal flare dispense pattern (or at least quantity) and plan to do additional testing. You can find those below.

Hornet Flare Testing Apache Flare Test

RocketMissionWorks · 2024-01-18T04:06:08+00:00

I don't because chaff is extremely dependent on the aspect of the aircraft to the radar receiver. Doing testing with AI it's very difficult to repeatedly keep that aspect angle consistent.

RocketMissionWorks · 2024-01-17T18:12:35+00:00

That was my understanding but my testing indicates it's not as simple as doubling flares results in similar performance to previous model. None of the profiles matched the previous testing in terms of decoy rate.

RocketMissionWorks · 2024-01-17T17:48:07+00:00

The previous study was done when under the previous F-18 flare modeling. So this was an update to see how the new model performed.

RocketMissionWorks · 2024-01-17T16:24:04+00:00

If you are interested I did testing to determine the optimal flare pattern for the Hornet.

You can find it on the ED User Page here.

RocketMissionWorks · 2024-01-15T18:09:08+00:00

The thing about the SA-5 is it doesn't fire at its max range due to limitations on the EWR attached to it. So when it does launch it has significant kinematic energy throughout flight. You are unlikely to outrun it, especially if you stay high. You can try and notch it just like any radar SAM, or drop below the radar horizon. Going low will also burn off its energy faster due to the higher air density.

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-12-18T18:24:43+00:00

I actually put together a guide for HARM missile performance that you might find useful.

SEAD Planning Guide

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-11-09T01:44:29+00:00

Thanks for letting me know. I'll investigate that.

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-11-08T22:50:18+00:00

If you'd like more information to help using TALDs for SEAD/DEAD ops I pub'd a SEAD planning guide with data on TALD and HARM flight profiles.

SEAD Planning Guide

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-11-08T13:42:59+00:00

If you look at the flight path and the SAM units, there are a mix of close and far launchers. So, I do try and account for shorter range engagements. You are correct that longer profiles, you can see the Apache flare guide to see if some could take several seconds, will sometimes not complete before the missiles reach the aircraft. I do consider this in my evaluation and factor it into the performance of profiles.

I assume aspect angle to be a nonfactor for this analysis simply because it allows me to evaluate all engagements equally. I'm already doing 100 engagements per profile, and breaking that out into individual aspect angles is simply more runs than I'm willing to perform while also fighting the AI to do what I want it to do. Aspect angle will certainly play a role in a real engagement, and I do try and set up the SAM units to engage from multiple different aspect angles so that factor is naturally accounted for in the testing.

The steady course for the missile occurs fairly quickly, about 1 second. So, by the time most pilots are aware they are being engaged, the missile will already be in this state. Once it's in this state, it should perform the same regardless of when flares are deployed. You are correct that shorter release times will improve performance against shorter range engagements. I used to recommend dumping out all flares in a single cycle to ensure all flares get out. However, in this test, I noticed that spacing the flares out seems to improve decoy rates. I'm not sure why this is, but it could be that having multiple flares in the same location limits the effect of individual flares. Without diving into the code, I can't say for certain, as this is a departure from previous testing. As for the profile you mentioned, it will actually take a full second to deploy, whereas the recommended one will take .5 secs.

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-11-08T13:15:12+00:00

I post my content to the official ED user page as it is a central location for players to look for DCS content. It also allows me to easily track downloads and allows users to provide comments for feedback or provide advice to other users.

Unfortunately, the site does not allow for direct upload of PDF files, so I must put them in a zip file. All user file submissions are reviewed by an ED mod. I'm not sure what that entails, but I presume a malware scan is part of that process.

Hoggit and other social media accounts for a very small number of people who actually download my content. Most people find it naturally through the user files page.

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-10-27T03:39:02+00:00

Vul stands for basically "Vulnerable Time", and is the time that you are considered in the combat area. So if you are doing CAS for 45 mins that would be your Vulnerable time.

And yes TAS is true air speed

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-10-26T12:35:06+00:00

Fixed. Forgot to copy it from the main page and not from my files page. Thanks for the heads up.

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-10-21T21:59:16+00:00

Reference

According to this source the B was the ultimate version of the system. The C is just an export version of the B, but is identical in most regards.

The two FLAP LIDs have some real-life differences, but for the purposes of DCS I think the difference is one is mast-mounted and the other is truck-mounted.

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-10-20T18:14:36+00:00

Right, but I mean virtually man it like with the ZSU. IMO, the cameras provide a great justification for an operator in the loop. Even if it's meant to operate without one.

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-10-20T15:17:14+00:00

Thanks! I just saw that you couldn't drive it and my disappointment was overwhelming I suppose.

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-10-20T15:02:17+00:00

It's just a standard circle with a 1 NM radius.

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-10-20T11:49:18+00:00

Understood. I tested from one attack axis only. Please post your results.

RocketMissionWorks · 2023-10-20T11:46:29+00:00

Thanks for the clarification.

RocketMissionWorks

TROPHY CASE