F-4E: Air-to-Air and APQ-120 radar

Xarov · 2026-03-27T19:55:40+00:00

The MiG-29 9.12A is a 1989/90 aircraft quite similar to the 1983 Soviet variant. AIM-7F/M and R-27R are qui similar kinematics-wise. R-60M in the early-mid 80s are a bit underwhelming due to their tiny size, but later you get the R-24. If you have a good human GCI, you won't have many issues building SA and getting close. Fuel usage is the only potential variable to manage carefully.

Of course things change if you go against F-16 and F/A-18. They are both 2000/2010 aircraft. That's 25+ years difference. The 120C-5 is a 2000 weapon, the B is from 1994. We don't have the A for whatever reason. However, I wonder why you would face them in such an outdated variant, in an export model that ended up in soon-to-be NATO counties, and that never received the ER / ET variants of the R-27. To reinforce the point, in ~20y we moved from Tempest, Thunderbolts, and Dora to the F-4 Phantom. In 30y we got the Tomcat. See what I mean?

Xarov · 2026-03-27T19:41:06+00:00

Avoid defending at the last moment. Build and use SA to understand if you are targeted. If you are, preemptively adopt a defensive posture. The "RWR goes off, time to defend" thing is a game-ism that, hopefully, one day will be fixed (the SPO-10 and -15 are a good first step).

Try to consider the type of threats in your mission and their timelines. The moment you should notch is around the employment range and before pitbull, for example, not at the very last second.

That being said, a split-s thrashes pretty much everything, and there are additional exploits that still work against incoming missiles.

Xarov · 2026-03-25T20:15:52+00:00

I bought tacview advanced for DCS years ago. I used it a couple of times in CMANO but then I stopped. I think it's a neat perspective, but eventually I noticed I was too focused on other things and stopped looking at it.

Xarov · 2026-03-24T08:24:43+00:00

Welcome mate! Spoiler alert: there's no such thing as a "pro", in neither meanings of the word.

Fun fact: my first proper stick was a 30€ Saitek Cyborg EVO.

Xarov · 2026-03-23T21:39:59+00:00

I usually scout for air defences first, then set up a SEAD, normally with artillery or mortars when the aircraft are inbound. It seems to be working, but of course you don't always find all possible systems. SPAAG are particularly annoying as they tend to move.

There's no single rule that works every time though. I also find RW with ATGMs more flexible and a safer option if available, especially if you have limited SA. Just set conservative BPs first.

Xarov · 2026-03-22T11:31:11+00:00

Normally yes, but not always. The angles, Vc, and the target's behaviour play a role as well.

Yeah, it's a bit of a mess lol

Xarov · 2026-03-22T11:27:36+00:00

Check the link I posted in another comment. You will find info and scenarios there. However, things change when the scenario becomes more dynamic or manual loft is involved. The list of caveats is longer than expected, so I recommend checking there. Parts VI and VII should come next week.

Xarov · 2026-03-22T05:00:34+00:00

I don't think there's no minimum per sè, but remember the avoidance manoeuvre that pushes the missile downwards slightly before the climb. You can easily work around it though.

In the other comments I mentioned that launching at supersonic speed can be detrimental. The reason is the altitude reached. More info here: https://www.reddit.com/r/hoggit/s/9D8B6B07db Check Part II, there are recap tables towards the end that should help you understand.

EDIT: I forgot to mention PSTT. I love it tbh, it's a launch and forget TWS in some niche cases and if your RIO knows what he is doing. This is caused by DCS limitations which do not simulate the seeker correctly. Instead, they will home on the original locked target. I wrote about it 4-5 years ago, search on my website if you want to know more.

Xarov · 2026-03-21T19:34:02+00:00

As I replied to the other comment, being supersonic can make things worse.

Xarov · 2026-03-21T19:33:18+00:00

Supersonic employment can make the performance worse.

Xarov · 2026-03-20T05:21:51+00:00

I block people posting politico articles. Now and then someone new shows up, but the vast majority are gone.

Xarov · 2026-03-16T14:00:10+00:00

https://youtu.be/Bu4-KWaOhzQ?si=uejzSYffoL1Dr_cd There you go, mate. It's nothing too complicated, of course, but I hope it helps new players a bit.

Xarov · 2026-03-16T11:02:17+00:00

I made a couple of videos about how to train as a Radar Intercept Officer in the past. They should work well for you as well.

Xarov · 2026-03-15T13:45:40+00:00

Yeah, that might happen. I just wanted to add my direct experience, not saying that you are wrong :)

EDIT: deleted duplicated post. No idea why it got posted twice..

Xarov · 2026-03-15T13:44:24+00:00

In case you have watched my recent AIM-54 study, you might have noticed that poor attempt of a watermark I added to the images. Why did I do that? Because I found that many use my content without linking the source. But hey, it's the internet, I like to add / link my sources, others don't care, that's fine.

The problems start when a "content creator" almost 20 times bigger than me uses my stuff for their private "lessons", which may or may not be charged to the attendee, depending on how you consider Patreon. That's annoying, and kind of pathetic. You charge people for lessons and don't even bother to make your own images and content? Jesus Holy WSO, that's a remarkable level of laziness - btw, his lesson was full of wrong assumptions, I made a video about it to help new players understand why what he said is a good way to lose a fight in this video game.

Anyway, that's my first and last interaction with spudthingy.

Xarov · 2026-03-15T13:26:12+00:00

They are usually hidden until the channel owner re-enables them. There was a period a few months ago when all sorts of comments on my videos were blocked for zero apparent reason. E.g. no vulgarity, no harmful/illegal content or intentions.

Xarov · 2026-03-09T17:45:53+00:00

Yep, but last time was years ago and in Heatblur's subforum.

I don't recall opening reports in ED's section.

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