EMCON and Targetting Systems

The EMCON (Emissions Control) system is there to decide how to balance stealth against detection and jamming capability. There are five EMCON levels, controlled either automatically by the aircraft computers, or manually by the pilot. EMCON 1 is the stealthiest, and EMCON 5 is the least stealthy, allowing the most use of radar and radio. In its auto mode the F-22 would normally travel in the stealthiest mode, EMCON 1. After a potential enemy is detected, the aircraft systems will gradually increase the EMCON condition as the opponent gets closer, in order to provide more data for targeting, or in the worst case, jamming. It increases EMCON in non regular steps based on the evaluated range of the enemies' detection systems and weapons. By exploiting stealth, the pilot is able to stalk his target like a cat stalking a mouse, without the target ever being aware of danger. With each increase in EMCON, the pilot has more information with which to decide on a course of action (engage or not), and with which to target his weapons. At EMCON 3 he will be within AMRAAM firing parameters, and have enough information for BVR (Beyond Visual Range) missile targeting. By the time the systems have reached EMCON 5, detection by the enemy is irrelevant because the aircraft will be most likely be in visual range. It should be noted that Russian fighters like the Sukhoi Su-37 employ the two pronged approach of using a very powerful radar to burn through any stealth advantage, then turning its radar off and handing over to passive IRST. An integral part of this system is the LPI (Low Probability of Intercept) radar which emits very low levels of energy at low EMCON levels, thus denying classification and minimizing detection. (For more information see Robust Classification Systems at Wright Laboratories, Wright Patterson AFB). At EMCON 2 the pilot can ID and track A2A contacts but cannot actually target them until EMCON 3 when the AMRAAM is enabled. Note also that in some missions you must go into manual EMCON mode in order to maintain maximum stealth.

If you've been a fan of iF22 then you already know a good deal about the targetting operations of the Air Dominance Fighter. The idea is very simple: get your targetting information without giving away your presence, or at least without giving away your position. Get as much as possible for as little as possible...

There are a few ways to do this. The most important is the IFDL targetting system where you rely on a secure data link with JSTARS and AWACS who fly at a safe distance from the battlefield and broadcast powerful radars. This information shows up on various displays within the F22 and you then choose how to display and filter and interact with the information your receive.

In practice the system is quite amazing. You can gather a host of information on a particular bandit or group of bandits or ground targets without ever turning on your radar. This means you can also make tactical decisions and plan your attack with your flight, even handing off targets to other members of your flight and positioning yourself without the enemy knowing you are there.

The other components of this system are passive receivers, including the LANTIRN targetting system and IRST. These systems are shared by opponents, however, and YOU can also be targetting without your knowing it. The targetting controls of ADF simulate both active and passive systems, allowing you to use your LANTIRN system, your radar, your IRST (with AIM9x) and off board cueing via AWACS and JSTARS.

The primary means of targetting is via the Shoot List, which should prefer targets according to a sophisticated AI system. The targets that are the most dangerous to you should be placed highest on the list. You may then choose to deselect these targets and manually select other targets, or hand off targets to other elements of your flight.

In practice it works okay most of the time. The weak points are these: sometimes the Shoot List generates targets based on the AWACS link according to unknown priorities, and you have to immediately clear the list and generate another, or padlock a target and then use "s" to add it to your list.

At other times the Shoot List makes sense but doesn't fit your priorities. Recently my shoot list had me targetting a bandit two miles behind me who I intended my wing to engage. Meanwhile I had two MiGs coming straight at me and I could not target them even after clearing my list! I should at LEAST be able to generate a list that INCLUDES them and them cycle past the bandit behind me. Even connecting the shoot list generation to weapon selection would be a solution since I had chosen AIM120, which would not be usable for a bandit at two miles.

Another problem is that sometimes the threat padlock won't lock a threat. I was flying in the first mission of the Eritrea Tour when I got a radar warning from my 9 oclock. I quickly turned to see what was up and found an Su 27 at twenty miles and closing. He hadn't locked me yet, but when I went to lock him (F3) I couldn't lock (perhaps because he hadnt' actually locked me up). So I had to go to my attack mfd and click on the symbol to lock him. This could be solved with a key to LOCK TARGET at HUD CENTER.

When you hand off targets to your wingman you are ordering him to engage. Rather, we should have confirmation that they are received and then order engage or a tactical position. The picture on the left below shows what the target looks like when it is in your shoot list. The second on the right shows what it could look like once handed off to your wingman if DiD would add this feature.

If I set up a shoot list and hit the "M" key I hear myself call ENGAGE. There is no longer a way to simply hand off a target without having your wingman enter an engagement. This is bad... We need to be able to perform tactical manouvers without having our wingman start shooting. I tried ordering a bracket without handing off targets and my wing performed a bracket but then called COMPLETE and the missiles were flying! I even called STAND BY after he called COMPLETE but this did no good....

"Bracket," after all, is found in the COMBAT menu. In Joint Strike Fighter you can issue orders like: "Engage only when tracked" and even "Fire at my command" which means stand by and do not use your weapons until I tell you. JSF even offers an "intercept" and "intercept only when tracked" command, which would be VERY useful in a sim like ADF. A bracket command sets up a particular tactical move but being able to send my wing off after a particular target to then report to me and give me the option of having him engage or not would be very useful. I want to be able to position my wingman for action without him actually engaging until I can more carefully assess the situation.

Another issue that is driving me crazy relates to the EMCON selection. Whenever you change to manual EMCON the system defaults to maximum range. This is NOT what you want to have when you have multiple bandits within twenty or thirty miles.

Finally, the only other issue with targetting in ADF relates to the IRST system. At the moment if you incur damage to your radar system you will also lose IRST ability. It ought not to be this way and hopefully we'll see a fix before long.

The LANTIRN system works fine, even though it does stretch realism with its ability to see behind you. Its fairly easy to use and you can select a weapons eye view if the weapon has a camera and watch the image as it closes on the target.

GPS guided weapons such as the JDAM are also fairly easy to use in ADF. The modelling of the system is somewhat simplified but its effective. Likewise Mavericks are simple to target and to use. The only disclaimer here is that the ability of ground based radars to lock and launch almost simultaneously makes many air to ground missions very challenging.

HUD Modes

One of the things that impressed me in my first couple of hours with ADF was the detail included in the HUD modes. Choose the right mode and you can find out almost anything you need to know about the aircraft and your orientation to your surroundings. This really wasn't true of EF2000, whether it relates to reality or not.

For example, in the A2A HUD mode this information is available on your target:

• First AC in shoot list: type
• Target altitude
• Target range
• Closing Velocity
• Target Speed
• Target Priority
• Other targets in shoot list

And this info is available on your own status:

• Air speed and mach
• Enemy AC First on shoot list
• Enemy AC tracked and on shoot list
• Current altitude
• Weapon range bar
• Shoot cue
• Weapon Type and No
• Fire Status
• Cycle Target Status
• Engine % power
• Airbrake Indicator
• Compass Tape
• Waypoint Caret
• G indicator
• EMCON Status
• Frequency Selection

THAT is a lot of information! The ILS HUD also gives more information than the comparable system in EF2000. The NAV HUD not only references your next waypoint but tells you whether you are high or low, fast or slow. It even tells you how much fuel you have internally and externally at a glance.

About the only thing missing in A2A and A2G HUD is an on screen indicator for current sensor range. If you change range frequently you will find yourself guessing what the current position of a bogie is, unless you have him locked up, which is not always possible or desirable. And constantly referring to your MFD is a pain.

Go to F22:ADF Review Part VI

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