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Buddy Lasing
 By Robert Ross

I feel that it is important that I thank Thumper for his dedication and patience tonight. Due to some very long hours of flying I was able to work out a lot of the idiosyncrasies of Buddy Lasing. The purpose of this document is to enlighten everyone regarding our findings.

Our load-out tonight consisted of LGB's (GBU-16) and MAVF (AGM-65E/F). Both aircraft contained an ATFLIR and enough fuel to stay aloft and loiter for over an hour. The purpose of the flight was to determine the differences in targeting both stationary and moving targets using your wingman's laser to designate a target, which we will now refer to as the "Buddy Lasing system".

In order to establish ourselves in a flight pattern that was conducive to Lasing a target at a standoff distance, and allow for deconfliction, both pilots flew towards the target on the same heading. The pilot designating the target maintained 20,000ft (Angles 20) while the pilot releasing ordinance flew at the designated target at an altitude of 15,000ft (Angels 15).

The aircraft designating the target will lose laser lock a few seconds after passing over the target; therefore, the pilot dropping ordnance should fly 2 to 5nm ahead of the other aircraft in order to guarantee that his weapon during free-fall will have a laser lock all the way to impact. After target designation is lost, both pilots executed an Immelman type maneuver and setup for another pass at 20nm from the target. It would not be advisable for pilots to execute a split-S maneuver over the target because this would put both aircraft in closer proximity to air-to-ground defenses.

Lasing Target

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When first trying to illuminate the target with your laser, you must decide on whether you are going to use radar, or designate the target visually. If the target is stationary and can be seen in the HUD, then it is just as easy to click on the HUD with the mouse and then select TGT mode on the FLIR's MDI to slave the seeker head to the target. Then you can use the Shift-Arrow keys to refine the designation.

Once you are happy with the target selected, hit Enter to designate the target, followed by the Caps Lock Key to turn on the Laser. Your wingman will hear "Laser On" message over the radio and can begin to look for the small (x) on the target that will only show-up in the HUD or the Cage view of an AGM-65 Maverick missile. If you are using the AGM-65 E/F variants you will also get a Locked message when the Laser is picked up by the Caged seeker head.

Locating Laser

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First thing you should do is communicate with your wingman as to the general vicinity of the target area he is illuminating. During our flight we were able to designate and bomb targets from high altitudes using both LGB's and AGM type weapon systems. When using free-fall LGB's it is important to remember to use Auto-Mode as your delivery Mode for all LGB weapons. Once you spot the (x) in the HUD you will need to click on it with the mouse cursor so that you own FLIR can be slewed to the target in order that you may visual identify. Make sure your own laser remains in manual (MLAS) and off so that after weapon release you can pull away while your wingman remains to illuminate the target.

Laser designation can be held longer on the target after passing overhead by applying a few simple rules:

1. Always turn 20 degrees right of the target to prevent the bottom of the aircraft's fuselage from blocking the laser beam during designation.
2. Fly at a higher altitude to provide a better angle of view and to avoid obstruction like mountaintops.
3. Always try to fly at the target at a slow speed (250kts) so that you may give your wingman more time to acquire the target.

Buddy Lasing Operational Guidelines

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1. Both pilots should try to Bomb and Lase within plus or minus 30 degrees of the same heading.
2. A pilot may not pickup his buddy laser if he is designating the side of the target from the opposite side of which his wingman is flying. In other words, if you designate the port side of a large ship while you wingman is approaching from the starboard side, he may never find the laser designation X in the Hud because the ship's structure is blocking it.
3. Always set Laser to Manual Mode (MLAS) before designation a target.
4. Make sure to turn on the Laser by hitting the Caps Lock key, once you have a lock on the desired target.
5. The Laser will automatically turn off if it can no longer maintain a laser lock on the desired target.
6. When designating a moving target always use the radar in GMT or SEA mode, and then handoff to the FLIR by select the TGT mode in the FLIR. Without the Radar you will not get updated guidance information for FLIR to maintain a tracking lock. There is no Auto-track mode while using the Radar for guidance updates.
7. Never try to designate the target while your wingman is Lasing the target area. This will only override what ever your wingman is trying to do.

A great deal of undocumented material tonight was figured out. This material will benefit all those pilots designing and flying missions. I hope that these guidelines set forth will benefit all pilots and be improved upon by the pilots of the VFA_97th.

LT. Gonzo (Training Officer)