When to use ECM?

When should ECM be enabled? In air combat or against ground targets to avoid SAMs?

:book:

DCS Jammers are just noise jammers. They work by making it harder to get a STT/TWS lock on you at longer ranges. The enemy plane or SAM site will have to burn through your jammer to get a lock.

Since airplanes are much smaller and can't put out the same microwave energy that a large sam site or main aircraft radar can eventually as you get closer it will be able to see you regardless. It will essentially over power your jammer and get a return. Say without your jammer on they may be able to lock you 40% further away. In DCS however you are still out of missile range usually when you get burned through its not like you can fly close with your jammer on and deny the enemy the lock in AIm 120 range.

Only time really not to use jammer is if you are radar off and being stealthy. As soon as you turn it on people will be able to see that a jammer is active even if they cant lock you they will be able to see your rough direction just not range.

I am not sure if the Jammer in the 14 is even working yet?

I'm assuming ECM is working because it's not in the list of things not implemented. If you know for sure it isn't then that would be good to know.

This doesn't seem like a Tomcat specific question. When do you use ECM in other planes?

Basically it's there to frustrate someone, who already knows you're there and is tracking or locking you, when you want to press the attack on them to close range, and you don't care about being subtle (or are unable to).

I believe ECM really neuters the R-27ER, if you're up against reds and need to get into Sparrow range without being harassed. A Flanker will burn through quite quickly but not at his max launch range. A Fulcrum will really suffer...

Tried ECM on various situations, not sure if it really does work. R-27s seem to be easily lost tracking even without chaff. R-33 on the other hand is quite different and handful. Pretty much Phoenix equivalent with it's accuracy.