SCAN RAID sub-mode - Whats is it?

Just a question from the last mini update, what is the SCAN RAID sub-mode?

When aircraft are close together (like in a tight formation) a Doppler radar often picks them up as one hit and thus processes one trackfile, for what is really two airplanes. RAID mode makes the radar do a very fine scan to try to "break up" one trackfile into two (or potentially more).

SCAN RAID is basically a TWS zoom mode. Much like EXP is an RWS zoom mode, in a nutshell.

SCAN RAID is basically a TWS zoom mode. Much like EXP is an RWS zoom mode, in a nutshell.

It would be more analogous to spotlight, not exp or “zoom.”

It doesn’t just magnify a portion of the attack radar tactical region. It commands either 2 or 4... I think 2-bar (dont recall) x 20 degree auto centered on l&s. the scan and duty cycle is designed to be particularly useful for discerning individual bandits in tight groups at ranges appropriate for sorting. Also, trackfile step (via undesignate) only cycle through trackfiles displayed because the mechanical scan is isolated to what is shown (not just an digital zoom, for camera analogy), and my cannot maintain other tracks. The frame time is short, under 1s, confined to small 20 deg by 10 mile area, and thus it is excellent for supporting multiple amraams against maneuvering targets.

It doesn’t just magnify a portion of the attack radar tactical region. It commands either 2 or 4... I think 2-bar (dont recall) x 20 degree auto centered on l&s. the scan and duty cycle is designed to be particularly useful for discerning individual bandits in tight groups at ranges appropriate for sorting. Also, trackfile step (via undesignate) only cycle through trackfiles displayed because the mechanical scan is isolated to what is shown (not just an digital zoom, for camera analogy), and my cannot maintain other tracks. The frame time is short, under 1s, confined to small 20 deg by 10 mile area, and thus it is excellent for supporting multiple amraams against maneuvering targets.

It's 3 bar, 22°, +/- 10nm centered on the L&S. And yes, your detailed explanation hits it on the head, but that's why I said "in a nutshell" :)

roger... going from memory I thought it was 2-bar. My point was merely to emphasize the change in antenna sweep/waveform, rather than the digital zoom camera analogy, its effect on frame time, and the usefulness thereof. I've been lookin forward to a proper Hornet for a while, so the anticipation gets the better of me.

Regardless, was not meant as a your wrong kind of post

Regardless, was not meant as a your wrong kind of post

No worries, I didn't understand it as such! You are right in it's exact characteristics and I'm looking forward to both SCAN RAID, EXP and (probably) Spotlight, too (they didn't mention it, but I s'ppose that will come, too)

Will we have to wait till TWS is implemented to have RAID?

Will we have to wait till TWS is implemented to have RAID?

Yes.

Cheers,

Don (callsign Ziptie)

Will we have to wait till TWS is implemented to have RAID?

Fortunately I don't think you'll be waiting long. Could be worse, your dream feature could be the ability to generate SAR images and pass targeting data/image via DL to a flight of 18's loaded with slammers...

fwiw, raid is a distinct radar mode, its not RWS nor TWS, but rather combines elements of VS with a unique waveform to distinguish groups. It can only be entered when a L&S exists, at which point you can designate a DT2, or employ using ranks.

Thus it wouldn't really accomplish anything in RWS. RWS has spotlight, which is, in instself, quite cool. It has a similar scan/display size, but is space stabilized, does not require a L&S, and is slewable. So, low targets, targets in canyons, an MSI track you can't correlate, or a brick that timed out unexpectedly... all situations where spotlight would be useful.

EXP is also different. I made the digital zoom analogy previously and it works pretty well. MC will continue to build tracks for the azimuth/bar range you are scanning, but EXP essentially zooms in on part of the tactical region to. for example, discriminate multiple contacts that are overlapping or otherwise difficult to see. Provided you have awacs support and other donors, you will probably use it more than raid. It lacks the update frequency of raid, thus it doesn't provide improved guidance. Thus it's a good habit adjust volume as appropriate before employing.

There's also VS and Az/EL. VS is great at picking up long distance targets and identifying those who are closing on you the fastest (quick ID escorts, for example). Az/El has a lot of utility, basically a forward look rather than top down, for different FOV. It shows MSI tracks and a rectangle showing the coverage of your current scan az/el. Allows you to quickly change scan centering, and identify why you aren't picking up particular contacts, etc.

I've said it many times before but the Hornet will be formidable in capable hands that understands its systems. It can't knifefight a viper for shit, but when it comes to strike intercept, sweeps, etc., a 2-ship can send a lot of bad news somebody's way.

When you guys discuss "EXP" in A/A radar... are you comparing to a different jet? I thought the Hornet's EXP1, EXP2 and EXP3 refer only to A/G radar. DBS sector, DBS patch and medium res. SAR... (yes, referencing the Rhino here from the other sim)

Expand = zoom display on target

RAID = refines radar processing (uses doppler beam sharpening) to break out multiple targets that would otherwise be detected as one large target. Two or more targets sharing the same range and doppler bin would appear as one target (but their combined RCS would increase the range they'd be seen from). "Expand" wouldn't break the target up, it just zooms in.

Spotlight has nothing to do with RAID. Spotlight is used to rapidly scan an area where a radar hit is intermittent and the pilot wants a trackfile built on it. Or to quickly find a data link contact / AWACS call.

great video of RAID assessment mode (RAM)

Expand = zoom display on target

 

RAID = refines radar processing (uses doppler beam sharpening) to break out multiple targets that would otherwise be detected as one large target. Two or more targets sharing the same range and doppler bin would appear as one target (but their combined RCS would increase the range they'd be seen from). "Expand" wouldn't break the target up, it just zooms in.

 

Spotlight has nothing to do with RAID. Spotlight is used to rapidly scan an area where a radar hit is intermittent and the pilot wants a trackfile built on it. Or to quickly find a data link contact / AWACS call.

 

great video of RAID assessment mode (RAM)

 

Yep, the vid shows it nice. I had to go back to the start of the vid... what was the deck of the first fight:D

Spotlight has nothing to do with RAID. Spotlight is used to rapidly scan an area where a radar hit is intermittent and the pilot wants a trackfile built on it. Or to quickly find a data link contact / AWACS call.

Not sure you're talking to me but if I implied they were similar that wasn't my intent, other than to distinguish EXP submode as essentially a zoom, from spotlight and raid which both change the mechanical scan, and in the case of raid uses DBS analogous techniques to resolve az/range with much greater precision

Interesting Wags didn't mention spotlight, guess that is for another day. The 18th will be fun, regardless.

When you guys discuss "EXP" in A/A radar... are you comparing to a different jet? I thought the Hornet's EXP1, EXP2 and EXP3 refer only to A/G radar. DBS sector, DBS patch and medium res. SAR... (yes, referencing the Rhino here from the other sim)

Man, this stuff evaporates quick from memory if not used. Yea, "EXP" is there in TWS. To think about it I never really had to use it in the other sim... but soon I will:D

Wags did mention Spotlight @sk000tch:

"Much of the team is now focused on big updates for the Hornet! This entails Track While Scan radar mode, AACQ, SPOT"

I am hoping with TWS we get at least AACQ too. Regardless, Spotlight is a priority.

I also hope that since both TWS and AACQ are related to trackfile ranking logic and prioritization, which we've seen that they're currently working on, we'll get some improvements on the AACQ as well.

Also, for RAID, I don't think DCS models the effect where two targets close to each other can be picked up as a single large radar contact. At least I've always been able to tell contacts apart, even when the bricks were partially on top of each other. Maybe that'll change, hopefully?