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Map used: Upcoming DCS: Sinai.
In this DCS: AH-64D video, we’ll talk about the radar-guided version of the Hellfire missile, the AGM-114L, otherwise called the Lima. Unlike the AGM-114K which is laser-guided and requires a laser designation until impact, the Lima is a much deadlier weapon that is fire-and-forget thanks to the millimeter wave radar seeker in the nose of the missile. This allows rapid engagements and launch-and-leave capability. Just like the Kilo, we can engage the Lima in either LOAL or LOBL modes.
As with the Kilo, it has the same warhead and range. You can also load a maximum of 16 Limas in beast mode. Externally, the Lima can easily be told apart from the Kilo thanks to its white nose cone.
When the Fire Control Radar, or FCR, is later added, the Lima will truly be a wish-you-dead weapon.
We are currently holding at a Battle Position with a hostile tank company and air defense unit off our nose. To configure the aircraft for Lima shots, let’s first do the following:
• I prefer to use the TEDAC, so I’ll set TADS as the sighting system and remove the HDU.
• Arm the weapon systems.
• Action missiles.
• Make sure the missile Type is set to Radio Frequency, or RF.
• From MODE, we can either keep in NORM, or Normal mode, in which the next missile will cycle automatically or MAN, or manual selection.
• The missile power ALL selection allows all radar Hellfires to be powered on, AUTO cycles the missile power between individual missile stations as needed to avoid overheating, and NONE powers them all down.
If LOBL Inhibit is selected, boxed, it prevents the missile from transmitting while on the rail, and would force a LOBL shot to be a LOAL shot. The 2nd Target Inhibit has to do with the FCR that we’ll talk about later.
Missile icons with an inverted chevron symbol on the nose indicate a radar-guided Hellfire, which distinguishes them from the laser-guided Hellfires which are marked by a pair of horizontal lines. Missile icons that are green with an “R” indicate radar Hellfires that have been powered on and are Ready for a target. When they are WAS’ed, they will become solid green. When an icon is white and flashing, it is cued to fire next and ready.
As with the Kilo Hellfires, we can launch either as Lock On Before Launch (LOBL) or Lock On After Launch (LOAL). It’s important to understand that if the target is 2,500 meters or closer, or if the target is moving, LOBL will automatically be used. If the missile cannot attain a lock though, it may revert to LOAL. If the target is over 2,500 meters away and stationary, LOAL will automatically be used. As noted earlier though, we can inhibit LOBL and force LOAL.
LOBL with Limas is much the same as Kilos. In this example we’ll be using the TADS as the sight. Slew the TADS over the desired target and press and hold the 2nd detent of the laser switch, which generates a target location to hand over to the missile. When the TARGET DATA? on the TDU is removed, you no longer need to continue lasing. This indicates that the location of the target has been sent to and stored on the Lima. If you are in constraints, indicated by the large, solid constraint box, launch the missile. Once launched, you can move on to a different target or find cover.
It is worth noting, that once you give a target to the Lima with the TADS, you cannot designate a different target if you decide not to launch. However, you can de-action the missiles and then re-WAS, which erases the target from the missile’s memory, and then designate a new target.
If, however, the target is outside of 2,500 meters and stationery, you will be forced to LOAL and the related smaller constraints. Once launched, the Lima will fly to that location of the designation and search for the target on its own. Much like an AIM-120 air-to-air missile. Once launched, you no longer need to track the target.
12 май 2023
