DCS: AH-64D | Radar-Guided Hellfire Missiles

Purchase the AH-64D at 20% off from: www.digitalcom...
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.

[@augiehicks4588]

1,200 rounds of 30mm too. Must mean the ability to remove the Robbie tank is coming soon as well.

[@therocinante3443]

I'm looking forward to the full 30mm magazine more than anything else!

[@Gman-109]

@@therocinante3443 ChunkChunkChunkChunkChunkChunkChunk........ChunkChunkChunkChunkChunkChunkChunkChunkChunk........ChunkChunkChunkChunkChunkChunkChunk

[@Gunfreak19]

​@@therocinante3443yeah. I just can't do enough mischief with just 300 rounds.

[@mystic_j2188]

Good luck with your Gun Duty Cycle. Fuel > Ammo. Never gonna need 1200 rounds.

[@Gunfreak19]

@@mystic_j2188 I assure you, 1200 isn't even enough.

[@Husker5454]

oh damn i assumed the FCR was required for this to operate but evidentially not . What a crazy bit of technology .

[@jubuttib]

Yeah, nice to know. I mean they do have active seekers on them, so it makes sense. If you do like an 8 missile launch with LOAL using the FCR, you can dive away right after launch, so it makes sense that the "only" thing the FCR does in that scenario is tell the missiles where to fly, rather than guiding them in. And if that's the case, and the only thing that's needed, the TADS can give you an accurate location just as well.

[@josephrosenbaum3343]

It's just like the amraam in that way. Both of them are receiving a location and fly out to them on an autopilot before activating its own seeker for terminal homing. It doesnt care what source it gets the coordinates from

[@ianboys1000]

@@jubuttib Yep, but the radar can show you all the targets in two seconds :)

[@koekiejam18]

I'm already excited to see clips from people like Volk destroying 16 tanks in a single ripple!

[@josephrosenbaum3343]

@@koekiejam18 wont be able to do that quite yet. It wont be as fast using the TADS. The real fun is when we get the longbow

[@SsgtHolland]

Always nice to hear your voice again, Wags. It triggers a strong Pavlov. (edit: I had no idea that radar Hellfires could be launched without the dome, I always thought that the mast guided the missile seeker.)

[@Tuuvas]

Can't wait to see how creative people can be with these! Especially in LOAL mode

[@Shaheen47Falcon]

Hey love your content keep em coming

[@sloppydog4831]

Well, some things come to my mind: can it hit pre-planned targets? Can it fly over obstacles and hit targets on the other side? Can it hit targets given by a JTAC? I believe it can, and will be a lot of fun.

[@TrickerDCS]

Nice video, thank you for the instruction

[@SimDeck]

It's incredible where we are today with DCS. A dream come true stuff for me.

[@sloppydog4831]

For me as and old simmer from the 90's it surely is. 3D, fully clickable, high fidelity systems were things of dreams in the old days.

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

I know of at least one slow moving helicopter in game, and I believe another one is on the way. Good to see complex weapon evolution on the Apache continue!

[@DrSQUIRRELBOY12]

Looking forward to these, will be fun in multiplayer.

[@bazejs8084]

Nice to hear you Wags, thanks for your work.

[@charlesc7723]

Alright, it is time to hop back in the Apache I see. Great video Wags, miss hearing updates from you.

[@nickgrey4136]

Wonderful stuff. Thanks Matt. Great video. Many thanks and kind regards Nick

[@leonardoetc3565]

Oh my! This will be a game changer for this module!

[@thesquishywafflesanddoopvi1277]

I really need to buckle down and learn to fly this thing. I’m spoiled on the beautiful simplicity that is the Huey 😀.

[@stevedavey1343]

The Huey is the best rotary wing trainer in DCS (although some seem to like the Mi-8 better), it's a joy to fly. :)

[@jasons9564]

@@stevedavey1343 I like both, but probably fly the MI8 more. There is something satisfying about looking up at the 1000s of switches with it cold and dark and actually getting it in the air. Thank you checklists! lol

[@robertschubert4809]

Yes, keep the progress going with the Apache! I love it, good job guys.

[@ShuRugal]

fuck yeah. This will open up so many possibilities for doing SEAD. it'll be practical to engage things like convoys with tunguskas now.

[@dcmol83]

@wags would be great to see how George will manage the new hellfires maybe a second video on that

[@theaceofspades485]

Was driving yesterday and got see a nice low fly by of 4 Apaches. reminded me I wanted this module.

[@TheIke444]

Can't wait, I see that radar page too. Great Work.

[@Rhinozherous]

Nice tease of the attack radar page!

[@sloppydog4831]

Well, as my entire knowledge about the radar Hellfires and FCR comes from Jane's games, this capability sure is a (welcomed) surprise.

[@stevedavey1343]

LB2 FTW, amirite! 😉

[@sloppydog4831]

@@stevedavey1343 oh yeah!

[@FuzzyKedama]

Totally salivating here man. It's almost time haha

[@hidden_bullet]

Can’t wait, keep up the good work ED 👌

[@daCHuNKY1]

Wags I missed you!!! Love live DCS!!!

[@blindflug6206]

good stuff!i am excited to see how it will work with the datalink network later on! ... (and if fixed wing aircrafts could also share targets via their ground radar)

[@123TheCloop]

apache cannot share ground targets using any form of data link, the traffic is specifically encrypted, not entirely sure if aircraft have the systems to decrypt the traffic as the entire purpose of FCR between apaches was to set up squadrons and have each member be givin a "zone" marked out on the FCR and sync launch based on the lead apache. there is an interesting video out on it

[@shd4618]

​@@123TheCloop link it please buddy........

[@blindflug6206]

@@123TheCloop nice, could you share this?

[@mobius7089]

Not through any datalink, the longbow net is Apache only. The Echo models have L16.

[@Sabrinn75]

I hope they implement being able to assign George AI commands to hotkeys and/or allow the option of a Jester AI interface that will work with headtracking.

[@inf3243]

Did we get a cheeky peek at the FCR screen at 1:00 ?

[@sloppydog4831]

It will be very good to use with JTACs at night: they can see, but they can't mark. So, when the JTAC gives a coordinate, just input it in the computer, confirm it and let them go. No need for laser guidance, or any guidance, a truly fire and forget weapon.

[@floodo1]

this looks so good

[@dareonanderson5388]

Oh boy I’ve been waiting a long time for this. I wonder how useful it will be against enemies choppers.

[@King2Stone]

This will be very fun.

[@qwerty85620]

Nice to see wag video ❤

[@jasons9564]

Looking good! Cant wait for the FCR to be implemented

[@TheGalahad78]

This is great, just bought the Apache this evening 😂😂

[@actinium2754]

This makes me so happy.

[@Madlou]

This is what I've been waiting for!!!!!!

[@wilbuzllf5057]

This looks superb and will help a lot!

[@xKYJellyFishx]

I'm assuming George will just automatically designate targets you pick from the list? If that's the case this is going to be so fun

[@T5pinner]

Question re: force LOAL - If I'm moving e.g., sliding left on a stationary target 5k meters out, is that target 'stationary' for the forced LOAL or is it now in LOBL?

[@tomz3216]

Sinai looking good

[@nexus888]

Awesome! I hope it comes sooner than the repeated 'soon' for the F-15 that is used in Twitter for the last month.

[@danielmanfroi4797]

Amazing!!

[@thomash.537]

Awesome. Can't wait to use it. Thank you 😊

[@dfpoor]

Gorgeous video. Interesting weapon. Bad news for the Tunguska drivers.

[@robihobby9490]

Wunderbar Wags ! 👍

[@coconutcockpit]

And we're not going to talk about the screen on the right at 1:07? :D

[@greenfox7836]

Finally

[@TomP-148]

we just going to ignore the 1,200 rounds of 30mm?

[@thegrumba2907]

Propably superglued a 40 gal barrel to the bottom and filled it with ammo

[@gwalker3092]

i be too busy learning F15E when it turns up sometime... the 64D is great fun but just too much to learn in DCS now with the more complicated modules

[@kmcnelley1981]

Oh my God it’s happening! Everybody stay calm. Stay fracking calm!

[@phoenixsui]

I wish things like LOBL would be explained for those who are not allknowing beeings ;D. Maybe even a lille handsketch that expains something. It makes such a difference instead just hearing the words. Or not words, just shortcuts ;D. Thanks for the otherwhise very nice tutorials.

[@MattWagner]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2GbaolvmZVpl6M

[@hansangb]

Very Sierra Hotel! Thank you

[@Sandboxcode]

hey Wags- the AH-64D Playlist contains a video from Sandboxx in it rn- "China's military purge"

[@ravenmiller6376]

"Bravely Run away" XD

[@fl398motorsports3]

Radar Hellfires will be nice to have.... Sinai map?

[@gambler1298]

can't wait for it!

[@Sinni64]

1:00 the right display shows the FCR page right?

[@kankock3968]

yeah, in ground targeting mode

[@bobshireling5694]

Another great tutorial from Wags, wondering where we can find that AH-64D skin?

[@henrikoldcorn]

How Wags greets people: WAS up? Presumably we can load both Kilo and Lima together, given the type selection box?

[@hakob966]

1200 rounds?😋

[@dusty4459]

Nice spot.

[@Dwight511]

Yes, 1200 rounds of 30mm for the M230 gun. What's wrong?

[@dusty4459]

@@Dwight511 Ask Robbie, he knows I think?

[@azrzgaming]

Wags is back!

[@MegaMoxica]

Sweeeet!

[@McPinpin]

Yes StepWaggs❤

[@RamadiTaxiDriver60M]

Awesome. Great stuff. Any chance of JAGM in the future?

[@MattWagner]

No, that would not be accurate for this version.

[@MarcPutniorz]

@@MattWagner what about the R9X? 😛⚔

[@MattWagner]

@@MarcPutniorz That would not be accurate for this this version/year.

[@JTIB419]

Sick

[@SDsc0rch]

good to see a new video from wags :))

[@fisadev]

Hi Wags! Thanks for the awesome video, as always :) Question: AFAIK, there aren't any firing modes in which the lima hellfires receive target updates in flight, even with the longbow radar. Is that right? Are they always pure fire and forget? Or is there a way in which the can receive updates mid flight?

[@gnr2871]

I’ve been trying to decide between the ka50 and the ah64 and after seeing this I’m going with the Apache.

[@malx2340]

Ka50 is also a really good helicopter, really easy to fly and use. And is really deadly

[@austinkieso390]

Ka50 is more forgiving imo

[@Colakaktus]

Hell yeah, apache all the way. I did the same.

[@hidayatoceandar5004]

Apache actually a little bit hard to fly (it's wip) but has better weapon system IMO. KA50 is easier to fly. You might want to use free trial first then decide it yourself.

[@thegrumba2907]

@@hidayatoceandar5004 It's a shame the BS3 doesn't have free trial availble😢

[@CakePrincessCelestia]

1:00 Oh, what's the FCR page doing there?

[@ImperatorTheodosius]

Happy for helibros. Can't wait for some Viper news.

[@therocinante3443]

Yeah, I'm looking forward to being able to drop gbu38 using the Tpod one day..

[@CaptPickguard]

@@therocinante3443 You can already do that lol. The TGP drives your SPI, so just point and shoot.

[@MONARCH1985]

@@therocinante3443 bruh you've been able to do that for over a year now

[@McDaniels777]

I cant wait...thank you wags😎

[@valentin_bunin]

I hit one target out of two doesn't matter what I do. I can do exactly 100% identical actions in the same sequence, but in one case my missile will land close to the target and in the second it will land on the target. How does it even suppose to work?

[@sladehelicoptersgaming3148]

are we getting these linked at some point so one aircraft can designate and others somewhere safe can fire ? Maybe along with the Kiowa ? 😊😊

[@ImpendingJoker]

The mothership with the FCR does it via datalink. The Kiowa didn't have the ability to do this RL. They could only laze for the Kilo model Hellfire.

[@sladehelicoptersgaming3148]

​@@ImpendingJoker I never know that thank you

[@ConflictGamingGroup]

Limas be trippin. Here to spam 16 of these at A2A targets with TADS TO RFFFFFF

[@joelangley7974]

How did you initially lock onto the target. I am really struggling to understand how to lock onto either a stationary or moving target, depsite pressing IAT forward when looking at the target

[@MattWagner]

Better to use our forum with a video or track file to demonstrate where you are going sideways.

[@bennguyen1313]

Just want to shoot some rockets, but can't even get off the ground! Is it possible to do a walkthru on firing HellFire2 (laser) with Weight-On-Wheels? BTW, isn't a Radar-Guided Hellfire (AGM-114) also known as Longbow?

[@spirosdelistavros2970]

hello wags are you also implementing 16 targets qued? so i mean with the radar you can lock 16 targets (like in real life) an youcan engage them even behind a hill

[@FJFuentesCO]

So is this update already out? Not seeing the radar variant available to me on the arming screen.

[@orleansjunky4074]

thank you

[@fuzzybloodpc9291]

YAS YAS YAS YES YES YES YES

[@user-bv8xk9bj5h]

Help!! How do I load the Lima? I was on the rearm page, and there was no option to load the lima

[@pegasus.gaming]

Thanks! Hope to see vietnam map announce in the next video or something like that

[@shastasimulations9767]

Can George fire the Limas? I'm having trouble having him lock on after we designate the target with George commands.

[@indyjons321]

Today I learned what LOAL and LOBL mean. Lol

[@lt_dreams96]

Oooh yeah!

[@WaffenCat]

1200 rounds… 👍

[@butterfliege885]

when i press second detent it doest not laser the taarget.

[@bigrivercod]

Excellent :)

[@shamandgg]

This is so OP! 😂😅 Love it

[@trentlangford9050]

Wags ASMR

[@badassoptic]

How do you set the camera at this angle? I can't find the free camera key that does what you do in these videos. Can you help?

[@MattWagner]

Using Track IR.

[@goldi1012]

Is it possible to lock on 16 diffrent targets and then unleashing all the hellfires at once?

[@AM-ng8wc]

Thanks waggy daddy!

[@beewip]

love it, gotta question Wags, why the missile came to a side and not on front side?

[@jdantispam338]

because the helicopter is facing left relatively to the TADS

[@Yuto64E]

thats because the AGM-114L uses a tactic called DBS or Doppler Beam Sharpening, I recommend looking at it but what it basically does it allows the missiles radar to get a better firing solution by going to the sides or fronts of the vehicle so the missile can get a better lock and not be expected by enemy fire.

[@icepeakengineer1702]

I like having Apache in DCS as it gives me good memories of me being 7 when my dad bought a Tomahawk video game for Commodore64 - it was about Apache. Edited - Many of those issues are sorted now after latest update: "What I don't like is when after one hour of immersion in mission Apache suddenly starts doing weird stuff like barrel rolls and ignores control inputs. This is moment when I violently press power button on PC and don't go back to DCS for about a week. Flight model needs to be fixed on this thing to have fun without frustration." Now it's quite a good fun to be honest and even with violent missile avoidance manoeuvres like deep diving heli remains under control. Nice.

[@stevedavey1343]

Think you need to understand better how the SCAS system works before talking about how the FM is screwed. Maybe you could ask Casmo, who was a real AH-64 pilot and is Eagle Dynamics SME for the Apache.

[@RW-zn8vy]

It’s happening because you aren’t flying the aircraft properly, you need to understand it better that’s all. Try watching casmo.

[@GuitarooMan93]

Big Wags

[@tommyuk329]

How many targets can we designate at a time like this? Or is it just one at a time? I assume we can't cycle 3 missiles after grabbing a target lock on 3 different targets then ripple fire?

[@orlock20]

The Hellfire travels Mach 3 in real life and has a two second delay between shots. By the time you got to the third target, the first one would be hit. If you want mass ripple fire carnage, wait for the FCR and get at least three buddies (Apaches fly in fours). Imagine engaging with up to 64 targets at once with each helicopter launching a missile every two seconds and in 32 seconds at least most of them are dead if there is a fail rate built into the missiles.

[@Predaaator]

That is to say, currently the ah-64 in dcs does not have it? Or is it that now you are going to make a tutorial about it?

[@NightGameRus]

Am I the only one George is not looking for a target with this missile? Is it possible to use these missiles while in the cockpit?

[@MattesSPunkt]

A bug with the laser spot tracker. after startup, hopp into the cpg seat and set the lst switch from auto to off. refernce wags lst video if you dont know with switch i'm talking about

[@NightGameRus]

@@MattesSPunkt Thank you very much! It helped!

[@VanillaFox1-1]

LETS GOOO

[@xberserkerx-1445]

whatsup with the TADs now just going from Down, Left , Right, Up and repeats all by itself. George cant slew nor lock nor shoot at anything, and if i take control the same thing happens

[@MattesSPunkt]

A bug with the laser spot tracker. after startup, hopp into the cpg seat and set the lst switch from auto to off. refernce wags lst video if you dont know with switch i'm talking about

[@xberserkerx-1445]

@@MattesSPunkt I gotcha, I went into the Hoggit forums and found it was a bug, thank you a lot though. 💪🏽