DCS F-16C Tutorial 3 - A/A Radar BVR modes

[@Mandriick]

3 years old and still the best F16 radar tutorial I've found.

[@deephack]

Thanks! I did try to cover everything as logically as I could.

[@Thumper770]

You can't hide from us, Scott Manley!!!

[@Rhinozherous]

By far the best explaination of RWS and TWS! Thank you very much!

[@julianmorrisco]

I agree. I’ve watched a lot of videos, read big sections of manuals and guides but it’s all falling into place after this one. I’m looking forward to an FA18 series! (Not really - seriously, I’m sticking with the F16 for now as these guides are really helping and the FA18 is just a little too much for a starter - too many options).

[@eduardofonseca8114]

Totally agree!

[@mikewright2858]

Yes, very straightforward explanation of the modes for a new player. Thanks!

[@staydatie]

yea now i finally understand what i was always doing with my f18 lol

[@Air-Striegler]

This IS part of the DCS F-16C gospels, no doubt. Another concise, comprehensible and to the point tutorial on one of the more sophisticated topics. Fantastic!

[@steher1610]

omg thank you i have been having problem with the buttton not working and i saw your comment and i finally after hours fixed it. you need to not use display managment switch up but target managment switch

[@boilermaker7754]

just hopping back into the F16 after a little time away...your video is just what the doctor ordered...many thanks!

[@deephack]

Glad it was helpful.

[@johnwiegand190]

Best tutorial I’ve seen on this. Thank you!

[@sezaiturkmen9561]

This is by far the best tutorial!!. thx

[@denesk2794]

I think this is the clearest/best explanation of said systems. The tutorials (in-game) explain almost none of this. I am pressing random MFD buttons like an idiot for 3 days trying to figure this out. I just got the module after a trial yesterday, still lost in some of the details.... THANK YOU ! instant sub

[@christophermcsherry2655]

Very thorough explanation. There is a lot of info here. I pick up something every time I watch.

[@yungcaco1443]

Now that is what I call I good clear explanation of something. Very helpful. Thank’s.

[@Avrum256]

To begin with ...it"s one of best tutorials dealing with main subject . The way it"s been presented is more than Excellent. Well Done... Who ever you are .

[@captaininsano564]

You took a complex subject and made it very easy to understand. Thanks

[@coRb77]

Thanks! Im getting into the F16 and this was a very good explaining video of the Radar.

[@Darknt69]

Best radar explanation for the f 16 out there!

[@slammerf16]

Genius, thank you! I'd forgotten all this since I stopped playing BMS.

[@blue-eyes5846]

I just started flying the F16 and these tutorials making it a lot easier. I am enjoying every video. Great work!!

[@ViperDriver22]

Good job here man. Keep'm flowing!

[@leo6ty7]

I really enjoy your videos deephack (all the way from Australia). Came across you for the AV-8B, although my favourite aircraft is the F-16. Keep up the stirling work and look forward to more of your F-16 tutorials.

[@deephack]

Thanks for your support!

[@Onur-o]

Very well explained

[@surfman88]

Clear explation thx! Good to repeat the learned now and then in the story. Like this style. I am not able to use TMS right for TWS mode in FCR for some reason. I dont get any hollow bricks.

[@jasonaquino8232]

Video is good, makes a lot of sense. Will help me with my F-18C as well. I like the fact he explains what everything does. And like, why its useful. I learned a lot. Cool stuff.

[@SAEVONIX]

great video, i learnt a lot about the radar.thank you

[@xcifer]

Amazing tutorial! - You earned yourself a new subscriber!

[@OperatorPuski]

This detailed and easy to follow tutorial was exactly what I was looking for. Coming from the A10c II, I needed a good but simple radar explanation for the Viper

[@philippehubo6275]

So well explained ... a very big thank you !!

[@dimimate5522]

I so enjoy your videos mate. By far the most easy to follow, in detail and spot -on

[@lionsfan1478]

You did the impossible; I fully understood. Thanks a lot!

[@Chris-ly8wt]

Hi Mr Hack. at 11:32 you said you press tms forward. What exactly is that as I couldn't find any mention in the keybinds for it. :( Just got to the AIM120 training and can't seem to lock any targets that are BVR. Thanks kindly.

[@deephack]

In the controls you should find it listed as the target management switch.

[@Chris-ly8wt]

@@deephack TY TY yes, it's under the HOTAS section. Finally I can lock a target lol

[@BiggWizurdTV]

First, awesome videos, I would still be trying to close the canopy without you. Second, question on this video. When you go into expanded view at time 10:11 you move the cursor around to locate targets, what are you using to move the cursor around? This is done regularly, so I assume it's pretty basic, but this is my first aircraft so I don't know the simple things.

[@deephack]

Glad it helped. This is the RDR Cursor Switch axis in the controls. I have it bound to my HOTAS. If you don't have a free axis to bind it to then you can use a hat or similar also.

[@jep1103]

Great tutorial, well explained

[@robertthomason7619]

Excellent explaination and demonstration, well done!

[@emrahcivitoglu9299]

very useful tutorial. Thanks

[@stewsaquarium1397]

Excellent mate,, such nice and clear explanation

[@Kraken9911]

In TWS: "He will not be getting an RWS warning if you fire" DCS AI: "Are you sure?"

[@deephack]

Yes can confirm no lock indication on the targets RWR. Bugging a target you see doesn't change anything about the amount of radar energy reaching your target. It's simply a prioritisation mode which ensures that the track predictions are kept up to date for that track. To the target there is no difference between this and the radar scanning over them during normal scan operation. Now of course if they have missile approach warning system it may pickup the missile launch and once the missile goes pitbull they will get an RWR indication from the missiles radar but that will be much later.

[@Kraken9911]

@@deephack It was meant as a joke because DCS AI doesn't follow the rules. They crank the instant you fire in TWS from BVR because of their magic eye. This is well known and documented but par the course for AI stuff.

[@deephack]

Ah I see! That I don't know anything about.

[@deephack]

This is actually confirmed although now fixed as of yesterday's patch. Check the patch notes.

[@Kraken9911]

@@deephack Yeah I was pretty pumped to see that in the patch.

[@Critical_Bill]

Excellent tutorial, thank you

[@Prifly70]

Thank you thank you thank you....subscribed!

[@ricbish]

Awesome tutorial, thank you! I commented on your video of BVR weapons deployment about locking targets, sorry I commented before seeing and watching this. Still might be a good idea to mention this video or put it in somewhere! Just a thought. Thanks again…

[@deephack]

Thanks! You're quite right, it might not be immediately apparent that the radar stuff is covered in a previous video. I'l add a note to the video to that effect.

[@marcovaleriogalbiati9460]

Fantastic!!! Well done!! A question please: what're you Graphic settings? The cockpit has high colours details!! And the light inside Is so clear!! Thanks

[@deephack]

I don't think they are anything too special. See here imgur.com/a/erJKxLL

[@jackoloshi3127]

Great tutorial

[@vilcafor]

fantastic video!

[@blindeerkeizer950]

Thanks man . I still try to figure that radar out after 3 months. I just cant keep that tws multiple lock its so frustrating

[@KillerKev1961]

Aaaahhhhh yes! And now I know how to IFF!!!!!!!

[@Q3ark]

I’ve really started to get into the viper lately and these tutorials have been really helpful, thank you. Do you plan on doing the same for the F14?

[@deephack]

I might do so eventually. I do like the F-14 but I would have to study it's systems a bit.

[@Q3ark]

@@deephack that would be cool, there is a lot to get your head into with that radar.

[@xUnLiBoG]

Great video and i learned lots. I have an easier time with RWS, so I decided to try TWS. I am having a difficult time bugging/locking even when they are within range, their symbols Red with a white box, i hit TMS up but it does not do anything. It manages to lock if I keep pressing it, mostly end up in STT. Also having a hard time bugging multiple targets , halp what am I doing wrong.

[@deephack]

Is this in stable or open beta as the radar just got some improvements in open beta which should improve it's performance.

[@xUnLiBoG]

@@deephack I am playing on open beta. How recent was the update?

[@Eduard_Kolesnikov]

@Redox Thank you for your explanation.

[@theaceofspades485]

I almost thought I was listening to Scott Manly. Had to exit full screen and check the channel tag.

[@davenottingham3254]

I don’t know if you’ll see this but can ask how long it took you to get this all nailed down and be able to use it in an active situation? I’ve started playing recently and I’m very grateful there’s people like you putting up this content but it’s so daunting at the minute. I don’t mind if it takes me years but I’d love a rough idea! I know everyone’s different so you may not be able to answer that! Thanks

[@deephack]

Hard to say in my case as I started out with Falcon 4 back in about '99 which had quite a lot of this stuff simulated already. It's all just practice and of course flying with an online squadron probably helps too.

[@brittoncooke1890]

You made it look pretty easy. I bet I could figure out the radar now. Do you know if the current radar functions are "simplified" for early access or is this how they function in the real aircraft and will remain in the module? I have a difficult time learning some of these early access systems only to have them change several times before they reach their final "complete" versions. Thanks for this tutorial series. It has encouraged me bring out my Viper after a year of gathering dust in my virtual hangar. My jealous Tomcat is slightly less happy.

[@deephack]

Glad the video was helpful. There may be some small details but this is pretty much the entirety of how RWS and TWS work. They don't seem to be simplified.

[@SpankyMagic]

Fabulous explainations here. I'm using a T16000M stick, throttle and rudder setup. I don't seem to have TMS short/long press available, can anyone help?

[@deephack]

Press escape and choose "Adjust controls" from the popup menu while in sim. From there choose the hotas category and you should find you controls for all the hats.

[@SFDPSFDP]

Great video and explanations, thank you very much for that. I have one silly question though : what is the point of using RWS mode when TWS seems so superior please? You can bug, fire at multiple contacts and have accurate data on the target with TWS and it does not let your target know you soft locked it in TWS. So could you please let me know what does RWS offer that TWS cannot do please? Is there a specific tactical need for RWS over TWS?

[@deephack]

You're welcome. The main thing between RWS and TWS is the processing of the radar returns and the cost that implies. RWS will update the scope more regularly and display a contact at much greater range than TWS will. If you need pure range then go RWS. If you would prefer situational awareness with reduced range and refresh rate then go TWS.

[@SFDPSFDP]

@@deephack Thank you very much for your reply, that is interesting. I would have a last question please : If i am flying online against a modern jet, does his RWS go crazy in alert as soon as the missile is fired from my airplane or does it happen only when the Aim120 goes mad dog on him? I ask because i want to know if it is really useful to only bug the target for stealth/surprise effect instead of just using a full STT lock before firing my missile in RWS mode. Thank you once again.

[@deephack]

Just noticed your message. Just launching an AIM120 without STT will not give your target a launch warning unless they have MAWS or similar (JF-17, M2000C). When the AIM120 goes active they will then of course get RWR indications. Bugging is very useful for this reason and the ability to launch against multiple targets all at once.

[@SFDPSFDP]

@@deephack Thank you very much once again for having taken the time to reply, much appreciated, wishing you the best :)

[@Avrum256]

Hi could you pls help me with my Question : in order to lock target I have to do TMS UP ... now is it with the keyboard RCtrl+ arrow up ?? or something else ...because it"s not working with me ...so pls could you help with this TMS UP or what is the way to lock target ? i"have seen and read in the forum and yet they all talk about TMS UP or left SHORT , NOW what do i have to press in the keyboard ??? what is the meaning of the up-left-right- is it the arrows?.... thank you in advance

[@joshscott7401]

Broooooooooooooo! Thank you!

[@madpineapple8561]

hi im pretty new to dcs and have some understanding of how o play things, ive been into aviation for like 3 years but in f16 what button do i press to lock up enemies in bvr on tws and rws?

[@typhoonul985]

nice video tutorial deep

[@edwardbrophy9749]

What buttons do you use, to move the cursor, to then put over target's & press TMS up?? Cheers

[@MenapiaCustomGuitars]

Thank you sir.

[@stewsaquarium1397]

Could u tell me what is the name of the key for firing missile, I am able to fire my gun with trigger, I have the master arm on and enemy locked but cant seem to find the key for missile fire? Thanks in advance, I am also in a to a mode and can see I have my missiles assigned rather then gun

[@deephack]

I think it's called weapon release in the F-16.

[@SPFLDAngler]

They make the F16 so much more confusing than other aircraft. Despite is being “simplified” with literal A/A A/G buttons lol. I still struggle trying to lock an aircraft for a Fox 3 and then Fox 1 when they are too close for 3 because I couldn’t lock them up at range.

[@SPFLDAngler]

I end up just using Fox 2 lmao

[@imposter0shadow]

What about the yellow squares?

[@deephack]

I think I cover that in the radar symbology update video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoTQo6Srqpd0Y6M

[@thereisnospoon3595]

At 11:30 you say to press "TMS forward" to lock him up on the HUD. Can you please tell us what the correct button you press is because there is no button in the F16 controls called "TMS forward". Why does this have to be so hard, every review someone calls it something different (how to lock him up, just lock it up, get him bugged) but NOT the actual key I need to set TO bug him. Every review (3 so far) not 1 person has actually given what button "locks him up." If I press the TMS Up button it says "Not SOI" again and does not lock him up. Press down and its SOI again hit TMS up and NOT SOI. Not one button I have on my warthog will actually lock him up its frustrating. I can get cursor over him and see info and that's it cursor will not lock onto him.

[@deephack]

I'm not sure exactly what it is called in the controls as I'm not at my sim pc right now but TMS stands for target management switch. If you go to the HOTAS category in controls it should be easy enough to find. What you are describing with SOI and not SOI is the action of the DMS or display management switch so you are pressing the wrong control it seems. I don't list what the key is as it may well be different for different people with varying keyboard layouts and HOTAS setups. You need to configure this kind of stuff before starting the tutorials. Check out Chuck's guide on the F-16 for a really good run down on what controls you should map.

[@thereisnospoon3595]

@@deephack Thanks for the response. I watched a video by Waggs after this and even he said the same thing lol TMS forward and it locked it up. I even went back and confirmed its programmed right, I am hitting it right, and same thing happens again NO SOI when I hit up (and was SOI before I hit up). It might even be a bugged binding. Going to try and sort it out later today after family is gone it's hard to concentrate on this stuff when there are distractions lol. I just so need to get past this so I can enjoy and do more learning, I have spent easily over an hour on this and same problem ;) Cheers!

[@Trucker-Belly]

What does the ACR mode do?

[@deephack]

I actually missed making a video on the dogfight modes I think. Good catch! I'll see what I can come up with.

[@jameswilliams1085]

Excelent video!!! Males me want to leave the Hornet....!!!

[@deephack]

I fly both, great aircraft!

[@Maceoneone]

Don’t you see other targets on the right display even in tws mode?

[@Past10Performance]

I am having a hard time bugging targets on radar that have been designed as enemies by awacs. I can bug them on the right mfd to track them visually using hmd but when i make FCR SOI and bring cursor over red targets and press tms up its unresponsive? What am i missing?

[@Slaintemaith]

How do you have radar blips at all? I've tried to track a B-1B at 50nm with constantly updated BRA callouts and I can't get a radar blip, much less a lock. My radar was on. I was seeing the bandits via datalink. It was at the right azimuth/angle. It was set to 80nm. I was getting zero blips.

[@deephack]

That's interesting, I really don't know. Could they have been in the notch? Travelling away from you at low speed or flanking enough that they were beaming you?

[@Slaintemaith]

@@deephack directly in front of me. I was attempting to intercept them.

[@Avrum256]

hi a Q pls : In order to luck the target i have to use TMS my Q is : the up-down-left-right ? is it the arrows ? and i have to do RCtrl + an arrow?? or something else . ? thank you in advance for your guidnance and help . all the best .

[@deephack]

You would need to check your control bindings and see what you have them set to. In the HOTAS category it will be called TMS or target management switch.

[@tropicaldog5852]

Just getting into combat with the 16, what are the cursor controls called?

[@deephack]

You're looking for RDR CURSOR.

[@MrWillathon]

Hi, I can't seem to get TMS FWD/UP to turn all the Target Track files into System Target Tracks. When I press TMS FWD on Target Track files it stays as a solid white track file & does not turn into system track file. - A/A - AIM120-C Selected - Target Track files show on Radar (White solid boxes) - TMS FWD/UP = Targets do not change to System track files as shown in this video. My only option to lock a target is to TMS UP/FWD in order to fire. I am new to the F16 so please let me know if i'm missing something obvious. Side note - is it correct that I can't free fire missiles & I have to have a lock in order to release? Still getting used to it. Really weird the system won't let you free fire.

[@deephack]

Sounds like you have your radar in RWS instead of TWS mode. Check the mode selection at the top of the screen.

[@MrWillathon]

@@deephack Cheers for the response dude. That's the thing - I am in TWS. Doing exactly as you're doing in the vid. What I have also tried to do that isn't in your vid but Wags's is; TMS RIGHT in TWS mode when there are multiple Target Track files (solid white) to make all of them System Track targets. This is demonstrated in Wags in vid which I can link if you're interested in investigating this with me. But I cannot get a System track target for the life of me - with either method. Yours or Wags's.

[@deephack]

@@MrWillathon I do demonstrate TMS Right at about the 22:56 minute mark. Are you getting track targets before you try to do this? Those are the large filled squares. If your radar is struggling to generate a track and predict target position then it will display small filled squares called search targets which cannot become system targets. Your radar could be struggling for a variety of reasons. Aircraft which are flying away from you at close to your own airspeed are very hard to track. Very small targets at long range, aircraft flanking and aircraft in ground clutter can all be a challenge for the radar to build a track file for. In these circumstances you need to drop into RWS as this mode will do less processing and be better able to provide usable returns.

[@MrWillathon]

@@deephack It's all good. It is working - I'm running the most recent open beta and the Target track files no longer change to hollow white boxes when they're made into System track files.

[@BowFinJunkie]

@@MrWillathon hey i was having the same issue as you. So when i try and select a target for a systems track, they turn yellow. is this the new indicator other then the white box? Cheers

[@bradule1980]

Cannot create non filled system targets anymore... tms up short only going to bugged and/or stt, anyone know whay? 😢

[@deephack]

I've not flown the F-16 recently but I'll check it out and see what I find.

[@yyorophff786]

F18 vs f16 radar who is better

[@stewsaquarium1397]

Can someone tell me please how to move the curser?

[@deephack]

Listed as RDR cursor in the controls.

[@stewsaquarium1397]

@@deephack thanks man, I actually just found it

[@Aliabdulhussein69]

Better than wags from eagle dynamics😂🤣

[@yyorophff786]

Hi deepak

[@milkovivaldi]

I hope that DCS F-16 will be soon at the same level than BMS maybe by December 2022 maybe by December 2023 even though I think it will be 2023 😒🙏 🤧

[@yieovgwqxaz7912]

i hate f16 and f18 radars.