FA-18C Hornet: Aim-120 AMRAAM (VISUAL/STT/TWS) Tutorial | DCS WORLD

[@Pekins]

man I fucking love how rushed these tutorials are. simple and efficient.

[@akmattb]

Finally! A tutorial without any fluff! Its straight to the point and teaches the important bits! Others take note, this is how you make a video like this.

[@dogsbd]

I was going to say "Talk slower dude!" but then I just realized I could slow playback speed to 0.75 and now it makes your tutorials much easier to follow.

[@gyzfr6]

This has to be the way where I can feel better about myself in the 8 vs 8 Instant Mission for the F-18. I keep getting murdered.

[@jeremybalkan1123]

A big problem during the 8v8 instant action is when you start out, your wingmen are close, while the other allied flight start spreading out over and in front of your flight's formation. You kind of need to get your formation into a different altitude block (+/- angels 10) and spread your flight out so they can fire their amraams without threat of them tracking you, or other allies. I would assume you start out by going full afterburners which is fair, but is working against you in this flight configuration as it puts you right ahead of your flight. You need to gain altitude and speed, and order your flight to spread out so your forward position won't get in the way of them tracking the enemy. At this stage, it should put your initial missile volleys into an 8v4 scenario (2 flights of F/A-18, vs 1 flight of Su-27s), as the 8v8 instant action has the enemy Mig-29 flight is a little out the back, when compared to the Su-27 flight which is forward. This is also a disadvantage as the Mig-29 flight is also coming in untracked and in aggressive posture so they can fire how ever they like. So you can either commit to the furball (i.e. the beautiful fuster cluck that is an 8v8), or use your flight to hold off and attack the Mig-29 flight, which is up to you. But the biggest problem starting out in that scenario is your people can't (won't being more accurate, due to AI) do anything. Once you have them set, you can reliably get 1 kill, which is fine, and is counted as pulling your weight in this instance. And if you can get 2 kills, you are putting work in. 4 kills and you have single handedly taken out a flight worth on your own. Realistic numbers for true success is maybe 2 kills, and survive to the end. You get this, you don't need to be hard on yourself. And also be prepared to change to different missiles quickly, it's the biggest flexibility advantage of the hornet and its loadout, once the merge happens, send an AIM-9, you will likely kill one of them on the pass if you are playing chicken. Also, I'd advise changing the tracking of the AIM-7 out of loft and into norm before switching over to fire your first amraam, because you won't really be using them over huge distances, as the fight will be on you pretty quickly. AIM-7 change out of loft automatically at a certain range, but I don't trust they won't fly up and then come down on their head rather than bee-line to the target (when you have to help the AIM-7 track, and any extra time it's in the air is time you can't really do anything except babysit it. Or learn more careful BVR tactics. But you only have 2 amraam, so that tactic becomes a moot point quickly. Also, your AI allies aren't using BVR tactics, they just rush in, so it takes a bit of work to designate the right targets even with IFF. And they usually get wiped out quickly, leaving you to cop at least 3 missiles from the remaining enemy AI. TL:DR: gain speed and altitude, and spread your formation wide at the start of the scenario. Then tell your flight to go ham. I am by no means an expert on this game, not even close, I myself have been ramming my head against the wall trying to win the scenario, and I can only reliably win the scenario (even still dying) by the method I have described above, and feedback is very much appreciated.

[@jeremybalkan1123]

Addendum: Same as the TL:DR but with some changes. The computer does have some BVR skills, so Gain speed, altitude, and tell your flight to go open/spread/line abreast so they are out of the way of each other, then order them to attack target. They should then be in a good spot to participate. Stay outside of 12 miles until you are out of AIM-120, drift in and track for the AIM-7, and when the furball starts around you, there should be less enemy aircraft if your allies killed at least 1 each.

[@deividdi5779]

@@jeremybalkan1123 Super accurate description and useful tactic. Thank you sir

[@jasonaquino8232]

This is really useful information if you are having trouble with the Alert 5 campaign. I keep flyng into the hornets nest and I get shot down. I figure you need to use AMRAAM BVR missiles to succeed. Probably could smoke the mission with the AMRAAM with TWS. Lock fire then undesignate. Wash and repeat. But when you get close, ACM mode and use your sidewinders. I dunno. I still struggle with commanding my wingmen and using AWACS, or TCN. This is so hard, but worth it, once I get above the curve. I just gotta feep flying.

[@kylechestervital2886]

This tutorial taught me so fast, i searched for this while dogfighting and because of this i managed to win

[@Eric-l6n1c]

I did the same thing but with the aim-120

[@tanakalight]

Man your guide's have been so useful no faff all info thank you!

[@grimreapers]

thx

[@SoDevious]

Like I said along with many others, SD-10 was overperforming and was nerfed along with the buff to the AMRAAM revision which increases the overall performance by about 20% making both of the missiles balanced now... Checked it out in TAC view and I confirmed it was in fact nerfed as it isn't doing nearly mach 3 at sea level. Also the countermeasure immunity of the SD-10 was drastically reduced along with its terminal homing target sync rate meaning it can't make 200 corrections a millisecond 50 feet away from its target like it could before. Happy with the performance of both missiles although I think the PL-5 is a little too fast off the rail. Baby steps.

[@martinrezzy]

thank you very much...i just found DCSW and i'm loving it...i'm strugling to understand the fighters and to set my joystick and keyboard...i am watching videos like this to learn how to operate the F18 because i like to know how to set my aircraft from the engine start to fighting mode...i learn quickly thanks to guys like you....THANK YOU

[@JDoberman]

Before watching this, I thought the circle dot on the MFD was a target and I was so confused trying to lock onto it. Thank you for un-stupidfying me.

[@PrimetimeCasual]

I'm just getting into DCS, bought the F/A-18, and I'm loving these videos! Much more oriented towards how you would actually do things than most of the integrated training sessions. The visual mode of the AMRAAM - would that be the equivalent, or call-out of "Maddog", for releasing a Fox-3 without a prior lock?

[@lil_crusty50]

yes

[@rpersen]

Precise and to the point. Thanks.

[@combatcarl1995]

So at 8:00, why is it not necessary to put the steering dot in the circle? Great tutorial, helped a lot!

[@thedude5-6]

So the tws ripple method I'm still unclear on when you undesignate is it supposed to automatically switch to the next target?

[@TaKeR-5678]

you did a really great job at this i love the 18 and im the only one out of all my friends that have it and it has been very challenging for me to learn a lot of this stuff since i used to play a lot of MSFS and am only used to big airplanes so thank you for the info on this video very helpful.

[@TheSaintArmando]

I like the new format of the video mate!

[@G3R3SkYwAlK3R]

Awesome Video Cap short and on point

[@david-mp6dt]

Thanks but on SST mode when u said press scs right what does that mean?

[@techop2010]

sensor control switch. so the same switch you use to make the radar the active display, you just press it again.

[@david-mp6dt]

@@techop2010 oh thx

[@VimyScout]

You're brilliant, Cap. Thanks for this mate 👍

[@benimatyus]

Holy shit I wish I knew these sooner... Thank you so much!

[@robertcras8151]

Thank you!! Was searching the net on how to ripple!

[@bluewater82]

Thank you for the quick and easy tutorial, Cap!

[@mrbrianbrush]

That answers my question

[@davidricou9934]

Thank you for all these details :-)

[@spukey3923]

how do you choose your weapons at the beginning? at 0:39

[@konfinoyair]

AACQ not working you probably defined the threats as friendlies

[@Mich_Angel]

Love those ... " missile in your face " thumbnails ha ha ha ha... It's like here you flying around in all calmness enjoying yourself and peekaboo... OH SHIT! Another awesome video CAP, love this tutorial videos keep the awesomeness up ;)

[@grimreapers]

thx Mich

[@Mich_Angel]

@@grimreapers You're welcome.

[@Topper_Harley68]

I wish we could use the D model with 50% longer range.

[@FoxtrotDeltazulu]

You and me both. Also the D variant has better countermeasures

[@ConstantineJoseph]

120C is already excellent

[@JoelLinus]

@@ConstantineJoseph Why did it had to get a 20% buff then, just get the D and keep the C historical, that would have been better.

[@TealJosh]

@@JoelLinus the c model has always underperformed severely in dcs world. The 2.6 update pretty much made aim-120c quite near to how it performs irl. Max non-maneuver range being roughly 36nm and so on.

[@vortex6818]

3:47 did you just hit the TDC Depress key? I dont get what you are telling me to press at 3:45 sorry

[@grimreapers]

"sensor Control Switch Right"

[@ryanferguson6068]

Best video out there

[@Jamaland]

3:45 what Button should i press when he says sts

[@robertcras8151]

UNDESIGNATE, NEW L&S. Once you undesignated, the radar will automatically pic the next target?

[@klisu85]

Can you test aim120c behavior between f16&f18. Like shooting the missile at same target with stt lock at the same time, same speed, same altitude and next to each other. There is discussion that might be some differense between them.

[@grimreapers]

Will try when I get a sec thxx

[@craigharris41]

SCS Right is which button Capt?

[@Halozocker104]

for me it doesnt launch, got the amraam 120C equipped, A/A mode on, AMRAAM selected and master arm on and i cant fire neither visual mode not radar lockon mode... any ideas?

[@_Jake.From.Statefarm_]

Hey grim, Can you do a tutorial on the AACQ mode. How it works between TWS/RWS/STT etc. How to cycle track files with it, you know all the ins and outs. Would be much appreciated as there is no tutorials on it and it's a pretty common useful mode.

[@koopanique]

At 3:45 he says "We're now gonna press SCS right", how do you do that? What's the hotkey?

[@CommandoAndy]

Sensor Control Switch

[@euphoriess]

@@CommandoAndy what key ?

[@CommandoAndy]

@@euphoriess One your stick, it should be the topleft thumb hat. I don't know non HOTAS keys

[@ethanos1604]

Thank you so much

[@rubennn1033]

what do I press at 3:45 ?

[@xardes8326]

+1

[@coconutfoxe249]

wdym its not working @@xardes8326

[@Execue]

you know already?

[@henriklmao]

​@@Execuescs right (sensor control switch)

[@Execue]

@@henriklmao thx!

[@SpareTimeProjects1]

Can't seem to figure out how to get the missile to change out of visual mode. Help? When I click rws it doesnt change to stt

[@grimreapers]

It sounds like you not acquiring a suitable target track for the msl. When I went to RWS I pressed SCS Right several time to A) assigned the TDC to radar B) use the AACQ mode to gain an STT. Try that.

[@AndriyMisuyrak]

cage / uncage (3 month late)

[@AlexVangeenRacing]

Great and to the point as always. Is this still how it is in sim? Just saying as it’s 3 years old and want to make sure they haven’t changed anything before I try

[@ledinkus9933]

Why does the hud show a shoot cue rather than IN LAR when your tac radar shows the hostile as ambiguous? I always seem to get the IN LAR cue even when AWACS is available instead of the shoot cue. My understanding is that the shoot cue only appears when target is two factor authenticated as hostile.

[@osprey2023]

Using a T-Flight Hotas One, and whenever I push the weapon release button when it says “shoot” it does absolutely nothing. What am I doing wrong?

[@JMsoo]

Man I am coming from friendly skies flying Airbus I can't even use the gun xD

[@rgloria40]

I wonder why the US NAVY cannot use boost staging missiles to extend the range of the intercept? Even the Smartphone circuit board will provide better positive control over oceans/water. Standard missile using staging... I have not seen economical arguments for single stage.

[@toddflannery3598]

Thanks for the tip!!

[@Alessandroinborghesefake]

Hey! Just a small question... why doesn't it fire when i press the weapons release while in boresight? I have the master arm turned on idk why it doesn't work

[@eduspalace]

Which key do you press in 3 min 46 sec? the Sensor Right?

[@grimreapers]

Correct

[@rafaelamorim5748]

Thanks Cap!

[@ALPHARICCO875]

Super Thank you

[@mikelagaffe]

thanks a lot, very useful video. to the point and no superfluous chitchat. but i have a problem idk why or what i'm doing wrong but half the time my radar wont show anything . i mean ANYTHING, right up until i can see the white of the other pilot's eyes and its time to go for guns. sometimes i get decent shots but most of the time i have to wait and shoot in visual mode, no lock MadDog... because nothing shows up on the radar. what could cause that?

[@breeze9076]

can u do a comparison of the aim120c vs the SD 10

[@grimreapers]

wilco

[@breeze9076]

@@grimreapers thnx

[@OzzyTripping]

This

[@TheNanofiber]

Is there a button for "new LNS" after you undesignate? or does that happen automatically after the undesignate...Thx

[@phuchiang6932]

thank a lot

[@PolarBearSeal]

Have they buffed this to make it realistic vis-a-vis the SD-10?

[@cyronader]

no, SD-10 still better

[@TheRadiag]

"In January, after the team is back from holiday, much of the focus will be on the Hornet targeting pod, AACQ and SPOT radar modes, JDAM/JSOW improvements, Viper radar-directed gunsight and general gunsight accuracy (EEGS Level 5), and improvements to the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Once we have specific Open Beta release dates for these items, we’ll be sure to let you know." forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=4143427#post4143427 Edit: Well they just released a patch that buffed the 120 lol

[@butman_47]

Bro how did you open that loadout tab in the start?

[@JohnDoe-yq9rt]

what is scs right?????? i know sensor control switch...BUT WHAT IS IT? WHAT DO I PRESS? OH MY GOD.

[@snowflakes238]

Im having issues with the locking it seems to unlock the target after a few seconds and the SCS right is not locking the target at all. i have the same controls as you and nothing. could i have some help please

[@lucianomicale1099]

hi sir, thks for your videos, what is scs right and how i do it in rws to lock the closest target?!?thks for your time and patience

[@Denetri252]

what is it called in the bindings when he autolocks the closest person to him

[@miroterho9843]

3:45 what key is "scs" plz some one help me with this

[@grimreapers]

Sensor Control Switch

[@PabloDuro]

What happens if you lose your TGT before the missile goes pitbull?

[@grimreapers]

Missile will go active and kill whatever is in front of it.

[@medicalshroomi]

what button/keybind for that singeltarget autotrack?

[@hojo3051]

Question: He said “Undesignate” then “New LNS”? Whats the control key for New LNS?

[@grimreapers]

New LNS? I don't know that control

[@marcgrv4376]

@@grimreapers I'm also interested. You undesignate and then , what do you do to lock a new target ?

[@techop2010]

with multiple targets, like 1, 2, 3, etc. or with a primary and secondary target. pressing undesignate will change which of the targets is the active target (the one with the star) and give you L&S or Launch and Steer information for that new target.

[@shadownathanel6744]

Where do i find the auto lock in controls?

[@mlem2235]

Can we fit any long range A/A missle to F/A18C?

[@grimreapers]

neg

[@CommandoAndy]

What is SCS Right? That does not come up in the control menu.

[@CommandoAndy]

Ah its Sensor Control Switch

[@pvrmain]

Your tutorials are pretty good but you leave out important information, especially with TWS. I'll find another tutorial but it would help if you explained your full actions.

[@sinsley1]

He has 100 videos on the F18 alone, 1 of which is 40+ minutes long explaining every thing you need to know about using the radar

[@pvrmain]

@@sinsley1 I have watched his videos and stand by my comment. No need to be defensive. I like his videos and have subscribed to his channel but he sometimes fails to include information that would be beneficial and help beginners get up to speed quickly.

[@andybarnes00]

Anyone else find that aacq prefers to lock my awacs 60 miles away while ignoring a bandit on the same bearing at 10 miles 😫

[@grimreapers]

Yeh that feature is COMPLETELY useless. Remove it plz Wagner. Yes ofc I would prefer to lock that friendly AWACS at 82 miles and not the guy at 8 miles piling missiles into me.

[@andreasnyh5740]

Hahah i tried something new today 🤣🤣 i made this a spaceprogram i launched aim120 into space you can see stars now in this game i dont know if you could to this before. I am going do this with aim54 Phoenix to :) 😊

[@bobbyraejohnson]

A lot more complicated than janes combat simulators.

[@benoitrenard3462]

I dont see anything on my radar page what is thé problem ?

[@irememberjeepz]

Is S Mode still not implemented?

[@viper_maddog3922]

What is SCS right and what kebind do you use to activate it?

[@Jamaland]

Im not sure but i think If you search for "sensor control switch"

[@exiletsj2570]

Can’t stand the hornets cockpit, it like being in a 1980s pocket calculator.

[@grimreapers]

true

[@het61yt]

I personally think it's the best over the F-16 and F-14

[@FoxtrotDeltazulu]

Jf-17 vs f-18 by best pilots and fair battle BVR when?

[@connorAv8]

Foxtrot Delta JF-17 missiles (SD-10) are massively better than the aim 120s from what I’ve seen you can get an extra 10 NM then the a120c’s at 20,000ft I think cap should do a video showing how the difference in performance and how unfair it is in bvr

[@connorAv8]

Foxtrot Delta JF-17 missiles (SD-10) are massively better than the aim 120s from what I’ve seen you can get an extra 10 NM then the a120c’s at 20,000ft I think cap should do a video showing how the difference in performance and how unfair it is in bvr

[@FoxtrotDeltazulu]

@@connorAv8 i hope eagle dynamics fixes and its aim 120c cuz sd-10 is acting very close to the real thing when we all tested.

[@grimreapers]

wilco, just waiting for the SD-10 nerf.

[@FoxtrotDeltazulu]

@@grimreapers i don't think it should be significantly nerfed. As in real life it is getting closer to aim-120D's performance with Sd-10B variant. I think they should buff up aim-120C in dcs its very shitty at the moment unlike in real life. Our airforce uses both and in real life 120C is very compariable to SD-10 first variant

[@coconutfoxe249]

what is SCS right? im so lost

[@AndrewGrey22]

A wasted amram C air-to-air missile is 1.1 million dollars.

[@stalhuth]

in TWS mode how do you undesignate all your targets ?

[@grimreapers]

you can't. At the moment at least you'll always have an L&S. That may change later.

[@Hmd1414]

If you take AMRAAMs as many as you can and shoot enemies at once that’s would be awesome 😈

[@marwankthd1629]

و أخيراً لقيت سعودي ثاني يحب لعبة DCS World 😁

[@angerissues69626]

would there be a reason why i cant engage TWS in my FA18?

[@grimreapers]

Have you watched our Radar TWS vid? have you followed those steps? If so, I can only imagine that you are not using Open Beta like we are.

[@angerissues69626]

@@grimreapers there it is. I'm using the 2.5 non beta. Is it better to use the beta version?

[@grimreapers]

Beta is less stable, but you get stuff earlier so it's up to you.

[@samkeefer7086]

what does he mean by SCS right?

[@grimreapers]

Sensor Control Switch

[@Wrelllo]

does this work on steam?

[@officer_miller]

yes it does

[@PilotUwU]

aim120=all bluefor player skill

[@holdendean2393]

i’m BVR i need this fast

[@erbaX]

ok

[@jimmiebond597]

For someone who is new to the DCS world, it's difficult to follow because you talk like you're in a hurry. Furthermore, you do not fully explain some things. For example, how do you bring up the window to load the missiles at 0:39? At 1:39 you say "to select a missile, we have that". What is "that"? I would suggest slowing down and lengthening the video to 12 or 15 minutes and taking time to explain for us new people to DCS World. The content is excellent, but following and understanding can be difficult at times.

[@bluefin2349]

“That” is the key bind that HE has

[@bluefin2349]

To bring up the window it is Lalt + @ or Ralt + @

[@jimmiebond597]

@@bluefin2349 Thanks

[@jimmiebond597]

@@bluefin2349 Thanks

[@therealtjpek]

If you don't know yet how to bring up the rearming window, maybe you shouldn't be trying to shoot missiles yet. Start by learning how to take off and land, and how the game works. Those tutorials are aimed at people who already know how most things work and just want a clear, straight to the point tutorial for the new plane. Overall, for every plane, before learning how to shoot you need to know how your systems work, and how your radar works, which are other tutorials alltogether. Puting everything in one vid would make it hours long, the radar tutorial vid on it's own is already more than 20 minutes long

[@paristo]

"new lsn" what? TWS explaining is super unclear and confusing. Undesignate and then what? These tutorials should scrap the unneeded information and go straight to the point, speak clearly and slowly that what is to be done. No mouse waving anywhere than exactly the minimal required functions. No talking about formations or explaining the dynamics etc between.

[@snowshoe3274]

L&S - launch and steer. It's the name of your "locked" target. Note: TWS doesn't really radar lock targets, i call if that for simplicity's sake. By pressing undesignate you switch your L&S to a different target in TWS. So what he's basically doing is firing a missile at his L&S, then switching his L&S to the next target and firing the next missile. Then repeating. Hope it helps.

[@therealtjpek]

Basically TWS allows you to keep track of different targets on your radar. But the computer will only give you L&S (Launch & Steer cues, where to point your nose and when to shoot) for one target at a time. So what he does is switch the L&S information to another target between each shot, that way he can shoot up all 4 targets without having to acquire STT (Single Target Track) on each one of them, which would take longer and put him in more danger in this particular situation

[@chriscarroll641]

so the part that has the most replays. When he selects the target on the RDMI and says ''ASE,ACE,ACS"? I dunno wtf he said and its almost as if ive came here to learn and not see how amazing you are. Nobody wants anything explained like theyre 4 but selecting a target is a big ass deal. why tf would you blow past that, barely audible, dunno what was said and judging from the "most replayed" alot of other ppl didnt either. Why not just say "no, not making a tutorial. Takes too long and doesnt make me $" thats straight an to the point and also happens to be true. If its about the money then charge the ppl who ask. id suggest stop making videos youre not into, its blantantly obvious. Again, NOBODY needs hand holding like were kids. Speak clearly, and dont blow past the most crucial part. i still dont know. ACS is what im guessing tho.