DCS: F/A-18C Countermeasure Tutorial/Comprehensive Explanation

A tutorial on DCS's F-18 countermeasure systems. the video ends with some theory about how to use what counter measure for what threat and setting up flares for a bomb run to protect against shoulder fired IR homing missiles.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

One thing I forgot to mention about the countermeasures on a bomb run, I only used flares. If you have any doubts about what kind of air defenses are in the area always add in some chaff into your program. better safe than sorry. Thanks again to everyone for all the support. you guys are the best.

[@alandavidson8581]

i was wondering about that, when i flew my a-10 i would drop a stream of 5 flare as i broke away

[@josh6499]

I really like your tutorials, they're the perfect level of depth into the subjects. Most tutorials just show you which buttons to push and not why you're pushing them.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

josh6499 thanks a lot josh I’m glad ur enjoying them. Thanks for the feedback that’s the kind of stuff I’m looking for so I can tell what you guys are liking and I can make more of that. Thanks for the support man.

[@MyCatInABox]

"So I hope you guys found this helpful..." Good Lord, yes: Immensely helpful. (It's STILL just so crazy to me how frikin' realistic all this is... It's really a treat to "fly" one of these when you know what all those little buttons do & what all the little displays mean.)

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

MyCatInABox ya and they've put a lot of detail into something that's only early access. Really good work on the part of eagle dynamics, and thanks for the feedback I'm glad u found it helpful.

[@Flowtester1]

I can’t get auto to work

[@kevykevTPA]

@@GrowlingSidewinder I agree with you about it being quite detailed and impressive for an "early release" product, and the more I learn about this b1rd, the more I like it. HOWEVER (comma) here we are 3 years later and it's still in "early release" status. How much longer of a wait until it's considered worthy of "Full Release", or whatever term they may want to use? That's a very long time for a beta version to stay beta. Even me, who is only a few weeks in and who still can't land on a carrier if my life depended on it has to question that a bit.

[@buzzfightbeer8023]

This was the single best explanation of not only the Hornet's countermeasure system but also for the theory behind chaff and flare. I knew about Fox 1/3 use chaff, Fox 2 flare. But I did NOT know about how to setup the system for bombing runs nor the theory behind why to do it. You are one seriously knowledgeable dude on this subject(DCS as a whole).

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Thank you very much Kyle glad you found the video useful man thanks for the kind comment

[@deathcharge811]

literally not 5 minutes into the video and ive already found what i need. i never knew dispense bypass lets you dispense flare and chaff separately. ive been using program 5 the entire time lol

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

glad you found the video useful

[@roy8200]

best tutorial on dcs by far thank you much

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

roy ur very welcome I glad u enjoyed it

[@urrugames4062]

This deserves more likes and views. Best tutorials I've seen out there. I'm learning the Hornet and this is pure gold. All I can say is: Thank you so much for your videos and explanations!!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

my pleasure glad to hear u found it helpful

[@raven68_]

Very nice tutorial! I love the demonstrations for the scenarios during the bomb run.

[@oscarxms]

I am new to DCS, and I find all your tutorial content extremely helpful. I am subscribed. Thank you for the exhaustive detail on these tutorials.

[@manizaeim]

Thanks, nice video usually i carry 40 chaff and 40 flare, man mode. prog 1: 0 flare, 1 chaff, int 1, RPT 2, use for BVR prog 2: 1 flare, 1 chaff, int 0.75, RPT 8, use for Bomb run prog 5: 2 flare, 1 chaff, int 0.75, RPT 3 , Use for close combat and SAM area I find it best so far

[@craigmoran893]

Love your tutorials mate. The way you break it down, explain, and review. You've helped me get to grips with the FA18 in a couple of weeks. Cheers from Oz.

[@ottonelly]

Best of the best when clear & concise. I like the way you explain and shed light on the theory. It's always handy to understand the fundamentals. Good work!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

thank you glad you enjoyed.

[@TheLuminak]

As usual Growling Sidewinder , very neat info , well articulated , very clear ! Congrats !! You just won a other sub from Canada !! Thank you so much , cheers keep up the good work !!

[@StrangeLoops4]

Actually amazing content despite 4 years old... Totally necessary for setting up before a mission... thanks for the thorough tutorial.

[@SsgtHolland]

Great explanation, very well structured.

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

Ahhh. You're a literal life saver. These are fantastic for newer people like myself, I can fly just fine, it's the finer points of weapons, radar and EW that are a bit overwhelming at first.

[@german7ospina]

Thank you GS, your effort is beacon for the newbies like me!

[@heyitsjack7017]

this the best tutorial for anything on the F18 I've seen since I started playing a few weeks ago

[@exhaustfumes927]

3 years later still helped me out thanks !

[@DanielLanducciSpotting]

Yesterday I was thinking about it and as soon as I opened You Tube to search any video who could help me, you had uploaded in question of few minutes before. Thank you for the sincronism :) Your videos explanation are the best in You Tube. A big hug from a fan in Brazil!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

thanks a lot buddy that means a lot. i'm glad ur enjoying them and that they're helpful to you.

[@DanielLanducciSpotting]

Yes, very usefull even to me that I'm new in DCS, migrating from FSX. And I speak a little bit english so it's easy to understand even the most of the technical parts. Keep up with the great job, sir! The community is gratefull to you!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

thanks man I really appreciate the feedback. helps me know what kind of videos ur guys are liking so I can make more of those. thanks again for the comments and the kind words.

[@VideoUser3053]

Great tutorial - really like your style of delivery.

[@jazzman37]

Great explanation. Nice and slow and good examples.

[@dznutts17]

Great video keep them coming! Thanks!

[@zackbenson7658]

Another nice tutorial! Thanks for doing these :)

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

you're welcome man, I'm glad you guys are liking them.

[@JediMando11]

This tutorial is great! It's nice for visual learning

[@m.balauszko]

So well made and easy to understand. TY

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

glad you found it useful.

[@Lorenmonaco]

Very nice comprehensive tutorial!

[@maxiramos9906]

Ey mate, I am enjoying your tutorials. Thanks

[@wesleysugalski2842]

Super Informative Thank you.

[@RoughriderUT]

Quick and to the point, thanks for the video.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

my pleasure glad you found it useful

[@cam-man7350]

Fantastic... Very informative. Thanks man!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

ur very welcome brother

[@sparrowone471]

Thank you verry much, super information for beginners like my!

[@bazacop1720]

very nice informative description cheers dude

[@Allstar14234]

Very nice tutorial! Thank you!!

[@FA18_Driver]

You’ve helped me get so good. Now I can hang in online PvP

[@FalcoGer]

actually chaff nowadays is glass fiber. And there is quite a lot of technicalities involved, too. Like the length of the strips can be important as they scatter different frequencies of radars differently. Also there is a lot of research going on in defeating countermeasures with smart missiles that don't just go after the largest heat source, but can differentiate between countermeasures and targets. Of course this is an issue if such a missile (basically all modern missiles) is fired at you. your only chance really is to swamp out the seeker head with large amounts of countermeasures to not confuse, but to blind it.

[@HO-bndk]

The Hornet model in this game is from about 10 to 15 years ago.

[@jep1103]

Now....I know, great vid very easy to follow thanks.

[@_Gart_]

This was awesome. Cheers man

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

MarsBorn thanks man glad u enjoyed it

[@F22raptor46]

Wonderful video, thank you so much!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

you are most welcome. glad you found it helpful

[@dennismallari6923]

Thank you.very clearly explain!

[@kenhelmers2603]

great info! More please :) yes, I am watching them ;)

[@UkDave3856]

That's a big help, thanks 👍

[@leseur6675]

Excellent lesson thanks

[@nigelhughes862]

Great content, thank you man

[@jefflucas_life]

Will my cmos save setting modes be carried over to sorte missions + multiplayer or must i reprogram cmos modes every flight?

[@konturgestalter]

more tutorials please! fantastic

[@figjam5181]

Nice explanation thank you

[@superdude4402]

thanks, very helpful!

[@access_denied1082]

Man keep it up, your tutorials are the best so far, could you please make a tutoriale for the AUTO BOMBING mode and cluster bombs?????????????

[@dogrokket]

Very nice!

[@craigharris41]

Thanks for this.

[@HuDz1966]

Great vid m9, you should do a video of this in practice on how to avoid IR and radar missiles when fired at from the front, rear and sides :-)

[@Horus00X]

Thank you for he explanations. If you change any of the countermeasures programs, will they be available again if you go out of DCS and come back in?

[@hansgold58]

Again, thank you very much, this answers a lot of questions I had about countermeasures. Now I'm thinking: how to take out a SAM site? :-)

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

you're very welcome Hans, you can always try to bomb a SAM site if you're feeling brave, but the hornet in early access does not have the capability to preform SEAD missions. But we will later as they add AGM-88 HARMs to the payload of the f-18. (The AGM-88 HARM High-speed Anti-radiation Missile is a tactical, air-to-surface anti-radiation missile designed to home in on electronic transmissions coming from surface-to-air radar systems.) until then I highly advise avoiding SAM sites lol.

[@DR-jq9bg]

Thanks again, GS, for this great video! With all your experience over the past 5 years since making this video, have you changed anything with respect to how your programs are set up?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Hello hello, no I haven’t made many changes to my programs but for the most part I manage it myself. I rarely rely on the countermeasure program anymore. Generally speaking these automated programs can be wasteful. It’s far better for the pilot to control it if able.

[@victorlimamd]

Thank you so much for taking the time to share these informative videos. I am old-school "read the effin manual" kinda guy, and that's how I learned to fly the heavies in my FSX days. Now that I've migrated to combat simulations I'm relying very heavily on your videos to learn about stuff that I just can't find anywhere else. So thank you so much. On this note, I would like to ask something and I hope you understand I am in no way questioning the authenticity of your knowledge base: since so much of what you teach is heavily protected from civilian knowledge, what is your level of certainty that it closely matches real world procedures? And I'll trust your answer btw! I'm a die-hard fan of doing things as close to reality as possible, and I admire how much you're willing to divulge.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

hi man, thanks so much for ur kind feedback and im glad you are finding the videos helpful. as for your question, the stuff i'm sharing I mostly learned from watching pilot interviews and reading books etc (including some other guys behind the scenes helping me with info). a few of the videos (like notching the aim54) that info was provided by a guy who actually flew f15s so I'm confident its pretty much what they would do in real life. basically everything in DCS is rooted in real life. I think when you start getting into the extreme detail that you start to see stuff that might not be factual. like beaming an s300 SAM site....I'm fairly certain that doesnt work in real life. and I doubt anyone can tell you how it does work cuz i'd imagine the functionality of the system is classified by the Russians. but you can beam them in DCS. so thats an example of something in DCS that I've shared here that deff isnt factual and isnt applicable to real life. also if i'm being honest I think the range of missiles is reduced in DCS (balance reasons) which affects the ranges at which we fire missile in DCS compared to real life. but other than that, its pretty accurate. I hope I was able to answer your question. let me know if anything here needs clarification. thanks again for your support on this channel.

[@victorlimamd]

BTW I became a sub. I've been looking for some insight into countermeasures forever. Hope you didn't take my message the wrong way. Thanks again!

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

haha not at all, it was very nicely phrased impossible to take the wrong way.

[@victorlimamd]

@@GrowlingSidewinder Thanks again GS, that clears it up! I was actually amazed by how much I learned last week reading a fiction book written by a retired Hornet squadron CO... so it makes sense. Keep 'em coming and I hope we never cross paths on the wrong side in DCS LOL

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

haha thanks man, hope to see u flying off my wing mate.

[@Blakearmin]

I don't even play this game and I've been watching a couple hours worth of your videos just to see how to read cockpit display information and what the switches are.

[@illfatedgoodheart4951]

I have a question for you. Did you complete any pilot training course because you are very good at explaining all these stuffs. You wont believe after watching your videos only I have downloaded and decided to play DCS. That's the amount of impression you have created to me even though the game is pretty hard to learn. I really want to know how could you know all these details so precisely because I alslo want to reach that level.

[@twistedsorcerer202]

Hi, Firstly, I love your videos, watch them religiously every day. Total noob here LOL. Just a question on the counter measure setup, I assume your would need to set this up every time you get in the plane?

[@MathijsGroothuis]

The automatic countermeasures are essntially only good for chaffs? As you won't know whether the enemy locked onto you with a heat source type missile?

[@hmabboud]

Can I kindly ask you to make a video explaining how to find your “bombing run” target both visually and technically? I always have this problem that when I arrive to my area of operations I don’t know exactly where to bomb because I’m in an aircraft and things from top seem similar and I don’t know for instance where are the tanks or the airfield (visually). Thanks

[@MaxPowerFilthcrud]

The only information I'm missing as someone trying to get into dcs and with no experience at all is WHEN to use countermeasures. You explained it for the bombing run but not for BVR/IVR. I think flares are mostly self-explanatory, but chaffs for me are not. Great video nonetheless and very helpful :)

[@Alain_Escher]

Basically in the last seconds before the missile hits you. Since you might not know when that is, you would probably want to cover a longer timeframe. (I'm just thinking out loud, don't have any military training)..

[@creekboi7]

Do you have to set up the programs each time you jump into the f18?

[@bruneauandreas564]

How to save the counter measure programs between 2 missions ? Do we have to set it up for every flight ?

[@JEProducciones]

What about DISPENSER big botton at left canopy? What does it do?

[@lordgman1]

What about the big red DISP button beside the throttle? What is the purpose of it vs running a program?

[@Chrinik]

It's basically an emergency backup that you can smash to dispense CMs... I believe it drops two of each or some pre-set program. Because imagine you are fiddling with your CM system, or it's not ready yet, but you are getting attacked right now. Well instead of having to reach down, put it into bypass, or fiddle with the DDIs to set up the appropriate program, you can go defensive and slam that big red button with your left hand.

[@snatr]

@24:40 Okay. So you see that. That guy there- wasn't paying attention. 😂🤣😂🤣👍

[@schmuak]

Nice! I think EW means early warning.

[@TheGrimlin85]

Another well created video, Sir! (I give 99/100) One very small (absent) detail I noticed (not just in yours but other people's Hornet countermeasures tutorials as well) is that there's no mention of where to find the decoy button. Certainly, most of us are going to know where to find this; However, there's bound to be some poor noob who just got into DCS and is going to be relying heavily on tutorials and not just the flight manual or GUI documentation. Just my input and yes, I realize that it's minor and I'm nit-picking lol.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

I think I discuss decoys around the 6:20 mark. I don't think we have decoys yet tho right? they said later in early access.

[@TheGrimlin85]

Oops, slip up over wording lol. I meant the fwd/aft switch for "countermeasures" (not decoys).

[@teslabolt007]

I am unable to dispense flares or chaff with master arm on and in bypass mode. Any ideas?

[@williamstilgoe61]

Excellent tutorial. Hopefully I will get shot down less now.

[@okheyyy]

thank u dad

[@Gert-DK]

Flow chart is super

[@blackknight5004]

Damn, that was helpful. soon I'll be able to put up a fight before I am brutally murdered in the air (possibly by a MIG-21)

[@hunterlinker6013]

When I set mine to auto and had my friend fire Aim-9s and 120s at me it would not do anything and I’d just get shot down what did I do wrong master arm was on and the dispenser was on

[@amdenis]

I have tested and driven race and related cars for over 2 decades. I have also helped to design both automated and interactive passenger and race related safety and performance systems. I am not a pilot and am somewhat new to DCS, although I have used flight sim’s since the 1980’s. As such, one thing that repeatedly jumps out at me is how poorly designed and implemented so many of these systems are in our advanced fighter jets. Other than some limited sub-sets of our latest jets’ heads-up and some of their $400K+ helmets (which by the way are still mostly 15+ years backwards in terms of human factors design), the amount of extra training, splitting of attention necessary and strong likelihood of errors in execution are all extraordinarily high due to poorly conceived an implemented designs. Any idea why this is the case?

[@FusionTrain]

the ALE-47 i just crossed out for me, i did what you did but idk why its crossed out

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

FusionTrain check that ur dispenser bypass switch is not in the on position.

[@F22raptor46]

Can you please make an F/A-18 roadmap video, meaning how to go about it, where to begin when it comes to learning the aircraft. Because there are so many things to learn and see in this plane that it just confuses me and I hardly learn anything

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

I mean I can, I just have to see how much the demand is for something like this. and how I'd even go about making something like that. For now tho, Id recommend learning the radar first, then learn to shoot guys down and once you know that stuff. thats a decent base to build upon. once you have those 2 things down you can move to other things. just remember to take it slow. watch all the tutorials you can get your hands on.

[@F22raptor46]

Growling Sidewinder Sure thing, because I'm also caught between learning how to use radio, navigation, CM, ECM, different modes like ACM modes and what purposes they serve and so many other things

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

I would say do, Flight first, learn how she handles, so do free flights, then do radar (RWS and ACM modes) then weapons, then countermeasures, then navigation. and radio last. these modern jets are built around their radar. so once you have that down you basically have a decent handle on it. and you can build on that.

[@F22raptor46]

Awesome will do, thanks

[@HO-bndk]

​@@F22raptor46 As well as watching all of Growling Sidewinders excellent vids, you might also want to look for the "Chuck's guide to the DCS F/A 18" at this link: www.mudspike.com/chucks-guides-dcs/ It's very good, and totally free. It takes you right from starting up, take off, landing (on land and on carriers) and basic flight then goes into an intro to all the sensors radios and weapons. It's fully illustrated and very easy to follow. i'd have given up long ago if I didn't have this.

[@undertaker6fd]

Question on bombing runs, how do you know, calculate, or estimate how long your bombing runs are going to be? Hopefully someone sees this but I doubt the comments are still monitored after 4 years.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

in real life? intel. You'd have a satellite tell you the length of the runway or whatever you're hitting, in DCS you would use the F10 map and the ruler function. You'd see the length and divide by the number of bombs you have.

[@JayDKB]

Tried multiple missions for SEAD when I get in the ALE-47 is off and I can launch any HARMS.

[@breaklux3823]

You need to enable ALR-67, which is the "POWER" button right above the ECM switch. You can see it at 3:18 in the top right corner of the screen.

[@JayDKB]

@@breaklux3823 got it and I just set up a key stroke for it thanks

[@koffeekorner4207]

he's been doing this for decades.

[@akisakis7980]

I was watching the videos for the RWR. I coudn't did it work until i figure out that i must press the fucking on/off button behind the stick lol

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

yes it wasnt like that at first but it was changed into that as later updates came.

[@JIMJAMSC]

If you are really SERIOUS you need to do your homework, have notes taped all around you, have every possible key command programmed into your $500 WartHog and them stumble around the pit when the enemy AI are all Top Guns. I take a few days off and it's scary how fast you forget. Also I have almost all the modules and if you can jump from fighter to WW2 prop job, then to helis and back to fighters you get all my RESPECT. Former RW pilot typed in 2 fixed and 1 heli but that is nothing compared to this.

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

ya I tottaly know what you mean, I got so use to the hornet I forgot the F15 took me a couple days to get that back and now working on the heli I was a pro at and now i'm back to noob status.

[@MichiG85]

Sounds nice, but it´s just ridiculous to have so less countermeasures in the F-18...

[@theunforgiven9538]

Lets just say i know someone who doesn't know the difference between a flare and chaff .......what would i tell him ?

[@GrowlingSidewinder]

Flares are for heat seeking missiles chaff is for radar guided missiles.

[@theunforgiven9538]

@@GrowlingSidewinder thank you sir

[@jetmanjason]

IWT flashbacks.

[@crownbikes1375]

Back here from 2023

[@bsci01]

you just press a button

[@marcosechi8820]

This plane is pointlessly complicated goddam

[@Shkvarka]

simply the best!!!