DCS: F-4E - Episode IV - RADAR Pt. 1 - Basics and Theory

[@alexolcese]

“The radar ‘may seem daunting and laborious’…” may be the biggest understatement ever. Absolutely amazing.

[@greghorine4995]

I worked on the AN/APQ-120 in the first half of my Air Force career. You guys have done an amazing job of recreating the look and feel! One thing I can comment on is that the pilot's display should be set back further inside of the HUD, since the AN/ASG-26 LCOSS mounted to the front of the radar display group. It was about a foot back inside, since the gunsight (LCOSS) contained a precision mirror, the reticle light and several servos and servo-potentiometers for moving the mirror, positioning the reticle in the combining glass. Overall, an amazing job, Heatblur!!!

[@104thironmike4]

Thank you for your kind comment, and thank you for your service! This is indeed known to us, however unfortunately not possible to implement in DCS, or a trade-off, if you will, as it would appear way too deep inside in game and inhibit proper use, especially on 2D monitors. To prevent this we unfortunately had to move it closer in. Thank you for your kind understanding.

[@Destarn]

@@104thironmike4 Perhaps have it as a specials option if possible? I'm sure there will be some people who will want that in VR

[@JNelson_]

@@Destarn it's more relating to the inability to do the lens effect that would give it similar zoom to what we have by placing it nearer

[@koocoocroc1235]

HeatBlur, Listen to this man!

[@koocoocroc1235]

@CannedCoochie good, this man has to be protected at all costs.

[@Enigma89]

Looking forward to interpreting the radar smudges 🙏

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

🐸🔔🐸🔔🐸🔔🐸🔔🐸🔔🐸🔔🐸🔔

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

🐸🔔🐸🔔🐸🔔🐸🔔🐸🔔🐸🔔🐸🔔

[@CROW1-2]

Cant wait to fly this thing on your server!

[@RoamingAdhocrat]

can't wait to post a gif of a frog in a yellow conical hat endlessly ringing a bell

[@jacobcarpenter5309]

Was waiting to see ur comment lol hey enigma are you going to be adding this to a server its gonna be mig killin time

[@mihai2526]

as a ex ship radar operator, gonna have to brush up on my radar theory. never thought id need it again.

[@croskerk]

Man seems like you'll have fun with this haha

[@irishviking167]

good ol x band and s band huh mate

[@KernitTheFont]

Any good radar theory reading for us mere mortals out there? 😅

[@JonathanLundkvist]

After this weekend, this is what we deserve; some video about a system I will never learn fully but just enough to use in a clinch.

[@generic_luke]

What on earth do you expect HB to do about a Razbam issue? Edit: I misunderstood. My bad!

[@JonathanLundkvist]

@@generic_luke I have never stated they will or should do anything, my point was that it was nice to get a break from it.

[@generic_luke]

@@JonathanLundkvist Ah, that's my bad. So used to peoples negativity that I misunderstood. Apologies!

[@budderball29]

@@generic_luke lol I feel ya there

[@SA80TAGE]

@@generic_luke aye the internet does that to ya lol.

[@kzrlgo]

Sales pitch as I heard it: The AN/APQ-120 radar in the F-4E is a masterpiece of frustration, a technological relic from the era of disco and bell-bottoms. Picture this: you're cruising at Mach 2, ready to take on the enemy, only to find out your radar can barely distinguish between a pigeon and a MiG-21. Its range is about as reliable as a fortune teller's crystal ball, leaving pilots guessing whether that blip on the screen is a bogey or just cosmic interference. Accuracy? Forget about it. Trying to lock onto a target with the AN/APQ-120 is like trying to thread a needle while riding a unicycle on a tightrope during an earthquake. You might as well close your eyes and hope for the best. But fear not, brave pilots! The AN/APQ-120 comes with a built-in game of Russian roulette, where every press of the button is a gamble between actually detecting an enemy aircraft or just lighting up the sky like a Fourth of July fireworks display. Can’t wait! 😂

[@Osean_Kitty]

This HAS to be the most detailed recreation of any radar in any flight game/simulator out there.

[@CaptPickguard]

F-15E and Mirage 2000 DCS modules do the same things. It's great that Heatblur has opted to go this route too. :)

[@southernbear736]

@@CaptPickguard they literally don't though unfortunately....I can't believe I'm saying this but Gaijin has literally made a more realistic radar then most DCS modules, this F-4 should be the gold standard for what DCS SHOULD be.

[@tropicthndr]

Uh no. Search “DCS players after the F-4E Phantom is released” much better picture of this thing.

[@BobbyDerBraumeister]

⁠@@southernbear736nope gaijin do not have more realistic radars. The radars in DCS are way more complicated and simulated way better…

[@sandwich5344]

@@tropicthndr i love that video. I baited all the MFD fly by bogus bitches out there. And to no-ones suprise they actually fell for it.

[@davidmuir6849]

Fantastic . I worked on the f4 at Raf leuchars in Scotland in the 80s you’ve done a superb job and I’m really looking forward to taking this bird for a jolly . Regards Dave Ex raf Caa licensed aircraft engineer Private pilot

[@alexanderherrmann743]

Can't wait for the A-6 with the TRAM radar!

[@TFT-bp8zk]

TRAM wasn't a radar. TRAM was the EO/IR ball under the nose. "Beginning in 1979, all A-6Es were fitted with the AN/AAS-33 DRS (Detecting and Ranging Set), part of the 'Target Recognition and Attack Multi-Sensor' (TRAM) system, a small, gyroscopically stabilized turret, mounted under the nose of the aircraft, containing a forward-looking infra-red (FLIR) boresighted with a laser spot-tracker/designator and IBM AN/ASQ-155 computer. TRAM was matched with a new Norden AN/APQ-156 radar. The BN could use both TRAM imagery and radar data for extremely accurate attacks, or use the TRAM sensors alone to attack without using the Intruder's radar (which might warn the target). TRAM also allowed the Intruder to autonomously designate and drop laser-guided bombs."

[@DessertUnicorn]

Looks amazing!!!! i can see why it’s taking so long now… jester being able to constantly adjust the radar by himself must be insane to program

[@Spooky_32]

You guys do incredible work. I never thought I'd see the day where I get to fly an F-4 in a simulator to such a high level of fidelity and attention to detail. We are truly blssed ❤

[@animatek6171]

You can feel the pride in his voice for such an achievement.

[@xSP3CTREx]

I may never understand it all, but I appreciate how much work went into this. Great job!

[@lotnylotny671]

The King is dead (F-14), long live the King (F4). You are in a class of your own. Unrivaled. I found out that you are from Poland. Great news that a group from my country creates such amazing things.

[@104thironmike4]

Our team is international, but we are indeed based in Poland, and many of our developers are from Poland. 🙂

[@wilbuzllf5057]

Holy smoke! I expected high detail and realism but listening to your description and recognizing pretty much everything from my own radar training many years ago I can't help be even more impressed than I thought I would, amazing! Keep up the good work HB!

[@wannaloginnow]

I hope Heatblur is giving me a competent Jester as RIO, because I’m sure I’m too dumb to work the radar properly! 😄

[@aitor47]

You're not alone, mate. I just have not clue about any of what they said on the video 😂

[@arguy3297]

​@@aitor47me- oh fuck and Im supposed to know what to tell jester to do?

[@iwyrilja]

I made a promise that I would be RIO 99% of the time to convince my friend to buy it

[@getsideways7257]

@@iwyrilja Not a very hard promise to keep, I'd say. Doubt it's all that interesting in the front seat anyway...

[@loneirregular1280]

Heatblur yet again exceeding expectations. This is what they mean by "study level" sim. Well done 👏 and keep up the great work!

[@Legalizeasbestos]

Its a game and always will be a video game. Its only a sim if you have an actual simulator cockpit to sit in. Otherwise you aint simulating nothing, just playing vidya. Thats said really impressive radar.

[@christerjackson9589]

@@Legalizeasbestos It's not a sim unless you're sitting inside a real F-4E and playing while in the air. Jez.

[@Legalizeasbestos]

@@christerjackson9589 it’s just misleading cause it’s not a simulator and I don’t know why the community is so focused on calling it a sim. The Air Force doing this with Minecraft graphics a sim because they’re actually simulating something, DCS beautiful but it’s just a video game. You gotta have all the other stuff before it becomes a sim. My point is I don’t know why it’s ever been called a sim or why anyone wants to call it a sim.

[@christerjackson9589]

@@Legalizeasbestos Why do you care so much about what people call a 'game'?

[@lars9267]

@@Legalizeasbestos So DCS is a sim if you have a cockpit to sit in otherwise it´s a game? The term sim is just used for software trying to replicate the real thing but there is no exact definition of it. When it is marketed as a sim that say something about what you can expect from the product. In the end games or sims are just software anyways.

[@thetristians]

Outstanding!! Thank to the whole HB team. What a time to be alive as a flight sim nerd ❤

[@sonniedae6398]

Just came back cause I'm an amateur radar geek and I'm seriously in awe of how detailed and intricate Heatblur have continuously made all of their products. It's evident that the money they make is secondary to the passion they have for their products and the truly genius work they've done. I look forward to all products Heatblur put out even if it's not an aircraft I'm even interested in flying just to see how they raise the bar every time. The Naval F-4 and A-6 Intruder are my top modules I'm looking forward too by far and I cannot wait to see what new technology Heatblur develop for them.

[@PropertyEnvy]

I was a radar operator in the RAN for a long time and can't wait to get my hands on this. It looks like a learning curve but once you've got it, man it can be fun! Well done on recreating this in such detail. Super excited for the launch.

[@cowansimstudio]

Well done HB! Continuing to prove every module you produce is worth its weight in gold

[@kornykidd0]

The model and cockpit detail is incredible. Can’t believe how good it looks😮

[@jamesyoungquist6923]

I've never been more excited for a module release! Heatblur, you guys rock

[@Owenwolfx4876]

Wake up honey, new DCS F-4E video just dropped!

[@Jwalker21NC]

haha this was me! not even lying lmao 😅 she loves me what can i say 🤷‍♂

[@tropicthndr]

Show her the Joe Pesci version, makes a ton more sense. “DCS players after the F-4E phantom is released”

[@DartzIRL]

This is so much easier to watch than 90% of youtube videos.

[@Maverickf22flyer]

So, over water, the clutter is more intense and so a lock loss will be more susceptible? Thank you very much for your existence Heatblur. YOU BUILD DCS as it should be!

[@tenToesUp747]

I case no one has said it, THANK YOU!!! Money well spent. GREAT LAUNCH!!!

[@paulmartinek1716]

I can't thank you guys enough for putting this much effort into the radar, It is going to spoil me!

[@colinkelly990]

Awesome!! And the timing of the video was good, a good pick me up from the other drama!

[@A2Moonclaw]

Im not interested in the phantom (I’m a tomcat lover) but I am always excited to see more updates on the phantom. As I say on each of these videos, this is truly a work of art and I love seeing the work put into this. Gold standard Heatblur, you should be proud!!

[@aaronfriedlander4184]

This is so interesting to learn how these systems work! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@freedom1544]

All of this is incredibly impressive, though I must say, one that surprised me early on is that you NAILED the look and texture of the paint on the black nose cone at 0:53! Just by looking at it, I knew exactly how the paint would feel to the touch. It's the little stuff! Well done!

[@Michelsen3K]

I'm super hyped! Thanks guys for everything❤

[@jumper684]

damn everything in this video looks really well implemented and simulated; Jester also has very nice callouts. Excited to fly this bird

[@jaromirandel543]

That level of detail. I love it.

[@DannyP159]

Well this just looks truly amazing. Take a bow HB

[@RIPTIDE66]

Thanks for all the hard work you Heatblur, we're very excited!!

[@Bergie_78]

Unbelievable! I probably won’t fly this plane but I’ll buy it to support the devs’ incredible work! Well done 👏🏻

[@brandong2040]

This looks great! Looking forward to the added complexity.

[@preflightops]

In the current DCS world of darkness…. This is the light I think we all needed! Thanks HB! We’re glad to have you with us! 🙏🏼🤘🏼

[@ga9633]

On the radar set control (first seen at 2:49), the correct setting for the TRACK switch should say AOJ OUT, not AOU OUT. Worked on the APQ120 for 11 years--

[@denneledoe873]

Could you think of a reason HB made this mistake? Or inversely; could you think of a reason HB thought it should say AOU OUT based on different documents?

[@ga9633]

@@denneledoe873 Maybe the radar set control they were photographing had a scratch where the J looked like a U? But it is AOJ, for Angle On Jam, so AOU makes no sense

[@denneledoe873]

@@ga9633 Heatblur released the F-4 manual ahead of release, and in the manual it's indeed referenced as AOJ OUT, not AOU OUT. So yeah it's a texture error. great catch! but then again, when you work with something for 11 years you get an eye for these things ;)

[@March-man]

I left the cinema to go to the bathroom, to watched this. ⚡💪

[@tijmenvanhierden6870]

What movie was playing?

[@March-man]

@@tijmenvanhierden6870 Dune (I haven't had time to look at it yet. But the Phantom is more important. 😆

[@coldclaws2479]

I had the option of watching dune with my family but we decided to watch kung fu panda 4 instead

[@VenomCinematic]

@@March-man damn bro lmao

[@rocketpunchgo1]

I asked for 30 minute videos.... and I received! Thanks Heatblur!

[@moiluck]

The F4 will be a challenging aircraft. Tons of hours of fun ahead. Awesome work guys. Keep it up!

[@Andrew-13579]

This is awesome!! With all this fascinating radar simulation authenticity, I hope one day we’ll be able to have an F-105D Thud…as well as an F-101B Voodoo and F-106A Delta Dart, in DCS. …and just maybe the F-102A Delta Dagger, F-89J Scorpion and F-86L Sabre Dog, too.

[@adrew31043]

Ive got my tshirt in hand, now we just need the module! These teaser videos make me want it so much more.

[@RockOarSomething]

That's a lot of information to learn, hopefully Jester took notes.

[@RailgunCyclops]

can't wait for this amazing module to be released! got a friend that wants to be a dedicated WSO, so hope he can keep up with all the radar intricacies

[@DOGosaurus_rex]

holy cow I am actually scared of how hard this is going end up being 😱😨

[@Phantom24425]

We're getting closer

[@Viper81]

This is good. This is really good. I was curious how you guys would be simulating that good old craptastic APQ-120…you really nailed it! This is pure awesomeness. 🤙

[@keithbuddrige5064]

Love this! Looks very similar to reading the Viggen's radar. Can't wait.

[@RFXCasey]

Haven't been studying up enough on this awesome looking module yet but I'm really looking forward to it.

[@igorkratka]

Words can`t describe how exciting this is.

[@jawjaboy58]

Now how in the WORLD do y'all expect an old man to learn all THIS?? Holy cow, maybe I'll just let the guy in back worry about it...This stuff is just crazy, how y'all design and implement these systems is truly mind-blowing.FORGET the rest of my modules, I'll be spending months and months with this beast!!

[@Hypersteff89]

Absolutely incredible. Phantastic job!

[@aaronwhite1786]

Respect for all of this detail. It's got to make bug finding a nightmare, but damn does it make it look like a blast to do what can seem so simple in the newer planes.

[@imellor711]

Wow, looking, I'm looking forward to playing with the radar. The HB F4 Phantom is really looking great in this nicely explained video.

[@samsmith6791]

Looks like this module will both test and push my radar knowledge. Can't wait to study the manual!

[@realQuiGon]

Why wait? The manual has already been released.

[@SA80TAGE]

"Can't wait to study the manual!" - pretty sure this is only game anyone has ever said that sentence about lol.

[@puu808]

And this is only part one, well done HB! Looking forward to the next preview videos!

[@Elysian_Angel_]

HeatBlur: above and beyond! 🥳

[@0FMCDCS]

We got a lot to learn. This back seat may be the most challenging I’ll learn

[@jayphi4095]

Very good explanations, knowledge and simulation of the APQ-120 radar with its CW illuminator. I made extensive jamming live trials against the F4-E. Hopefully the jamming is badly implemented on DCS because the APQ-120 as a pulse radar is very sensitive both to noise jamming and to angle amplitude modulation swept jamming due to its CONSCAN and not Monopulse angle measurement. CW illu is also sensitive to Doppler coherent noise and VGPO…..Don’t forget warning people being locked on by this radar never try to make defensive 90 degrees maneuvers as used in DCS against all radars even pulse ones like the SA-8……I hope your simulated lock on would stay good and even better in this case….

[@Mightymoose02]

Looks awesome. Glad Jester will be helping me out.

[@asphelite]

Looks incredible! Cant wait to get my hands on it as well!

[@rmp5s]

Absolutely incredible. Can't wait to start interpreting smudges and smears!

[@hanibelsoun9370]

Thanks a lot for sharing this video. Looking forward to get the F-4E!!!!

[@КапитанГейб]

I sent this to my dad. He was nav in RF-4C in Vietnam and a techie. He has the highest number of hours flying night recce missions of the entire war. He would snap up night missions from crews that typically didn't want them. He felt safer at night flying down in the valleys of the route packs. Used the radar in modes that were available but which the Air Force never trained, and other crews never used. Something about circular polarization, for instance, allowed him to see through the rain better. But only he used it. The RF had TFR so not the same as the E, but he came out of ADC (F-89D/H/J, F-101B) and was able to use the RF's radar for air-to-air to some degree. He retired O-6 after flying F-111A at Takhli and F's at Mt. Home. He loved his job; a true Scope Wizard. Great work on the model! Even I could see the scope follows the terrain realistically.

[@jg3nius135]

If you can, you should get him to have a go on the F-4 now it is released

[@bretttrommler756]

I served as an avionics tech in the US Navy from 77 to 89. Worked on the old EA-6B Prowler. The older version of the Prowler had the old APQ-129 for a radar. It was primarily a search radar but had a terrain clearance function too. It was old, not solid state, and extremely unreliable. It was a modified version of the APQ-112 tracking radar in the A-6C. It would supposedly allow the early Prowlers to fire the AGM-45 Shrike although i never heard of any actually doing that. Anyway, that radar was from a similar time as the APQ-120 so I can relate to its questionable accuracy and reliability. I also served on board the USS Midway CV-41 when they has a squadron of old RF-4's on board. It was one of the last active F-4 sqadrons in the US Navy.

[@IroquoisPliskin-y9s]

This presentation is brilliant.

[@PredatorFly]

Absolutely exceptional!

[@hmleao]

da fuq, almost didn't recognize graywolf's voide xD. very cool.

[@Phantom24425]

He does all of the narrating for the videos

[@fightertales]

This is why the WSO/RIO was necessary. It's a full time job.

[@xXE4GLEyEXx]

Hearblur, blazing the trail on how modules should be in DCS. Looking forward to flying the F4 ^^

[@chaosbuilder1531]

I so can't wait for release!

[@andreastz1190]

I am looking forward to being a WSO in the F-4E. but i am not sure if i am amazed or horrified with the realism.

[@evstachip89]

Holy crap. I feel dumb after watching this lol. Can't wait to try and learn the radar.

[@GabryelHdPerformance]

amazing hardcore stuff! Incredible work 🤘🤘🤘

[@htc5699]

May seem daunting ? I AM FRICKIN SCARED ALREADY !

[@ivaniuk123]

This is incredibly impressive.

[@Scootertin]

Sheesh huge huge huge props to the wsos who used these systems

[@Paloch1708]

Now I think I know why Heatblur needed to upgrade Jester AI. Holy smucks this is just pure chaos for the WSO. Additional voice lines from Greywolf are also amazing as ever.

[@colinterry7261]

Yeah buddy! This was awesome!

[@madaxe606]

12:18 I'm a bit confused - should we take this to mean that the F-4E we're getting does have Combat Tree?

[@104thironmike4]

not on release, but it will eventually, yes.

[@WIP-RC]

It's intermission between DCS updates. Heatblur is up at bat. Viggen on third base, Tomcat on 2nd, Eurofighter and A-6 sitting together in the dugout going back and forth over A2G vs A2A. Meteor playing in the background getting the fans pumped up! (COOOOOLD BEER!) Here comes Greywo1f with the latest video drop on the big screen ........... AWESOME!

[@jungleboy1]

F4 and F14 my favourite. Good to see the best devs took on the challenge too.

[@myyoutube_6516]

Cool, looks like jester will have fun using that.

[@Coolhand101e]

Well... this is going to be a fun learning experience!! 😎👍

[@Triplication]

I cant wait to get my hands on this monster.

[@hawkexo]

Wow this looks amazing. Thank you all your hard work. People will fly this F4 sim for decades.

[@nathanwells4809]

A great job for Jester

[@skypiratez]

The Phantom soundtrack is going to be Epic!..

[@shadybrady2063]

PART TWOOOOO!!?? I wanna know MORE

[@Pricklyhedgehog72]

Phabulous stuff...

[@Audfile]

An absolute dream come true.

[@bazejs8084]

I find this legacy aircrafts the most enjoyable, as a human factor is everything. Plus i can see their history in my mind, inspiring. Waiting for a Phantom II sim since Strike Fighters. Thanks for fantastic job.

[@agniteyt]

Me: DAMN THIS IS SO AWESOME Brain: *please... stop this madness...*

[@DanScott213]

lol at the look on the face of that radar operator dealing with the challenges of unfiltered radar images

[@AdmiralQuality]

Definitely the best pilot animation we've seen yet. But will it move chunky in multi-player like all animations do?

[@_Am0N_]

​@@AdmiralQuality i guess the whole phantom will be a chunky mess for my pc. Sat yesterday in the f14 with stuttering every 3-5 seconds. I can play every other module on high graphics and on full servers without any big trouble but if the F14 is even lagging that hard on everything low and they already said the phantom will have worse performance than the F14.. makes me wanna cry😢😂

[@AdmiralQuality]

@@_Am0N_ I'm worried about how it will perform as well. But the issue I'm describing isn't due to local machine performance, it's a multiplayer thing. For some reason DCS doesn't smooth motion of animated objects (like pilots, gear and flaps) for aircraft in multiplayer. I get that they don't want to send 120 updates a second for their positions, but still that's no excuse not to smooth the motion. And it will make these rather excellent animations look very low frame rate in MP (unless HB have found a way around it).

[@_Am0N_]

@@AdmiralQuality yea i know. It just triggered my dcs performance ptsd😂

[@Zabuzard]

​@@AdmiralQuality (HB dev) This is actually up to the coders and we did it "proper". The animations are smooth in multicrew. They are stuttering if you sync the current pos. Instead, you have to sync the target position and compute the actual movement to that target position locally on each machine. That way animations play smooth :)

[@StringerCourier]

At the 14-minute mark, I had to pause the video and go out and look at the sun. This is so ridiculously complicated. It's why at my age I like the beautiful simplicity of the Spirtfire. I'd like to hear from an F-4 WSO who can say, "Oh, it's simple once you get the hang of it."

[@lftysmit]

I’m thoroughly impressed by the immersion and fidelity of this system. Now the question that comes to mind now is what flight sim equipment company (ie WinWing, Virpil, Thrustmaster, etc.) is gonna develop a panel to help us with turning these in the detail it demands? It looks like it may be difficult to fine tune with a mouse in comparison to slave switches and dials. I’m optimistically waiting to see who will provide the panel setup for our/us WSO’s.