Laser Guided Bombs in the DCS F-16: The Ultimate Guide

[@TrickerDCS]

Thank you for the continued support! I used the wrong phrase by saying the laser guided bomb “rides the beam” which is incorrect. It looks for a reflection and guides to it. Join the Discord: discord.com/invite/YfXzExTXEA Download the mission: www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3337047/ Livery Download: www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3336233/

[@SportDCS]

I’m so happy someone finally made a SIMPle tutorial on how to use laser guided bombs in the F-16. All the other ones were far too complicated and I ended up just getting my unit stuck in the tpod. This was amazing!

[@TrickerDCS]

Lmao

[@bjorn.thorvaldson]

Man, your tutorials are simply THE BEST. Telling every single time when and which buttons you press (especially TMS for F16) and simply proceeding through setting the systems through ICP, DED and OSBs procedure step by step is EXTREMELY useful. :) A true joy to watch and learn.

[@TrickerDCS]

Really appreciate the comment! 🫡

[@bjorn.thorvaldson]

@@TrickerDCS And I do appreciate your work. ;)

[@no-thoughts-head-empty6247]

Never knew that you could see the distance to your TGP target. Thanks Tricker, learned something new today!

[@tonybeard7159]

I just downloaded the mission and saw the link, thought i'd have a little look, VERY informative, simple and quick explanation. Thank you Tricker! I subbed!

[@kruxyo3372]

Was looking for one of these tutorials and you JUST uploaded this, good help! 😅😅

[@TrickerDCS]

Glad it could help!

[@teodorwrzoskowicz1204]

same

[@speedbird8326]

No bullshit. Required information only. Excellent. Again.

[@_JackX_]

hey tricker love your videos, maybe i would have shown some moving targets drops and i would have pointed out that the TGP in area mode tracks the ground under the tank/heli. still loved the video

[@TrickerDCS]

Great idea for the future, thanks!

[@LeonidasLPP]

Ukraine thanks you. When they receive their f-16's and need a refresher pre flight you got em

[@wraith444]

One caveat on the markpoint creation (I'm sorry, there's always one in every comment section and it happens to be me today): after you use M SEL to set the newly created markpoint as your selected steerpoint, you'll likely notice your TGP wander off to Narnia. TMS aft with the TGP as SOI or pressing the cursor zero OSB will snap it back to the waypoint; the reason it does this is your SOI is stored as an offset from the selected steerpoint, so if for example you slew 200 meters west from steerpoint 1, create a markpoint, then set that markpoint as your active steerpoint, your SOI will move to 200 meters west of the target you marked.

[@TrickerDCS]

In BMS this is more dramatic (and realistic) but in DCS the movement of the TGP from where you were looking is minimal, at-least in all the cases that I have done. What you said is correct though, so no offense taken. Thanks for the clarification for others to see!

[@Radintoriov]

This is an important caveat and you did good at bringing it up: I've missed targets and seen other people miss theirs because of the way the F-16 operates on offset from coordinates for its targeting calculations in CCRP/PRE. An easy way to make sure the data is correct when selecting the markpoint as the target steerpoint is to double-check that on either the ground radar screen or on the TGP there is no CZ label next to the second-from-the-bottom OSB on the right row. If there is, hitting the OSB next to it or using TMS aft as explained will Cursor Zero and reset the SPI onto the selected coordinates. The reason I mention the AGR is that I've seen a few instances of people missing their JDAMs on pre-planned coordinates because they accidentally nudged the radar cursor while the AGR was SOI, leading to their JDAMs to miss entirely due to the added offset.

[@TrickerDCS]

@@Radintoriov some really good points as well! I should have mentioned the CZ but I didn’t unfortunately because I did press it after making the mark point. Making a mark point isn’t necessary but I love making them because so many times the TGP may screw up and you forgot where you were looking so it’s nice to just snap back to that position.

[@Radintoriov]

Oh, same: making markpoints in the 16 is quick and easy and I like having them "just in case". And yeah, depending on the terrain or other factors the TGP will sometime snag onto the wrong thing while maneuvering, though all the times it has happened to me has really helped me learn how the thing works in DCS and what are good practices to avoid an embarrassing repeat when I least want it :P

[@wraith444]

@@TrickerDCS When I use markpoints half the time I forget to reset back to the CNI page and wind up unexpectedly doing some random weird nonsense while trying to work with the TGP, so definitely good on you for calling that out in the video lol

[@PappaBear_yt]

Great tutorial, Tricker! 👍🏻👏🏻💪🏻🙋🏼‍♂️🍻🍻

[@alejandroriosrubio8348]

Thanks

[@TrickerDCS]

Welcome 🫡

[@SierraHalcon]

This is simply amazing 🔥

[@macedk]

Was about to ask you for some gbu tactics, I will do the left turn now. Thx man. :)

[@TrickerDCS]

You never follow my tactics anyway 💀

[@iammorpheus7345]

Hello, Thank you for this video. Just to clarify one thing. When your lasing the target. Your not holding the trigger down when you drop the bomb correct. You set the laser to fire automatically at 12 sec correct. I was dumb founded, I never knew I could automatically have the laser fire on it own in the f-16 like the f-18.

[@TrickerDCS]

No I’m not holding the trigger down, that is the manual way, which you can do if you please, but I’m all about that auto stuff

[@iammorpheus7345]

@TrickerDCS Wow, that's great, sir.I was not aware that I could do that. I have been doing it manually, and believe me, that's a struggle while holding and orbit and justing flying. Is 12 seconds your go-to for any particular reason,Thank you.

[@ROCKET474]

thats sick

[@SDsc0rch]

that livery nice

[@TrickerDCS]

Yah it is, in the pinned comment if you don’t have it

[@arcosiancosine1065]

its alright :)

[@THEdanrugaming]

Did you manually switch to INR track for keeping the pod on target during masking? I remember a video from Wags about it a while back but it may have changed since?

[@TrickerDCS]

So when I made the markpoint it lost track and reverted to INR mode which is why I needed to point track the SA13 again. When I know I’m going to be doing some extended maneuvering or pulling high g’s, then I’ll go to INR mode with tms aft short. Great question.

[@ds6899]

I just about lost my shit with the boom shakalaka 😄

[@jumper684]

Nice tutorial but the bombs do not ride a laser(beam riding wouldn't even work with a laser from another place) but they look for a laser point on the target

[@TrickerDCS]

Yes this is correct

[@zikiziki469]

With new update my tgp doesn't work when i press any code tgp goes to 0 i don't know what happend

[@TrickerDCS]

That means your laser switch isn’t armed

[@zikiziki469]

@@TrickerDCS on training mission also when mission start is normal but when i land and rearm tgp go to 0 and is off (i didn't touch switch).

[@TrickerDCS]

@@zikiziki469 ah that’s a bug, you need to turn off the tgp and turn it back on via the right hard point switch

[@zikiziki469]

@@TrickerDCS it works thanks

[@willem6788]

where can i download the missie ?

[@TrickerDCS]

Check the description or pinned comment

[@TLR_]

“You are now 12 km past your target”

[@i8maxxer]

the kiss of death = 69 🤣

[@ColonelAkirNakesh]

Pro tip: set laser code to 1776 for maximum freedom

[@TrickerDCS]

YES 🎆🎇🧨

[@archimaede]

Your explanation is incorrect, the gbu 12 does NOT ride the laser beam, it looks for a laser spot (ie a reflection), which is precisely why it can aim at targets designated by other sources such as a jtac or another friendly aircraft.

[@TrickerDCS]

Yes this is correct

[@peterblackburn5793]

You said it was gonna be simple...

[@TrickerDCS]

I knew you would love it Pete

[@lindawilkins5381]

Where was the F 16 when 9/11 happened?