Good day to you all.

I have a question about the AWACS "Declare" functionality. It helps me a lot in combat situation, it even (this realization came much to the joy of my ground forces, who would sometimes be in places I didn't expect them and have some payload dropped on their heads for their trouble) works on ground targets, but in BMS 4.32 the implementation seems gamey.

Now, I have never even been within a hundred meters of an actual F16, and my experience with the more realistic simulations spans maybe 2 years now (none if which have been spent online), but it's hard for me to believe that you bug a bogey and just call "Declare" and AWACS can give you back a status on your target. Does it really work like that in real life, with the AWACS being able to see your bugged targets? Or does a pilot supply additional directional information in that scenario?

I like my simulations as realistic as possible, so this has just been bothering me a little - if it's "fair" to use it.

Thanks,

With my zero knowledge I'd say it's fair use.
If I can see what my winman has locked I'm pretty sure I can send my radar cursor position to the AWACS for reference.
After all AWACS are not 100% as one gets "Bogey" in response quite often requiring closer investigation (or avoid to be on the safe side if flying heavy stores).

In MP it's good practise to let the wingleader do the Q2 to not get radio spam, but thats not an issue of yours I guess

Thanks. I hadn't considered that the AWACS would probably be patched into all the datalinks on the battlefield. With that, it would make perfect sense.

IRL you would say the contact's location, just a couple more words on the radio call which is not heard in BMS, not a big deal IMO. You bug the target so the game knows which contact you're asking AWACS about.

IRL both answers are correct.
The pilot does say the bullseye position of the target he has bugged, but in certain circumstances the AWACS is able to see what the fighter has bugged.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link_16

True but we don't have Link-16 in F4.

Actually it seems a bit more "gamey" that AWACS (an E3) will give you ground target info? Or is there a JSTARS actually?

Yes, there should be E-8's too in there somewhere.

Or/and maybee use the non implemented IFF for id'ing aircraft? I mean in real life, not in BMS.

You still coordinate with AWACS IRL, even with IFF.

AWACS could relay ground targets if necessary, but most ground info would probably come from E-8/RC-135/CAOC, etc.

Why not ditch declare and use the TGP to visually identify the targets?