It seems I am getting shot down very easily in Lockon with the F15.

Here are my tactics. Critics were necessary.

I try and engage BVR at all times when possible with the Aim120. I have the radar at 160 to 80 nm searching as much space as possible RWS mode with my jammers on.. When I have a contact, I put it to my 2 o’clock or my 11 o’clock and keep them there as much as possible. I will try and climb to about 30,000 ft.

I switch to TWS mode and as the target closes in to about 60 nm, I bug each one as necessary. With my wingman, I tell him to attack one or my target depending on the aircraft identified. I turn off my jammers at about 30 nm.

Throughout the whole time I am also looking at my EWS to make sure I see where they are and keeping the bandits at 2 o’clock or my 11 o’clock

Once within the 20 nm mile I will try and go offensive and get a shot or defensive if he is aggressive on me and drop flare and chaff. I try and maneuver for a shot, but usually there is another aircraft that gets me or his wingman gets me..

My success rate is about 20 percent.

What is the best way to defeat these buggers.

Hmmm... I mostly fly RUFOR side of the house, so I can't help you out too much with specifics of the F-15 radar, except that when I'm head to head with an Eagle while flying a Fulcrum or Flanker, I'll launch an R-27T, followed by an R-27R in quick succession- so usually there'll be two missiles in the air heading towards you, though your EWS will only be able to see one (the radar guided one). Also, don't forget the high off-boresight abilities of the R-73 + HMS when you start turning close in.

Hope that helps a little bit. Also, have you checked out Flankertraining.com?

Also, wouldn't it be more helpful to turn ON your jammer when you get close? Having it turned on when you still have a lot of separation from your target just lets him know you're out there way before he'd probably be able to pick you up on his own radar. I'd advise waiting until you get a lock warning and the target is close in before turning on your ECM- yes, the Russian radars will burn through fast, but those extra few seconds can buy you enough time to get a first shot off/ guide your missile to the point of self-acquisition.

Just a couple more thoughts. But seriously, also check out the missile avoidance videos at Flanker Training.

You're not giving too many details so I'll try to fill some stuff in. First of all, this isn't a dogfight

A simple formula to follow goes like this: Radar to 80nm, TWS, HRPF (you won't see fighters past 70) unless they are closer than 40, then reduce scope range accordingly (this does nothing to radar power, it just makes representation convenient). Switch to narrow azimuth if you wish for faster updates. With the bandit at 60nm, you should already be patrolling at 30000', if not higher - climb and begin your attack from max range or a bit closer, depending on what you are trying to achieve. Once you launch your missile, put the bandit gimbals left or right, and start trading altitude for speed (you fight missiles with aspect and energy). You probably have a counter-attack coming at you. Turn and run at missile pitbull - you don't need to guide the 120's any more.





Leave the jammer off.



Your SA is probably poor. Try making yourself a practice mission with just one bandit. 20nm is too close to start attacking - start earlier in high-high or high-med shot situations. There are a lot of scenarios and a lot of possibilities, so I only gave you one simple scenario. Try to have your missile on the way at 25nm or farther if circumstances permit.

Dodging missiles is another subject all of its own, so I won't go into that right now other than to say that the basic recipes for defeating a missile are turn and run, or beam and change maneuvering planes at the last moment (plus counter-measures, naturally).

Generally speaking, if the missile is in front of your 3-9 line, countermeasures will be useless in FC2. This isn't entirely realistic, but it is the current compromise that works out best.

Your SA is probably poor. Try making yourself a practice mission with just one bandit. 20nm is too close to start attacking - start earlier in high-high or high-med shot situations. There are a lot of scenarios and a lot of possibilities, so I only gave you one simple scenario. Try to have your missile on the way at 25nm or farther if circumstances permit.

Thanks GreyGhost....true,,,I am not sure my SA os great....but
I cant get a lock till about the 20 nm range. If I fire before the lock signal, doesn't the 120 miss the target?

Yes, you need a lock before launching your missile ... why can't you get a lock before 20nm?

Don't know...it just seems that it is 20 nm....maybe it is less...but the Russian missiles always hits me before I get a lock.

Don't stick around for more than a couple seconds if you've been launched on and you can't launch back.

In any case, I imagine this must be a problem with radar operation on your part: Make sure to have the radar cursor on your primary target, and then center the antenna elevation on him (in TWS the antenna will not track the target in elevation in FC2, so if you leave the antenna as is, your target will end up slipping below or above your radar coverage, and I bet that this is what you're experiencing). If the target is using ECM, that's a different kettle of fish - but more importantly, a bandit that turns off ECM beyond 20nm (burn through is 28nm for old jammers, 23 or 22 for more modern ones, and 12 for bombers) it's probably launching a missile.

I really can't comment much more without seeing a track.

Your number 1 mistake is maneuvering into the bracket. Keep all your bandits off to 1 side- all at 11 or all at 2:00. At RMax, go nose on, fire first (TWS at multiple bandits), then offset (40 degrees or so) and track. If fired upon, beam and dive. Keep the speedup. After dodging, Turn back into the target. Tell wingmen to engage- they'll target the closer bandits. Blow through and kill the trailers. Don't be afraid to call for help- know your wingman commands by heart so you don't wear a missile when you stop to read.

Don't yank the stick- pull the Gs on gradually, but quickly. Graying out is ok- blacking out is a formal invitation to a bandit party at your six. Don't be afraid to go guns- if it's a Fulcrum or a Flanker keep a distance away from it until it turns that crazy tight turn radius it has and then you can gun him as he flounders.

When you think you're done, pull up and check your six (watch your speed). Then look around at your flight's sixes. Reign everybody back in and as they come in do a slow sweep- first along ingress and egress routes. Then when its clear and safe, return to CAP (fuel permitting) or go home with your formation.

Practice, practice, practice. Learn your radar controls- elevation, range, etc. Program them onto your stick if needed.