I am reading the manual and it says I can fire the laser manually.



with the TGP SOI how do I actually fire the laser, per manual I should see a flashing "L"

IIRC the default key is insert. It's the same key as Nose Wheel Steering. It's a multipurpose key. When on the ground it activates the wheel steering, in the air it turns the laser on and off, and when refueling it resets the fuel gate so you can reconnect if disconnected before done.


Edit: Look in your control setup for HOTAS Nose Wheel Steering.

I read some more into the manual and it is indeed insert.

With the bomb released, release the weapon release button and press the nosewheel steering button to fire the laser if AUTO LASE is not set to ON. If the laser is firing, the “L” laser status on the left side of the HUD will flash.
8. To the left of the laser status indication is the countdown[quote][/quote]

Just as further info. Once you have the TGP on and have pressed the A-G button on the MFD. The top row left button on the MFD says CNTL, press it, and on the right side middle button of the MFD it will say Latch Off, press it once and it will say Latch On. Then press the top left button where it says RTN. What this does is make it so one press of the Insert key will turn the laser on, another press will turn it off. Otherwise, you need to hold down the insert key to keep the laser firing, just remember to turn the laser off after you turn it on or it will overheat.

You also must have an SPI designated -- that is where the laser will point to. And, look to see if there is an M next to the L -- the M means the laser is Masked -- the laser will not turn on if it is Masked.

WC

The manual lase button would be the NWS steering button below the trigger. Laser has to be armed in train/combat of course and the TGP has to be unmasked. I don't believe the TGP has to be SOI to initiate the laser; it certainly doesn't have to be the SPI generator.

Latching is a nice feature sometimes. Default off the laser only emits as long as you hold the button. Latching makes this a button tap to turn on and another button tap to turn off.