FCR TWS mode video script critique requested
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It’s that time again, when I request input on a video script. This time the video covers the FCR TWS mode.
I have seen three numbers for how many targets TWS can track; 10, 12 and 16. Any clarification would be very helpful.
I’m also looking for the full form of the CATA acronym.
Here is the text:
we’re viewing the left Multi Function Display, or M F D
the F C R is currently in Range While Scan, or R W S, mode
for more information on R W S please review the previous tutorial. the link is available in the description
in R W S mode radar contacts appear as search targets
search targets provide information on altitude and their velocity vector, which is a representation of their speed and direction of flight
search target positions are updated with each radar sweep
a track file is created when a search target is designated
to enter Track While Scan mode, which is also known as Twiz, press Option Select Button, or O S B 2, or hold down Target Management Switch, or T M S, Right, which is shift Page Down by default
Twiz has the advantage that it can track up to 10 targets simultaneously while searching for others. the disadvantage is that it cannot search the same volume of airspace as R W S
three scan patterns are available in Twiz: a 60 degree 2 bar scan, a 25 degree 3 bar scan, and a 10 degree 4 bar scan
Twiz will form individual track files when it receives two radar returns within 6.5 seconds
as the radar does not pause on the track files while scanning Twiz extrapolates target states between updates
tracked targets are represented by coloured hollow squares. search targets, which have less information, by plain filled boxes
to zoom in press O S B 3 to switch to an expanded view
track files are prioritised by range and build order. when 10 targets are being tracked and a search target is designated, the lowest priority track file will be dumped
if a track file is not updated within 13 seconds the track file will be dumped. reasons for a track file being dumped include moving out of the current azimuth or elevation scan
if a radar return is not received at its estimated position the track will turn from yellow to red. it will turn back to yellow if it is detected again within 13 seconds. if it is not detected again within that time the track will flash red for the last 5 of the 13 seconds before the track file is dumped
note that because track file positions are not continuously updated, target data is not as reliable as it is in R W S - S A M mode when tracking a single target
without a designated target the azimuth scan is centered on the radar cursor, and elevation is manually controlled
when a target is bugged the azimuth is biased to maintain the target in the scan, and elevation is centered on it
if the antenna is tilted with the elevation controls the bug will be dropped
You may designate, or bug, a target by moving the radar cursor over it and pressing T M S Up, which is shift home by default, or by pressing T M S Right to step through the track files in order of priority
a circle appears around the target to indicate it is bugged
the targets course and speed in knots appears towards the top of the display
closure rate with the target is displayed at the top right
note the CATA cross. centering the CATA cross in the F C R will fly your aircraft directly towards the target
pressing T M S up a second time will enter Single Target Track, or S T T, mode. S T T will only track the designated target. all search targets and track files will disappear from the display, though the track files will continue to be extrapolated for 13 seconds. the lock S T T provides is more accurate but is likely to trigger the targets Radar Warning Receiver
pressing T M S Down, which is shift end by default, will return to twiz, the extrapolated tracks will reappear, and the target will continue to be designated, or bugged
pressing T M S Back a second time will undesignate the target
a third command of T M S Down will dump all track files and begin rebuilding them automatically, and a fourth will exit Twiz and enter R W S mode
a further advantage of Twiz is that it can support up to four missiles in the air at the same time
to demonstrate this we will designate the highest priority target with T M S Right, fire an AMRAAM missile at it, then press T M S Right to step to the next priority target and fire a second missile at it
note that as each target is designated the word WAIT is displayed. the radar is attempting to identify the target by analysing its turbine signature, rather than airframe geometry. to do so the target must be at a head on aspect
if the target cannot be identified UNKNOWN will replace WAIT
Twiz will continue to update the missiles in flight until they become M P R F active
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So the angle between the front of the aircraft (the nose) and the line of sight to a tracked target aircraft, is the antenna train angle, or ATA. Assuming both the target and the intercepting aircraft have a constant (not necessarily same) speed, there is a single heading to fly which locks the target aircraft onto a constant bearing from the intercepting aircraft. When this is the case, and the closing speed is positive, you have the least time to intercept possible for the current speed, and the ATA for this situation is the collision ATA, or CATA.
CATA is collision antenna train angle, and centering the iron cross in the MFD indicates you are flying a lead collision course intercept on that target.
P-825 covers the concepts involved in intercepts quite well, including ATA and CATA. Worth the read at some point.
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Thanks for the information, Blu.
Does anyone have clarification on how many targets TWS can track? I seem to find a different number, 10, 12 or 16, from every source I look at.
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RWS = range while search, not range while scan.
In TWS, there is no 2-bar 60-az scan… There are only 2 scan patterns.
It can track up to 10 targets and engage up to 6 simultaneously.
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There is actually a third pattern in the aircraft I’m using. It’s interesting that the original Falcon 4 manual refers to only two patterns while the BMS manual refers to three.
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There is actually a third pattern in the aircraft I’m using. It’s interesting that the original Falcon 4 manual refers to only two patterns while the BMS manual refers to three.
Is it referring to spotlight search with a TMS forward and hold? If that’s the case then I guess you could classify it as 3… However, using the OSBs there are only 2 selectable patterns.
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I can cycle through all three options using the OSB. The aircraft is an F16C 52+. I’m guessing it depends on the aircraft model as to what features the TWS has.