Rockets rock!!

[ccc1tw]

Big thanks to BMS team, Rocket weapon rocks!!

I just found AI ac can attack targets with rockets - and the attack result is WOW.

Though the kills won’t be scored in debriefing screen, the punch is solid.

I set up a simple TE, add 4-ship ac with rocket pod, to strike an airbase…

• as wingleader, I order wingmen to attack freely - AI ac choose to shoot all rockets at mid section of runway. I try landing there and taxiing thru craters - explore!
  it means rocket weapon can disable an airbase… cool!

• I fly the same TE again, fly as #4, following #3 to watch how AI attack the base. this time one attack runway, the others attack HAS. salvos of rockets do hit many targets…smoke and flame everywhere!

I set up another TE, two red side cargo ship for rocket target.

• as wingleader, I order all wingmen to attack one cargo ship. it takes a longer while to see one AI shooting rockets- splashes fall behind the moving ship. Obviously AI cannot calculate the lead, or adjust aiming point continuously while rocket firing.

Then I decide to shoot my rockets and stop the ship - the following attack from rest two AI ac got better score!

to sum up - IF no SAM threat, AI ac can use rockets to do OCA strike, and attack static targets with good score.

[Mower]

Meh, rockets are fun and make a good show but are damn near tactically useless.
too inaccurate.
More of an area suppression weapon.

[Cik]

rockets are alright. fun to use if nothing else, even if deprecated somewhat by the advent of extremely expensive GPS/laser seekers.

when are we getting APKWS anyway :^)

[ccc1tw]

I set up another TE to attack no-MANPADS scud GU.

my rockets can destroy many vehicles…almost as good as CBU.
to my surprise AI can use rockets and wipe out many ground vehicles as well!

I try using my fake-gunpod (as rocket pod), the test result is good.

and my last test shows… GUN-only AI ac unable to attack ground static or moving targets in 3d.
I knew ac unit in 2d map can attack GU with gun/firing ammo, but it’s no-go in 3d world.

[starrats]

AI is really good at Rocket kills You should see the damage they can do when you give them “selective” fire pods and they can fire only bursts of 2 or 10! they keep circling until pods are empty and leave many,many dead ground units.

the helos use their cannons in 3d world against ground targets. I am guessing that bit of code may be left out of jets to save AI from getting themselves killed for a cannon shot. I bet if you find out what lets cobras shoot tanks with their cannons, you can add it to the jet you want to attack tanks with cannons. A10 and would be a good test.

[Jackal]

@ccc1tw:

I set up another TE to attack no-MANPADS scud GU.

my rockets can destroy many vehicles…almost as good as CBU.
to my surprise AI can use rockets and wipe out many ground vehicles as well!

I try using my fake-gunpod (as rocket pod), the test result is good.

and my last test shows… GUN-only AI ac unable to attack ground static or moving targets in 3d.
I knew ac unit in 2d map can attack GU with gun/firing ammo, but it’s no-go in 3d world.

Gentlemen,

it’s always good to learn all these good news.
Just by that, and due to the fact I’m terribly curious by nature, may I ask you to share those TEs?
Just to see how to manage and employ this weapon correctly, as you did for sure.

With best regards,

[starrats]

if you want to try out some selectable rockets i have them in the carrier ops mod for ito. lau3 pods for nato try on av8 for sure and others i dont remember. ub8 and ub16 on russian style jets mig27 for sure has them and a few other migs. ai was so good at using them i ramped up dispersion to slow down ai kills but they still get a lot.

[Jackal]

Hello, Starrats.

If your post above was addressed to my proposal, thanks a lot for the hint.
But if not, thanks a lot the same, it was useful and a good starting point at the same time!

With best regards,

[Turkeydriver]

Anyone working on APKWS for Falcon? Rockets would indeed rock at that point.