DCS: AH-64D | Radar Air Targeting Mode

Video Description

NOTE 1: Basic FCR Controls: https://youtu.be/ztLIr8tJJDg?si=IzHC1nC2EGnIk3LZ NOTE 2: Setting up Schemes: https://youtu.be/ztLIr8tJJDg?si=yxz4aNlvLlPL-kKK&t=436 In this DCS: AH-64D video, we’ll discuss the next mode for the Fire Control Radar, or FCR: The Air Targeting Mode, or ATM. When in ATM mode, the FCR will scan for and prioritize fixed wing aircraft and helicopters with as much as 360-degree coverage. Like all FCR modes, ATM can be used from either the Pilot or CP/G seat. In this video, we’ll do so from the Pilot seat. ATM mode is a helpful way to detect aerial threats and even attack other helicopters with Hellfires or the gun. As before, we’ll select FCR as the Sight and ATM as the FCR mode. We can set these in the Controls Manager for either the Pilot or CP/G, just use the Search function to find them. As you can see, ATM uses a circular, 360-degree Plan Position Indicator format with the centerline azimuth relative to your aircraft heading. The Field of Regard Box at the bottom is replaced with an indication of your upper and lower scan limit coverage in feet above ground level. Unlike other FCR modes, there is no automatic elevation control. You must enter it manually with the up and down arrows here. Below, you can see the relative elevation angle on the scale. Just like the other FCR modes, we can either transmit continuously or as a single scan burst based on the selected scan volume. When not scanning, you can select the scan area with the Wide, Medium, Narrow, and Zoom FCR items for the FCR. If not in Wide, you have left and right arrows to offset the scan volume. As mentioned before, you must manually control the scan elevation of the FCR when in ATM. If the elevation is too low though and you are trying to scan behind the aircraft, you’ll see a blanking symbol representing the scan area that is blocked by the tail. Last, the Priority Scheme can be configured to determine prioritization in how targets are displayed. Targets inside a Priority Fire Zone, PFZ, are prioritized above all others and those inside a No Fire Zone are the least prioritized. When the Scheme is set to A or B, stationary helicopters are prioritized over moving aircraft and when set to C, moving aircraft are prioritized over stationary helicopters. Between multiple moving aircraft, those flying toward you are priority over those flying away and helicopters will be prioritized over fixed-wing aircraft. One final note on an item that seems to have caused some confusion: the US-operated AH-64D we simulate in DCS never used Stinger missiles operationally. Whilst some foreign operated AH-64D do, we are simulating the US version. Also keep in mind that the winglet stations that Stingers would be mounted to are in fact occupied by countermeasure warning system sensors.