Difference between revisions of "F-16C"

From DCS World Wiki - Hoggitworld.com
Line 8: Line 8:
  
 
<div class="alert alert-info" role="alert">
 
<div class="alert alert-info" role="alert">
The DCS: F-16C Viper module is not yet released. It is planned to release on 3 October 2019.
+
The DCS: F-16C Viper module is not yet released. It is planned to release on 3 October 2019. As a result of this module being very new, this wiki page should be considered highly work-in-progress.
  
 
This page is focused on the DCS World F-16C module; see [[Falcon BMS]] for BMS related info.
 
This page is focused on the DCS World F-16C module; see [[Falcon BMS]] for BMS related info.
Line 79: Line 79:
  
 
Selecting any of the three pushbuttons once they have already been selected prompts the main page menu. Any page can then be selected and will be filled at that pushbutton. That page can then be selected by either pressing the corresponding pushbutton or using the Display Management Switch (DMS) on the stick, and it will be highlighted. TMS LEFT and RIGHT respectively cycle the three quick access pages on the left/right MFDs in an outward fashion.
 
Selecting any of the three pushbuttons once they have already been selected prompts the main page menu. Any page can then be selected and will be filled at that pushbutton. That page can then be selected by either pressing the corresponding pushbutton or using the Display Management Switch (DMS) on the stick, and it will be highlighted. TMS LEFT and RIGHT respectively cycle the three quick access pages on the left/right MFDs in an outward fashion.
 +
 +
=Air-to-Air Radar=
 +
----
 +
The F-16C is equipped with the AN/APG-68 pulse Doppler radar. This section will cover its air-to-air (A/A) functionality for surveillance of aircraft and to provide A/A weapon systems guidance in engaging aerial targets. The A/A radar is accessed from the Fire Control Radar (FCR) page.
 +
 +
==FCR Page Overview==
 +
The Fire Control Radar page is presented in an azimuth over range format with the aircraft at the bottom center of the display. The range axis is displayed in a vertical format, where higher range is higher on the physical MFD screen. Azimuth is horizontal, where something at the center of the display is directly in front of the ownship aircraft, and accordingly left/right of it when left/right of the display center.
 +
#'''Azimuth Caret''' - This vertical "T" shaped indication indicates the current location of the radar antenna with respect to azimuth (left/right) of the aircraft.
 +
#'''Elevation Caret''' - This horizontal "T" shape indicates the current vertical elevation of the radar.
 +
 +
==A/A Radar HUD Indications==

Revision as of 23:01, 1 October 2019

The F-16C Fighting Falcon, often called the Viper, is a single-engine multi-role fighter jet airplane. The F-16 was created by General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) and operated by the United States Air Force and numerous other militaries. Despite the "F" (fighter) designation, it is designed for both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions and can use an array of weapons and sensors; built into the Viper is a 20mm cannon as well as a multifunction radar. The DCS F-16C models a Block 50 aircraft with the new F110-GE-129 engine and the Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP) avionics upgrade.

Weapons List

Implemented

Partially or fully implemented weapons of the F-16C Viper:

Planned

Weapons not yet implemented into the Viper:

  • BDU-33, BDU-50LD/HD Training Bombs
  • Mk-82LDGP, Mk-82AIR, Mk-84LDGP LGB
  • CBU-87 CEM, CBU-97 SFW, CBU-103, CBU-105 Cluster Bombs
  • 2.75” LAU-68, LAU-131 Rockets
  • AIM-9L/M/P/X Sidewinder
  • AIM-120B/C AMRAAM
  • M61A1 20mm Cannon
  • AGM-65D/G/H/K Maverick
  • AGM-88C HARM
  • GBU-10, GBU-12, GBU-24
  • BRU-57/A
  • GBU-31/A, GBU-38/B JDAM
  • AGM-154A/B JSOW
  • ALE-50 Towed Decoy

HOTAS


The Fighting Falcon's hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS) system is designed to allow the pilot to manipulate important avionics functions without releasing the hands from the throttle or control stick. This section will provide a summarized description of all HOTAS controls - detailed functionality will be described in other appropriate sections.

Control Stick

The control stick is a side-mounted stick used to manipulate the Flight Control System (FLCS), but also has numerous other HOTAS controls. The stick is mostly stationary and uses pressure sensitivity to be manipulated; it does, however, move a small physical distance.

  • Trim Switch: The Trim Switch commands pitch (up/down) and roll (left/right) trim to the FLCS.
  • Display Management Switch (DMS): The Display Management Switch (DMS) is used for avionics display manipulation and to assign the Sensor of Interest.
    • Forward: Sensor of Interest assigned to HUD/HMCS
    • Aft: Sensor of Interest assigned and cycles between the left and right MFDs
    • Left: Cycles three configured quick access pages on the left MFD from right to left
    • Right: Cycles three configured quick access pages on the right MFD from left to right
  • Target Management Switch (TMS): The Target Management Switch (TMS) manipulates various sensors depending on what is the Sensor of Interest.
    • Forward
      • HUD SOI: When an A/G bomb is selected, designates SPI in DTOS/EO.
      • FCR SOI: Commands Spotlight mode in RWS mode or commands BORE scan in ACM
      • TGP SOI: Commands point track
      • WPN SOI: Commands track
      • HSD SOI: Designate active waypoint
    • Aft
      • HUD/FCR/WPN SOI: Target reject
      • HSD SOI: Drop
    • Left
      • FCR SOI: Expanded data
      • TGP/WPN SOI: Toggles seeker polarity
    • Right
      • FCR SOI: Steps bugged track in TWS or commands HUD scan in ACM
      • TGP SOI: Commands area track
    • Right, Long Press
      • FCR SOI: Toggles TWS and RWS mode

Digital Systems Overview


The F-16's avionics are interfaced with via two Multifunction Displays (MFDs), the Integrated Control Panel (ICP), the Data Entry Display (DED), and the head-up display (HUD)/helmet mounted cueing system (HMCS). The hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS) system of the aircraft is also used for manipulating these systems, which is detailed in its own section and the sections relevant to specific HOTAS uses.

Sensor of Interest

In the F-16, either the HUD/HMCS, the left MFD, or the right MFD is the designated Sensor of Interest, or "SOI." The SOI is used to dictate what HOTAS buttons do what function. The SOI is changed via the Display Management Switch (DMS) on the stick - forward will assign SOI to the HUD/HMCS while aft will cycle SOI between the left and right MFDs. If an MFD is SOI, a white border around it is displayed. If the HUD is SOI, an asterisk is put in the upper left corner.

Multifunction Displays

The F-16 has two Multifunction Displays (MFDs) on the left and right sides of the cockpit: each has 5 option select buttons (OSBs) on all four sides. The MFDs can display various software pages to manipulate the aircraft's avionics. Up to three pages per MFD can be selected on either MFD for quick access via pushbutton or HOTAS. These three pages always occupy the bottom center three pushbutton areas. In addition to these, a universal declutter (DCLT) button is provided, which will declutter the symbology depending on the page, and a SWAP button, which simply swaps the two MFD's quick access pages and selected page.

Selecting any of the three pushbuttons once they have already been selected prompts the main page menu. Any page can then be selected and will be filled at that pushbutton. That page can then be selected by either pressing the corresponding pushbutton or using the Display Management Switch (DMS) on the stick, and it will be highlighted. TMS LEFT and RIGHT respectively cycle the three quick access pages on the left/right MFDs in an outward fashion.

Air-to-Air Radar


The F-16C is equipped with the AN/APG-68 pulse Doppler radar. This section will cover its air-to-air (A/A) functionality for surveillance of aircraft and to provide A/A weapon systems guidance in engaging aerial targets. The A/A radar is accessed from the Fire Control Radar (FCR) page.

FCR Page Overview

The Fire Control Radar page is presented in an azimuth over range format with the aircraft at the bottom center of the display. The range axis is displayed in a vertical format, where higher range is higher on the physical MFD screen. Azimuth is horizontal, where something at the center of the display is directly in front of the ownship aircraft, and accordingly left/right of it when left/right of the display center.

  1. Azimuth Caret - This vertical "T" shaped indication indicates the current location of the radar antenna with respect to azimuth (left/right) of the aircraft.
  2. Elevation Caret - This horizontal "T" shape indicates the current vertical elevation of the radar.

A/A Radar HUD Indications