F-14 BVR Part III: Simplified Timeline in Detail

Pre-Commit [50+nm]

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Usually the Timeline starts with a Picture call to the Controller (AIC):

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Darkstar, Spectre 1-1, picture
Darkstar ► Spectre 1-1, Darkstar, single group, Mary 11 22 33 thousand, tracking South, hostile.

At this point, the sensors are follow the Sanitizing settings, covering as much as the airspace as possible. The target should appear on the radar, if needed by turning into the target, in order to build SA (Point and Assess).

The Controller can also assign a specific target group to the Section and the Section later commits to it.

Commit [50+nm]

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The Section now evaluates if a number of criteria are met:

• Mission objectives and tasking;
• Intercept geometry criteria (not covered in this article);
• Range from the target (Minimum Recommit Range – MRR): NLT expected Employment + 15nm).

When the Section Commits, it leaves the assigned CAP route and proceeds to intercept the target. Fighters Commit to a Picture, not an individual group. The Section should commit to any hostile approaching the limit of the timeline with aspect Flank/Hot.
The formation usually changes to Combat Spread.

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre, Commit

Spectre 1-1 [Fwd] ► Check Master Arm

(In reality the crew checks tapes as well but it is irrelevant in DCS).
During this process the wingman should not communicate (besides acknowledging, if necessary, on Fwd) but can and has to step-in in case any assumption is wrong, sees a group non communicated by the Controller or possesses information that can increase the SA.

Past the Commit, the Controller labels the picture and names the groups whenever possible (this topic is quite lengthy and not covered by this article).

Correlation [50+nm]

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Once the LRIO (Lead aircraft RIO) obtains radar contact, he Correlates with the Controller.

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Darkstar, Spectre 1-1, contact BRAA 11 22 33 thousand, Declare.
Darkstar ► Spectre 1-1, Darkstar, single group, BRAA 11 22 33 thousand, hot, hostile.

At this stage, the Leader should evaluate the intercept geometry then manoeuvre.
By Navy doctrine, the fighter should climb or descend to be 1,000ft below the target.

The F-14 RIO must also consider several factors:

• Analogue avionics: specifically the INS. A drifted INS can create wrong returns and readings on the TID, resulting in a wrong correlation.
• Magnetic/True BRG: the Magnetic Variation must be taken into account if the BRAA call is passed in True.
• BRG/Relative BRG: the Bearing reading provided by the TID is relative to the nose of the aircraft. If the picture is fairly simple, the RIO can estimate by means of the analogue avionics ± MagVar.

Considering that the tolerance for the Correlation is 3nm and 3°, the crew must be very careful in this phase, especially in case of complex scenarios.

Targeting [45+nm]

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Targeting means taking responsibility for that Group/multiple Groups from the AWACS.
Target is directive call to target specific group; Targeted is informative call that somebody already targeted specific group.

The Target with the highest Priority is defined as the highest threat in the tactical picture. This evaluation depends on a number of parameters such as the mission task (e.g. by prioritizing Strikers over Screening or Escorting aircraft).
Other criteria are:

1. Closest;
2. Hottest;
3. Highest;
4. Known Threat.

Not all Groups can be targeted at the same time, untargeted Groups can be directed to be monitored by the AWACS.

Next, the Flow Range is evaluated. The Flow Range is usually no less than the Meld range and is defined as the minimum distance between two groups to allow the Section to complete the Timeline versus the targeted group.
The Flow Range is not considered versus single group scenarios and is always considered versus 2+ groups.

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre, Targeted single group, Mary 11 22 33 thousand.

Or:

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre, Targeted single group.

Whereas in a 2vsN scenario:

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre, Targeted lead group.

The Controller monitors the untargeted groups, providing SA if the situation changes.

The Section leader can also Target wingmen to different Groups which needs to be engaged or monitored at the same time:

Spectre 1-1 [Fwd] ► Two, Target West Group, BRAA 11 22 33 thousand.
Spectre 1-2 [Fwd] ► Two, Targeted West Group.

The wingmen usually call Split formation in order to fly their own path to take care of their targets.

The Section can also realease if Targeted Group meets the Drop Criteria:

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Darkstar, Spectre, Out South, Dropping North Group.
Darkstar ► Spectre 1-1, Darkstar, roger, Monitoring single Group

This allows, for instance, to have only one friendly unit targeting a hostile group.

Section Plan [40-45+nm]

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An addition to the doctrinal Timeline, a short briefing at Section level can be useful:

Spectre 1-1 [Fwd] ► Spectre, plan skate South, shoot 40nm, one each.
Spectre 1-2 [Fwd] ► Two.

This is de facto the new timeline contract. It is useful when flying with less experienced players, the tactical situation is rapidly evolving or, for instance, if the Section wants to take advantage of the impressive range of the AIM-54.
If this part is skipped, the plan is defined later, post the Assess and Decide phase.

Tactical Range Call [45nm]

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This call is used to inform all other aircraft that the Section is at a specific point of the timeline and engaging the Targeted group. The Tactical control switches from YY to BRAA.

The fighter with the Targeted group in the AoR will communicate by means of the Aft radio. For instance, if the target is low and in the AoR of the wingman:

Spectre 1-2 [Aft] ► Spectre, single group, 45nm.

Meld [40nm]

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Meld signals the end of the sanitization and both fighters in the Sections will focus their radars on the target.
Per sé is a simple operation but the limitations of the AWG-9 WCS can induce some delays and errors. In primis, TWS radar sweep takes always 2″. In cases of poor SA, this can delay the acquiring operations. In case of high altitude delta, the aircraft with good radar return may pass the antenna elevation angle to the other member of the section. In fact, since the fighters are sanitizing the same amount of azimuth volume, but different altitudes, the most important part of the meld call is the altitude.
Due to the lack of TWS Auto in the current F-14B, Melding 2-3 miles in front of the target helps to maintain the soft lock.

Spectre 1-1 [Fwd] ► Spectre, meld, BRAA 11 22 33 thousand

If the target is in the Wingman’s AoA, he will call the meld as follows:

Spectre 1-2 [Fwd] ► Spectre, meld, BRAA 33 22 11 thousand

When melding into a group that is a stack, the altitude should be removed from the meld call. In this scenario, selecting the appropriate radar parameters is fundamental.

Sort [40nm]

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The Sort phase assigns a target to each member of the Section. The Sort is usually a standard contract:

	Azimuth	Range	Elevation
Leader	Left	Lead	High
Wingman	Right	Tail	Low

If a fighter has STT lock, the altitude can be communicated to the other member, so he can sort “around” the call.

If the fighters have different SA, the rule of thumb is (quote from CNATRA P-825):

“he who sees two, shoots two; he who sees one shoots none.” The fighter who only sees one should hold their shot, and the fighter that sees two will employ out of TWS on both contacts.

Employment and Crank [35nm]

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The section will fire and crank together. As mentioned, the standard Sort contract is used by default:

• versus a single target, the Leader uses TWS whilst the Wingman STT;
• versus a two-ship group, the Leader employs TWS on the left target, Wingman STT on the right;
• versus a three-ship group, the Leader employs TWS on the left and centre target, Wingman STT on the right target.

In order to maximize the chances of a successful launch two conditions should be met:

• the radar has the appropriate mode selected and a stable track (TWS) or lock (STT);
• the target is IN LAR (Launch Acceptability Region) and the cross-check list has been completed (weapon selected, AA mode, Master Arm).

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre 1-1, Fox-3
Spectre 1-1 [Fwd] ► Spectre 1-1, Crank left

In case multiple missiles are launched to separate tracks at the same time, the call is:

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre 1-1, Fox-3, two ships

If another missile is fired to a target whilst the first missile is still flying, the call is:

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre 1-1, second Fox-3

The Crank is an informative/directive call. Consists in a manoeuvre aiming to increase the lateral separation with the target. The crank manoeuvre is performed whether the Section launches or not.
If, due to the geometry, the Wingman risks losing the target (ergo, the antenna reaches its limits and can’t illuminate the target any more if the turn continues), he should call:

Spectre 1-2 [Fwd] ► Spectre 1-2, Gimbals

The Leader than must manoeuvre to prevent the loss of lock. If the LRIO is about to lose the target for the same reason, he has to immediately call Gimbals in the ICS.

In order to be effective, the introduced separation should be ~50° of ATA (Antenna Train Angle, topic I plan to cover when I’ll discuss the Intercept Geometry). Fighter velocity vector must have more of a cross-range component than a downrange component, this is fairly easy to assess by means of the TID in Aircraft Stabilized mode.

Assess

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Whilst Cranking, the Section assess the situation, until the missile status changes, DOR and later MAR are reached, leading to the Decide phase.

Appropriate calls should be made when the missile status changes:

• at missile timeout;
• if the missile is trashed;
• if the missile is active.

Timeout means that the missile has reached its intended target (it does not imply a kill). The relative call is includes the who the missile was shot to, the group they are part of and the altitude:

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre 1-1, timeout, single only, single group, 33 thousand.

If a missile is Trashed, it means it has been defeated by ECM, target manoeuvring or other issues.

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre 1-1, shot trashed.

Pitbull informs that the missile has activated its internal radar and it does not require support from the mother aircraft any more (I haven’t tested if maintaining the lock helps the missile though). This means that the aircraft is now able to manoeuvre freely.

The Section should also evaluate their sensors and SA:

• RWR: Spike / Nails / Naked;
• Radar: Clean;
• Visual: Tally / No Joy.

The Section can also ask the Controller to provide the Separation from the target group:

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Darkstar, Spectre 1-1, separation single group.
Darkstar [Aft] ► Spectre 1-1, Darkstar, single group separation 11 22 33 thousand, hot, hostile.

Decide

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As the Crank is established and the situation assessed, the Leader must consider the next step. Proceeding into a merge has more risks but going out may compromise the success of the mission.

Without going too much into the details, the main criteria to decide whether merging or not are:

1. Timeline adherence: if the weapons have been employed at the correct step of the timeline with the appropriate sort;
2. Target awareness: if the bandit show that it is targeting us it is about to target the Section (TA<30° or TA<60° and Section is Spiked).

Depending on such considerations, the Plan is developed (note that the Section Plan block seen previously may have already defined the standard contract, although it is not part of the doctrinal Timeline).

• Skate (Launch and Leave): descriptive call to support the missile to timeout and then leave without merging. The Section should leave before DOR (Desired Out Range).
  Abort (+ Direction) is the call to execute aggressive leave (maximum performance turn), Out (+ Direction) is the call to turn to a Cold aspect relative to the target.
  Skate is used as a mean to maintain the distance, launch and then reset.
• Banzai (Launch and Decide): directive call to execute Launch and Defend tactics. It means that the fighters will support the missile until its timeout, then proceed to merge.
• Short Skate (Launch and Leave): it is defined as the directive/informative to execute Launch and Leave before MAR (Minimum Abort Range). As for Skate, it doesn’t involve the merge with the target.

Launch and Decide

Whilst Launch and Leave tactics usually imply a reset, leaving open the opportunity of recommitting (albeit at different ranges), Banzai signals the intention of the Section to Commit to the Merge.

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre, Banzai.

If the Section is spiked they should defend right after the missile timeout. The defending manoeuvre consists in beaming and releasing chaffs.

When Spiked, the Section defends. The Leader does not call Spike, he just directs the defensive action.

Spectre 1-2 [Fwd] ► Two, spiked;
Spectre 1-2 [Aft] ► Spectre 1-2, timeout, right man, single group.

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre, defend East;
Spectre 1-1 [ICS] ► Heading 075.

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre 1-1, timeout, left man, single group.

Then, when the section is Naked, the Section should turn 110°-130° into the target and prepare to switch to SRM:

Spectre 1-2 [Fwd] ► Two, naked.

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre, in left;
Spectre 1-1 [Fwd] ► Heading 340.

If the Section is still Spiked after Notching for more than 10″, it should Abort.

Launch and Leave

The main difference between Skate and Short Stake is the Leave distance from the target. Skate should Abort/Out before DOR (Desired Out Range) whereas Short Skate should leave before MAR (Minimum Abort Range).
Out and Abort have similar meaning but Abort is a high-G, maximum performance turn.

Spectre 1-2 [Aft] ► Spectre 1-2, timeout, trail man, single group.

Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre, Abort right;
Spectre 1-1 [Fwd] ► Heading 63;
Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre 1-1, timeout, lead man, single group.

Post Decide: What happens next?

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Unless the Section opted for L&D then Merge, they should be leaving either using Out or Abort. When the Section is leaving, it follows a series of manoeuvres defined to ensure the safety of the aircraft and the crew. By Resetting, the Section should:

• turn hard, placing the target Cold at TA>50°;
• monitor for 5″ if range > 20nm, 10″ if range <20nm;
• execute high-performance turn to place the target at the Section 6′, then unload and extend. Set Buster to obtain SPD_Section ≥ SPD_Target + 0.1 IMN (Indicated Mach Number). Radar should be set to SRR;
• direct the Controller to monitor the previously targeted Group.
  

  Spectre 1-1 [Aft] ► Spectre, Reset South, Darkstar Monitor single Group.

If the former target later matches the Commit Criteria, the Section can Commit on it again. CNATRA P-825 suggests that, in case of Abort and having the target at the Section’s 6′, and in order to Employ again following the doctrinal Timeline, a spacing of 30nm should be adopted (2nm to turn in and 3nm to gain SA before Meld range).
The ranges I proposed for the F-14 are much longer (Meld: 40nm, Employment: 35nm) but such ranges can be even too wide, depending on the situation. Following some tests (but ultimately depending on a number of parameters), the F-14 firing an AIM-54 can Employ at 30nm and leave at DOR as the missile goes Pitbull. Then, if Skating, can Reset to 40nm and turn, assess and build SA whilst turning, Meld at 35nm and Employ again at 30nm, fundamentally creating a sort of an “Employment ring”. This situation can continue until, for example, the target meets the Drop Criteria or the flow turns into L&D.

Another outcome of the first employment is much simpler and immediate if the range and the situation does not allow for a prolonged manoeuvre: Reset the radar (SRR), Assess Spikes and Turn In. At that point the Leader Employs on any Leaker in the scanned area.
Executing Banzai rather than Short Skate depends on the AMR satisfied and the Abort criteria met.

The two above are just examples. The point is understanding that there are options: the ultimate goal is being able to see them, assess the situation, evaluate the options and execute them.

Note that the AI is nowhere near as competent as a human player: Tacview shows how the F-16 bleeds energy for no reason, slowing down and giving away any possible advantage. Therefore, take all the numbers here with a grain of salt (NOTE: I already added 1nm as tolerance to these results).