Asset Details

Aerial Asset

The available VBS2Combined Arms Aircraft platforms to be assigned for the mission

Observer

Select an Observer to observe the Strike mission

Msn Type

There are four types of Missions, which are   ‘9Line’,’ ABBR 9 Line’, ‘Keyhole’, ‘Polar’

1. ‘9Line’ is the normal mission type activated with all required features
2. ‘ABBR 9 Line’ deactivates the ‘IP/ BP’, ‘Heading’ and ‘Distance’ values. This mission type will consider the aircrafts current position as the Initial IP. Therefore if the distance between current and target positions is insufficient to create a mission then “Target not in range for the selected weapon” message will be displayed.
3. Keyhole uses letters for direction and distance in nautical miles. A = North, B= East, C= South, D = West. For example, D2, the start location or “Initial Point” would be located two nautical miles to the west from the reference point.

∆ Image 8d.1: When a Keyhole mission is entered, the egress button array changes according to keyhole letters

4. Polar is similar to Key hole but uses degrees for direction

Ctrl Type

∆ Image 8d.2: Error message

When a Strike mission is underway, the control type has to be specified. This does not affect the simulation, but it will be used for realistic training. Available control types are:

• Type 1
• Type 2
• Type 3

This information will be recorded in mission details for each and every task so that the user can go through each task and see with which control type category a particular task has been created. 

Fuel Limit

Limited: The Instructor can define how much fuel time an aircraft needs to reach the ‘First release point’ until refuel is needed. The time allocated cannot be empty or else the error message “Time should not be empty” will be shown as in Image 9d.2. The time allocated should be sufficient for the aircraft to fly to the ‘First Release point’ or else the error message “Insufficient Fuel Limit” as in Image 9d.3 will be displayed.

Image 8d.3: Invalid Fuel Limit

Image 8d.4: Insufficient Fuel Limit

Aircraft

Select the air platform to be assigned for the mission

Initial Point/ Battle Position

The starting grid location for the mission. The following reference grid types are available: MGRS ABBR, MGRS, UTM and REF PT.

MGRS ABBR --> This is an eight digit reference value. This value can be retrieved by the VBS2 2D Map where it displays the horizontal (x axis) four digits and the vertical (y axis) four digits and combining them. (For instance if the x axis value ’5600’ and y axis value is ‘6600’ then the final grid value is‘56006600’)
MGRS  --> ‘From Map’ button: when this button is clicked, then VBS2 will switch to RTE mode. Once a grid point is selected, that grid will be generated into the VBS2Combined Arms application.

UTM --> UTM coordinates of a position is a 14 digit value. This can be obtained from VBS2 2D map by following either of the methods below.

Method1 :
Select and right click any object such as a unit or a marker and select the ‘GPS Positioning’ option. This will open up ‘GPS Coordinate Settings’ window. The current section will displays the MGRS & UTM coordinates of that object.

∆ Image 8d.3a: GPS Coordinate Settings

Method 2:
In VBS2 2D Map go to Tools -> Scenario Settings and select Coord Sys Type as “UTM”

∆ Image 8d.3b: GPS Object Properties

In the VBS2 2D Map view, select the exact target location by zoom In/Zoom out. The GPS Positioning Value will be displayed in the bottom of the map, as shown below.

∆ Image 8d.3c: GPS Positioning Value

If there is a missing coordinate value, add a 0 in front to replace the missing Grid value. Eg: 0359600 3063500

Heading

The heading direction of the aircraft

Distance

Distance to target.

Target Elevation

The height to the target

Target Description

The Size, Type and Status of the target can be given as information to be viewed.

Target Location

The target grid location needs to be specified. The following reference grid types are available: MGRS ABBR, MGRS, UTM and REF PT.
‘From Map’ button: when this button is clicked, then VBS2 will switch to RTE mode. Once a grid point is selected, that grid will be generated into the VBS2Strike application.

Mark Type

This specifies the ability to provide a ‘Smoke’, ‘ILLUM’, ‘Designator’ or ‘IR’ round to appear at the vicinity of the target prior to the bomb hitting the target. Magic Mark contains five values:

1. None - do nothing
2. Smoke - white phosphorus shell
3. ILLUM - ILLUM is mostly used at night time and therefore it used to make some light effect near the target. This lets the Friendly units identify the target at night. Illum round will explode 45 seconds prior to the explosion

   ∆ Image 8d.4: ILLUM Effect

4. Designator

A laser designator is a laser light source which is used to designate a target. Laser designators provide targeting for laser guided bombs, missiles, or precision artillery munitions.

VBS2Combined Arms is able to detect the designation of any player joined to the scenario as trainees. While the Trainee designates the target VBS2Combined Arms will pick the closest laser to a desired reference point .Normally this should be the target location. VBS2Combined Arms will detect any laser designation within radius of 800m from the initially given target.



∆ Image 8d.5: Lasing scenario



When the user selects Designator as the Mark Type at the task creation, a text box appears to enter the PRF code.



∆ Image 8d.6: Adding PRF code to the laser designator




Note:
Valid PRF code must be in range of ‘1111-1788’ and only 1-8 digits can be used. If the user does not enter a PRF code, ‘1111’ is set as the default PRF code. This PRF code is common to all the aircrafts going for the attack and it will be displayed in HUD/POD/Manual Control/Pilot mode/Instructor POD views.

 

When the projectile is released, the relevant PRF code along with the projectile will be displayed in Strike Projectile Analysis window. If the released weapon is not associated with a laser guided weapon, the PRF column will display ‘N/A’



∆ Image 8d.7: Strike Projectile Analysis

 

Setting PRF to laser designator equipment


1. In VBS2 player, switch to laser designator item
2. Scroll to get the functions of the laser designator
3. Select ‘Set PRF Code’
4. Clear the default PRF in the panel and enter a valid PRF code
5. Click Enter to set the PRF




∆ Image 8d.8: Setting PRF code to the laser designator equipment



Weapons will be fired to the place which the observer is pointing the laser with the same PRF code given at the task creation. Initial target will be hit if same PRF code laser is not found in the particular area.

Must know facts


• Projectiles has an error of not achieving the target e.g. for lbs bomb with a velocity of 35m/s has an error rate of 35cm)
• Projectile guidance is activated when the target is 3km or less. ( the further away the more time the projectile has to turn towards the target. thus allowing an accurate hit)
• The projectile doesn't make high angle turns. it gradually turns (to make it somewhat realistic)
• The angle between the direction vector from the projectile position to the lased location and the current direction of the projectile must be less than or equal to 30° degrees. else the projectile will hit old target.
If you have a look at the above illustration, it shows two scenarios.

Scenario 1

Observer designates to the side of the target and the projectile doesn't detonate even if the target is achieved. The projectile is not firing a collision event with the surface area. (near miss).

Scenario 2

Observer designates in such a way (with projectile release direction in consideration) so that the projectile shall definitely detonate. The projectile has sufficient surface area to accept as a collision event.

If scenario 1 happens the projectile shall travel until it hits a surface. throughout that period of miss the TTT (count down) shall be 0.


Note:
The laser designating point can vary within 15 degrees to the given target. Guided arms such as 70mm/127mm Aerial Rockets, Hellfire, TOW, Maverick and Guided Bombs 250/500/1000/2000 lbs. should be used as weaponry types.
5. IR – IR uses laser designator

Nearest Friendlies

Details of the Friendlies near the target in a particular direction and distance is given here.

Egress

If ‘Left’ or ‘Right’ selected as the Egress direction, then the aircraft may turn to that direction after the last weapon is fired. But if ‘None’ is selected then the aircraft will turn to the optimal direction in order to get the user specified egress direction and then fly around 2km (2000m) along that direction in a straight line path.