RAZBAM AV-8B Harrier II

I’ve been flying the Harrier a lot on the Apache Hunting Ground mission. UTM coordinate input is a breeze and the short runway at Taftanaz is perfect for refuel/rearm. Pesky SHORADS you can’t quite find? NWS the TPOD to your VV, roll in where the RWR lolipop is showing, and if you’re lucky the FLIR hotspot tracker will give you a caret to visually point the TPOD. Even without a fancy HMD or datalink it’s super easy for A2G work.

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I too have been getting reacquainted with the Jump Jet. All of the hype around the SA map has stirred my interest. It’s also the right ride when you can’t decide between a rotor and a fast jet. It does feel very connected when flying low level in VR.

SA map? I’ve missed the hype train. Do we get something similar to the Hornet’s SA page?

Haha, no sorry Clutch. I meant the South Atlantic terrain also from RAZBAM.

Out of curiosity, without radar contacts (overlayed over the map/course lines), what functionality does the SA page have that the EHSI does not?

I liked the guy’s take on the Harrier…of course I’m biased. :wink:

But there’s a lot of hidden gems deep down in the Harrier architecture that get missed in the way DCS works (kind of abstractly) with CAS.

Personally, having somewhat isolated experience with DCS, I really enjoy the mission where the AV-8 attempts to deny a river crossing from a, quite limited, FARP.

It kind of shows what the aircraft can do. Throw down about a thousand feet of pierced aluminum matting, or a road, and the Harrier can put “warheads on foreheads” all day long. :grin:

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What mission is that? I am on the cusp of becoming tactically significant in my harrier, this sounds like a fun scenario.

Now the Viggen… not by a long shot. But what a fun machine! Tried the maverick in that the other day, haha fun times! Wouldn’t want to do that while being shot at!

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Unless I haven’t figured out how to turn them on: Datalink for friendly air assets and threat rings. Flying online with a buddy in the Hornet, he can see me on the SA page (sometimes) but I can’t see him. AA TACAN would be nice to have in this situation but it’s been broken for some time now, unfortunately.

This is the mission!

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Found it! just flew the pin point strike. One wouldn’t carry both rockets and snakeyes on a single strike, would you? One pass, haul ass, right?

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Truly, if your goal was to hit that warehouse and get back, I’d be taking Mk-83s and nothing else.

It says that you are not supposed to be there so, except maybe for some Sidearms, rockets seem a distraction.

I haven’t run that yet. I’m going to try it now with the above load.

EDIT: I actually see that we can’t carry Mk-83 Ballute. That seems wrong, but it could be me that‘s the one who’s wrong! :joy: So, 4xMk-82 SE on parent stations to be less draggy than ITERs, 1xAIM-9, 1xAGM-122, and a DECM (may be overkill :person_shrugging:)

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Good location and Time on Target! Outstanding!

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Lol, that is my motto!

Wheels

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Well, I tried the mission with my SE loadout.

With varying levels of success,

I don’t know if it’s a DCSism but I think the foot-to-mil ratio just wasn’t working in my favor. I’d think 4 500 pounders would blow the doors off a Quonset hut! :laughing:

Well, anything that’s worth hitting with 4 Mk-82s is worth hitting with 6 Mk-83s, I say…

Wakey, Wakey! 2700lbs of Tritonal and backy!

Ah, there’s no kill like overkill.

The excitement seems to have overcome my wingman’s ability to go to Hover Stop.

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Since we’re on the subject of Harrier fun, here’s some MP “Apache” Hunting Ground stuff. This mission is full of surprises and endlessly customizable. Using the HUD FLIR hotspots to boresight the TPOD and find targets is almost cheating.

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That was some pretty impressive shootin’!

Looks like a fun scenario.

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I flew one MP mission on PvP server like that, with human wingman. lot of fun!

lol !

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Afaik there are only Slick 83s & 84s in the game

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Aaaaah, that would explain it! Wonder why. :thinking:

I’ll be honest, I didn’t know high drag 83’s and 84’s were a thing. Guess I assumed 82’s were as much kaboom as you could get away with in a low-level retarded bomb profile. Learning is cool! :grin:

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https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/mk83.htm

I couldn’t remember, so I had to check. We couldn’t carry 84s, but I seemed to recall dropping 83s with the bag.

Interesting. For all the weapons in DCS, this seems an odd one to leave out.

No biggie, just interesting.

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