Mission Editor - Can't Get Aircraft to Strike Ground Targets

[wjayson1981]

Been experimenting with custom mission editor and I can't get the bombers and attack aircraft to attack ground targets. I know some will tell me to watch YouTube or visit website for guide but I don't have the time and need quick simple answer. Problem mostly with Russian aircraft, less issue with US except attack aircraft refused to get into air to air engagement.

Su-34 carrying multirole payload R-77, KH-31P, KH-29L/T:
1) reluctant to engage air targets despite having R-77 when being intercepted until they get really close. Also there's annoying auto change to another aircraft whenever I tried to set waypoint 1 for it with CAP so that it would engage air target before focusing on ground targets at waypoint 2. F-15E too wouldn't bother to use its gun and AIM-9M when being intercepted.
2) Not actively taking out ground targets, they'll just keep banking dropping countermeasures rather than launching their missiles at enemy tanks, dropping bombs.

Tu-160 - how to get it to launch cruise missiles? I set waypoint at designated airbase complete with ground targets, it just fly through without launching any missile. I tried with B-1B, at least it would launch standoff missile and drop bombs.

Multi-role fighters such as F-16C, F/A-18C don't have such issue, they'll destroy all anything at waypoint. But Russian aircraft mostly including Su-27/33, my wingman seems to loiter rather than aggressively looking for ground targets to fire rockets, drop bombs.

[wjayson1981]

Originally posted by Insônia:

Check advance way point.
you may accidentally or forget to adjust default rules of engagement.

CAS rolls may very passive when be intercepted. adjust rule when under fire
And you may want to enforce/disallow weapon jettsion for better survive rate or continue the mission forcefully.

When carry multiple types of ammunition or AI just want to play dumb. specific your attack weapon type and quantity against Sea/ ground/ air unit in advance way point settings

How do I do that? I've been watching few YouTube guide on mission editor and it's just didn't mention especially for strategic bomber on launching cruise missile.

[wjayson1981]

Originally posted by Insônia:

Set Option for all kinds of ROE and policy

Attack Grounp/Unit Search then engage group/unit to issue weapon on target

bombing or attack map object for strategic bomber

certain main task( CAS,anti-ship etc..) and certain weapon can only used on certain types of unit. AI wont engage or have limit success when ill-equipped with wrong bombs

Problem with DCS, it likes to change my selected aircraft to another aircraft just because I changed the sortie from Ground Attack to CAP. Not sure why can't they just dim certain sortie it if my selected aircraft is F-15E or Su-34.

I'm still trying to figure out how to get the Tu-160 to launch cruise missile and make the attack aircraft to stop jettison air to ground ordnance whenever being shot at. Also still can't make attack aircraft that could dogfight to go air to air with default option that can't give it CAP sortie.

[wjayson1981]

Originally posted by Insônia:

bombing or attack map object for strategic bomber

It work perfectly fine with cruises.

They all work. But some task tricker than other.
I suggest you study other ed or player made campaigns.

Some wiki and script tutorial
https://wiki.hoggitworld.com/view/DCS_mission_editor

I managed to get the Su-34 and F-15E to fly like fighter going BVR and dogfight chasing other fighters.

As for bombers, carpet bombing works fine on B-52 but awful on Tu-22M where 4x Backfires with full load of external FAB-250 & FAB-500 circled around before 1 or 2 bomber dropped just 2-4 FAB-250 despite the waypoint being nicely aligned to bomb 1 stretch of aircraft parked on tarmac. The bombs weren't dropped on the column of parked aircraft but they bombed my wingmen parked at another lot on the other side then resuming circling again then 1 or 2 would drop 2-3 bombs at the supposed tarmac taking out just 2-4 aircraft flying like they are attack aircraft rather than bomber.

The Tu-160 and Tu-95 just refused to launch their air launched cruise missile at all. I have set pinpoint target and they just flew past until aircraft on the ground on cold start could take sweet time to take off and shoot them down. The problem is mainly with the Russian bombers.

[MobstrLobstr]

ha, yes mission editor is extremely frustrating. Thinking that you can use it for anything not super simple without doing lots of research into all the details is like beating your head against the wall. Good luck.

[spike2071]

If you want multiple bombers to hit the same thing at the same time in a single pass, create individual bomber groups of only 1 bomber and tell each individual group to use all their bombs. Multiple bombers in the same group only attack one at a time with the bare minimum of bombs, and will leave once the target is hit. Similar with pinpoint strikes: they will only launch 1 missile per bombing task.

In my experience, Triggered Actions work better than Advanced Waypoint Actions, but that might just be me.

Worked for me with Russian bombers.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2955947618

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2955948039

[wjayson1981]

Originally posted by MobstrLobstr:

ha, yes mission editor is extremely frustrating. Thinking that you can use it for anything not super simple without doing lots of research into all the details is like beating your head against the wall. Good luck.

DCS could have made it easy like Jane's Fighters Anthology Custom Mission Creator where we can set attributes on what to attack and what not with or without waypoint. I love Jane's Fighters Anthology custom mission where the aircraft would finish off everything until they ran out of missiles and guns before bugging out.

[wjayson1981]

Originally posted by spike2071:

If you want multiple bombers to hit the same thing at the same time in a single pass, create individual bomber groups of only 1 bomber and tell each individual group to use all their bombs. Multiple bombers in the same group only attack one at a time with the bare minimum of bombs, and will leave once the target is hit. Similar with pinpoint strikes: they will only launch 1 missile per bombing task.

In my experience, Triggered Actions work better than Advanced Waypoint Actions, but that might just be me.

Worked for me with Russian bombers.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2955947618

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2955948039

Thanks for the info. I'll split them up. Going to try now.

[wjayson1981]

Originally posted by spike2071:

If you want multiple bombers to hit the same thing at the same time in a single pass, create individual bomber groups of only 1 bomber and tell each individual group to use all their bombs. Multiple bombers in the same group only attack one at a time with the bare minimum of bombs, and will leave once the target is hit. Similar with pinpoint strikes: they will only launch 1 missile per bombing task.

In my experience, Triggered Actions work better than Advanced Waypoint Actions, but that might just be me.

Worked for me with Russian bombers.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2955947618

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2955948039

I split the Tu-22M into 4 separate individual bomber with waypoint 1 perform task carpet bombing placed the target on northern tarmac with row of aircraft. ROE set to weapons free for all aircraft and waypoints. Only 1 Tu-22M dropped a single bomb then they just flew past banking right then made a U-Turn just to drop bombs at me & my wingmen parked at opposite row of tarmac. Then they just keep circling around not dropping bomb on the designated tarmac until the fighters that they are supposed to bomb took off and shot the Tu-22M down. Tu-160 just refused to launch cruise missile after I set attack map point target for it.

Where do I look for Triggered Actions?

[MobstrLobstr]

To have a flight of aircraft attack multiple targets do this:
create waypoint for the flight at the ingress point where you want to start the attack from.
add an exit waypoint past the target
add an reaction to threat = no reaction waypoint option or the AI will likely decide the attack is too risky.
use the advanced waypoint options box to add bombing actions to the ingress waypoint.
so for 4 aircraft, use 4 bombing actions
put each bombing action triangle on the target to be attacked
edit each stacked action command to manually select the ordnance type, and manually select use all ordnance for QTY, must select group attack checkbox for each bomb action

This should give you a basic group attack, remember the more complicated you make it, the more likely the AI will do something else.

The key is that each target must have its own bomb action. If you ask the AI to make up its own mind to attack, it will likely do something you don't want.

You can set more targets than aircraft, then have each attack set to use a portion of the ordnance, and the group will circle around and make multiple passes.

[wjayson1981]

Originally posted by MobstrLobstr:

To have a flight of aircraft attack multiple targets do this:
create waypoint for the flight at the ingress point where you want to start the attack from.
add an exit waypoint past the target
add an reaction to threat = no reaction waypoint option or the AI will likely decide the attack is too risky.
use the advanced waypoint options box to add bombing actions to the ingress waypoint.
so for 4 aircraft, use 4 bombing actions
put each bombing action triangle on the target to be attacked
edit each stacked action command to manually select the ordnance type, and manually select use all ordnance for QTY, must select group attack checkbox for each bomb action

This should give you a basic group attack, remember the more complicated you make it, the more likely the AI will do something else.

The key is that each target must have its own bomb action. If you ask the AI to make up its own mind to attack, it will likely do something you don't want.

You can set more targets than aircraft, then have each attack set to use a portion of the ordnance, and the group will circle around and make multiple passes.

Any idea why DCS made it so difficult for the bombers to launch long range ALCM or drop bombs? I just plotted nice fancy waypoint for a single bomber to perform carpet bombing, it would fly past then make a U turn only to drop few bombs rather than more than 6 or dozen. Russian bombers especially having the worst problem. USAF B-1B if it has JSOW, it would use them from far, no issue. I'll try your method this time.

[wjayson1981]

Originally posted by Insônia:

DCS could have made it easy like Jane's Fighters Anthology Custom Mission Creator where we can set attributes on what to attack and what not with or without waypoint.

Modern sim/training is very specific about scenarios. Every move is programmed.
Take look at modern milsim practices
You need be specific. knowing the rules set and each function of mission engine is important. Btw DCS has some roots in the commercial and mil contract world.

I still recommend you study other peoples mission and official campaigns. or at least upload your miz to the DCS forum so people might look at it.

the more gaming or smart AI moves are more gaming side focused, currently there is no "smart" AI by official but only programmed as external script library as SDK by some talented community members. https://forum.dcs.world/forum/81-user-created-missions-general/

the ED was making an new dynamic engine that has RTS or modern milsim or wargame with war economy or productions in mind.
Not sure where it leads. if it more arcady then maybe it will work like RTS, or if it was more towards milsim practices then it still need be very specific. every rule of engagement and policy , each unit down to ammunition.

Thanks for the advice. I'll skip the bomber and stick to fighters and attack aircraft in plotting custom mission. Doesn't worth spending too much time figuring out how to get the bombers to work. Only set them as high asset value target to be escorted or intercepted.