User Guide

LOAL
To protect your helicopter from enemy fire while the missile is in flight, you can choose to
fire anti-tank missiles in Lock On After Launch mode. With LOAL, you locate the desired
target, but do not establish a lock. Next, instruct the pilot to manoeuvre the helicopter near
some obstacle—a ridge line or a building, for example. With your helicopter hovering just
above the obstacle and facing the target, select the appropriate missile type and mode by
cycling with 7 and observing the launch mode indicator in the lower right of the
IHADSS. LOAL indicates that a laser guided missile is ready to be fired in LOAL mode.
When you’ve selected, fire a missile in the general direction of the target. As soon as
the missile is away (and beyond the obstacle), instruct the pilot to decrease altitude
until you’re safely hidden behind the obstacle. The launch mode indicator changes to a
Time of Flight (TOF) counter. This displays, in seconds, how much longer the missile
will fly. During the final seconds of the missile’s flight, the TOF counter changes to
display the word LASE. This is your cue to unmask and lock the target. Quickly order
the pilot to manoeuvre above or around the obstacle, then find and lock the target—
using laser or radar, depending on the type of missile you fired—before the counter
reaches zero. If the missile hasn’t already passed the newly locked target, it will detect
the reflected energy, turn and engage the target.
A more aggressive approach calls for firing multiple missiles, staggered 10 to 15 seconds
apart. (This one takes some serious skill to perform.) After you’ve fired the missiles, order
the pilot to descend and wait until the first missile nears the target. Order a climb above the
obstacle and quickly lock a target. Once the first missile strikes the target, quickly select
another target. Repeat this process until all of the missiles in flight have struck targets.
OPWIRE
To improve on accuracy, some missiles—like the HOT 3 carried by the Eurocopter
Tiger—were designed to unreel a thin copper wire behind them as they fly. In this way,
the launching helicopter remains in constant contact with the missile, and the gunner can
provide additional guidance instructions until the wire is broken. Wire guidance missiles
follow the current TADS aim-point. In some situations, this even allows you to change
targets in mid-flight. Sudden turns or drastic course adjustments, however, might break
the wire. If the wire breaks, you lose all control over the missile.
IRFF
The Infrared Fire and Forget is possibly the most convenient missile for the helicopter
crew. Once launched, a fire and forget missile lives up to its name; you can go on your
way without worrying about it. These weapons have an internal infrared (heat) sensor
that they use to guide themselves to their target, which you designate for them using a
TADS lock. Once launched, the missile neither needs nor accepts further guidance.
Used correctly, flares can "distract" these missiles.
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