User Guide
Target Acquisition and Designation Sight (TADS)
Longbow
The second target acquisition system in the AH-64D Longbow is the Target
Acquisition and Designation Sight. Like the FCR, it allows the
crew to identify and target enemy aircraft or ground vehicles
from the air. (However, it can only lock onto targets in a 220°
arc in front of the helicopter.) The entire sensor system is
housed in a turret on the helicopter’s nose and includes camera
systems that allow daytime and nighttime target acquisition.
Also, the TADS contains a laser designator and range finder,
which are used to identify targets for laser-guided missiles.
When the aircraft is being flown by a single human pilot, the
TADS is controlled by the computer co-pilot/gunner, who
searches and prioritizes targets.
You have the choice of using the FCR or TADS system when acquiring targets.
h
Switch between FCR and TADS target acquisition
(The active system appears in Weapons MFD and in the High Action Display – 10, p. 2.14).
TADS and MMS Cameras
Longbow, Kiowa
TADS (Longbow). The TADS/PNVS turret houses the Direct View Optics system
(DVO), the Daylight Television system (DTV) and the Forward-Looking Infrared
system (FLIR). The view you see in your TADS MFD is an image that has been
picked up by one of these turret cameras. The turret can rotate 220° horizontally,
and +30° or -60° vertically. Sensors in the turret relay information through an opti-
cal tube to the cockpit.
During night missions, the FLIR camera in the TADS/PNVS turret can provide
backup night vision to the pilot in case the Pilot Night Vision Sensor system fails.
MMS (Kiowa). The MMS assembly consists of a low-light level TV camera, a digi-
tally enhanced thermal imager and the laser range-finder and designator. Although
the ANVIS night-vision system is separate from the MMS, the system is equally
capable of target acquisition in the day or night.
Numpad
8
,
2
, Hold down to pan the TADS/MMS MFD camera
4
,
6
Alternatively, left-click-and-hold (
L
) the mouse in the MFD and drag it the desired direction.
As a third option, hold down
a
and move the joystick in the Head-Down Display (see p.
2.53).
5
Recenter the TADS / MMS MFD camera
2: COCKPITS
2.47
TADS CAMERA CONTROL