1

MARKPOINTS - Marking, Transmitting and Receiving

by Yakov Paltiel

The avionics system will sequentially store the coordinates and elevations of 5 steerpoints in positions 26 through 30 as markpoints. Markpoints are steerpoints that the pilot wants to identify for future use by either overflying the point or designating it using the FCR or the HUD to identify the location. During the mission, the pilot may select any markpoint (26-30) for navigation or weapons employment purposes. If the pilot enters more than 5 markpoints, the markpoint coordinates are written over starting with steerpoint 26. Marked coordinates are stored as destinations (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 26, 27, ....). Mark page on DED: 1. DED - Verify CNI page (dobber left using DCS [Data Control Switch]). 2. ICP "MARK" button - Depress and release.

Mark page displayed on DED. 3. DCS - Sequence to desired sensor (HUD, TGP, OFLY, FCR). Overfly Markpoint - the pilot does an OFLY mark by flying over the desired point and pressing the MARK button (7) on the ICP until he reaches the OFLY page on the DED, and then pressing TMS Up. Assuming no other markpoints have been chosen, when TMS Up is pressed: • The coordinates and altitude of the point flown over are stored as steerpoint 26. • The MARK DED page is displayed with OFLY mode selected. • The markpoint coordinates and elevation are displayed on the MARK DED page. • A cyan X is displayed on the HSD display at markpoint location. The pilot then returns to the CNI page by dobbering left to RTN. He may then select steerpoint 26 for navigation or weapons employment as he desires.

CURRENT STEERPOINT

SENSOR OPTION * HUD

* TGP

* OFLY

* FCR

OR . . .

2

HUD Markpoint - the pilot can mark anything he sees on the HUD. 1. ICP "MARK" button - Depress and release.

Mark page displayed on DED. 2. DCS - Sequence to HUD.

On the HUD, an asterisk will appear, which indicates that the HUD is the SOI. 3. A dotted circle will appear at the same position as the FPM (this circle indicates the Sensor Point of Interest or SPI). Aim the FPM at a desired location.

4. TMS - UP The SPI is ground-stabilized.

Asterisk

(HUD is the SOI)

SPI

Diamond

over

steerpoint 3

Current

steerpoint

3

5. CURSOR/ENABLE switch - Slew the SPI over the desired aimpoint. 6. TMS - UP to get the markpoint coordinates. A cyan X will appear on the HSD display at markpoint location.

7. ICP "M-SEL" button (optional) - Depress and release to select the

markpoint as the current steerpoint (from steerpoint 3 to 26).

Coordinates

and elevation

New current

steerpoint

Diamond

over

steerpoint 26

4

FCR Markpoint - the pilot can mark anything he desires using A-G FCR. 1. ICP "A-G" button - Depress and release. 2. Verify:

a. CCRP submode. b. FCR format - GM submode. 3. DMS - DOWN (if required). FCR becomes the SOI (Sensor of Interest). 4. CURSOR/ENABLE switch - Slew the radar over the desired aimpoint. 5. DED - Verify CNI page. 6. TMS - UP to track (lock). 7. ICP "MARK" button - Depress and release.

Mark page displayed on DED.

8. DCS - Sequence to FCR. 9. TMS - UP to get the markpoint coordinates. A cyan X will appear on the HSD display at markpoint location.

Verify CCRP

symbology CCRP

submode FCR format

(GM)

FCR is the SOI

(white square)

5

10. ICP "M-SEL" button (optional) - Depress and release to select the FCR

markpoint as the current steerpoint (from steerpoint 26 to 27 in this example).

Coordinates

and elevation

FCR sensor

Locked target

Current

steerpoint

6

TGP Markpoint - the pilot can mark anything he sees on the TGP. 1. ICP "A-G" button - Depress and release. 2. Verify:

a. CCRP submode. b. FCR format - GM submode. 3. Right MFD - Select TGP display. 4. DMS - DOWN. TGP becomes the SOI. a. A-G submode - Select.

b. WHOT/BHOT/TV - Select as desired.

c. Zoom in/out - as required.

5. DED - Verify CNI page.

7

6. TMS - UP to stabilize the TGP (AREA track). 7. CURSOR/ENABLE switch - Slew the TGP over the desired aimpoint. It is possible to accurately mark static tank columns (for example) using POINT track by pressing TMS UP. 8. ICP "MARK" button - Depress and release.

Mark page displayed on DED. 9. TMS - UP to get the markpoint coordinates. A cyan X will appear on the HSD display at markpoint location. 10. ICP "M-SEL" button (optional) - Depress and release to change the current

steerpoint into TGP markpoint (from steerpoint 3 to 26 in that example).

8

Transmitting a markpoint within two ship flight 1. Get a markpoint by using one of the sensors (OFLY - see page 1, HUD - see page 2, FCR - see page 4, TGP - see page 6). The markpoints are stored in positions 26 through 30. 2. If your markpoint is 26, change your current steerpoint to 26 (or follow step 7 on page 3 for HUD, step 10 on page 5 for FCR or step 10 on page 7 for TGP). The same procedure is required for any markpoint stored in 26 - 30. 3. IDM data link - Verify you be able to see flight members on HSD. 4. Right MFD - Select HSD. 5. DMS - DOWN (if required). HSD becomes the SOI. 6. COMM switch - Inboard (right) to transmit the markpoint. 7. HSD display - Verify XMT appeared for a short moment. 8. Verify with the receiving pilot the coordinates and elevation of the transmitted markpoint.

NOTE

If the coordinates and elevation do not match, verify that the new markpoint is the current steerpoint.

If not, the current steerpoint should be changed to the markpoint and retransmitted.

9

Transmitting a markpoint within four ship flight

By repeating all 8 steps described above (two ship flight), the markpoint will be sent to all flight members.

Transmitting a markpoint within four ship flight to a particular flight member

Assuming no other flights are in the package and your team addresses (flight positions) are 11, 12, 13 and 14, you can choose which aircraft to transmit the markpoint to. To verify your own address and those of your flight members addresses follow these steps: If your ownship team address is 11 (see pictures above) and you want to send a markpoint only to your dash-4 (team address 14), you should change the transmit address. The pilot changes the transmit address by entering a valid number into the XMT field using the ICP keypad and depressing ENTR. To change the transmit address from 10 (the whole flight) to 14 (element wingman) follow next steps: Send the markpoint by repeating steps 1 through 8 listed on page 8.

10

Transmitting a markpoint to a different flight within the package Assuming the package consist of two flights "Cowboy1" (XMT 10) and "Lobo1" (XMT 20). You're #1 in the "Lobo1" flight (own transmit address 21) and you wish to send a markpoint to all pilots in "Cowboy1" flight (transmit address 10). To change the transmit address from 20 (your own "Lobo1" flight) to 10 ("Cowboy1" flight) follow these steps: Send the markpoint by repeating steps 1 through 8 listed on page 8. Transmitting a markpoint to a specific flight member within the package Following the previous example (package of two flights "Cowboy1" and "Lobo1") and assuming you wish to send a markpoint to the leader of "Cowboy1" flight (transmit address 11) follow these steps: Send the markpoint by repeating steps 1 through 8 listed on page 8.

Cowboy1

flight Lobo1

flight

11

Receiving a markpoint The pilot of the receiving aircraft will be notified of a message receipt by a tone in his headset, a VMU message "DATA", and a message in the center of the HUD. The markpoint targets will be stored in steerpoints 71 through 80. See these examples: The HUD message will disappear 13 seconds after reception or may be cleared by the pilot with the WARN RESET toggle switch on the ICP. After the pilot receives a markpoint he should select the stored steerpoint (71 for example) by STPT page of the DED. To track the received steerpoint (71 through 80) using TGP, follow these steps: 1. ICP "A-G" button - Depress and release. 2. Verify:

a. CCRP submode.

b. FCR format - GM submode (verify the GM submode is not in snowplow [SP] state. Snowplow is toggled using OSB 8 on the radar GM display).

12

3. Right MFD - Select TGP display. 4. DMS - DOWN. TGP becomes the SOI. a. A-G submode - Select.

b. WHOT/BHOT/TV - Select as desired.

c. Zoom in/out - as required.

5. TMS - DOWN to slave the TGP to the FCR. 6. ICP STPT button - Select desired steerpoint (71 through 80).

The TGP should slew to the steerpoint. 7. Verify with the transmitting pilot the coordinates and elevation of the received steerpoint.

NOTE

If the coordinates and elevation do not match, contact transmitting pilot and verify that the markpoint he

created is his current steerpoint. If not, the transmitting pilot should change his current steerpoint to the markpoint

he wanted to send and then retransmit the markpoint.

General notes: 1. Marks may be accomplished in any master mode without impacting weapon delivery. However, as long as the MARK page is displayed, mark overrides the SOI to the selected sensor which may hinder hands-on controls. For example as long as the MARK page is displayed and the master mode is NAV or A-A it's not possible to lock air target using TMS-UP. In all air-to-air master modes, all mark attempts result in overfly marks. 2. It is possible to create FCR and TGP markpoints by changing the FCR format to the GM submode while staying in NAV master mode (instead of switching to A-G master mode). 3. When the RF switch is in the QUIET or SILENT position the ability to transmit or receive markpoints is not affected.