Functional - Management of target Designation.

Lase, smoke and illuminate targets.

Features:

• Faciliate the communication of detected targets to players.
• Designate targets using lasers, through a menu system.
• Designate targets using smoking, through a menu system.
• Designate targets using illumination, through a menu system.
• Auto lase targets.
• Refresh detection upon specified time intervals.
• Prioritization on threat levels.
• Reporting system of threats.

Additional Material:

• Demo Missions: GitHub
• YouTube videos: None
• Guides: None

Targets detected by recce will be communicated to a group of attacking players.
A menu system is made available that allows to:

• Lased for a period of time.
• Smoked. Artillery or airplanes with Illuminatino ordonance need to be present. (WIP, but early demo ready.)
• Illuminated through an illumination bomb. Artillery or airplanes with Illuminatino ordonance need to be present. (WIP, but early demo ready.

The following terminology is being used throughout this document:

• The DesignateObject is the object of the DESIGNATE class, which is this class explained in the document.
• The DetectionObject is the object of a DETECTION_ class (DETECTION_TYPES, DETECTION_AREAS, DETECTION_UNITS), which is executing the detection and grouping of Targets into DetectionItems.
• TargetGroups is the list of detected target groupings by the DetectionObject. Each TargetGroup contains a TargetSet.
• TargetGroup is one element of the TargetGroups list, and contains a TargetSet.
• The TargetSet is a SET_UNITS collection of Targets, that have been detected by the DetectionObject.
• A Target is a detected UNIT object by the DetectionObject.
• A Threat Level is a number from 0 to 10 that is calculated based on the threat of the Target in an Air to Ground battle scenario.
• The RecceSet is a SET_GROUP collection that contains the RecceGroups.
• A RecceGroup is a GROUP object containing the Recces.
• A Recce is a UNIT object executing the reconnaissance as part the DetectionObject. A Recce can be of any UNIT type.
• An AttackGroup is a GROUP object that contain Players.
• A Player is an active CLIENT object containing a human player.
• A Designate Menu is the menu that is dynamically created during the designation process for each AttackGroup.

Player Manual

A typical mission setup would require Recce (a Core.Set of Recce) to be detecting potential targets. The DetectionObject will group the detected targets based on the detection method being used. Possible detection methods could be by Area, by Type or by Unit. Each grouping will result in a TargetGroup, for terminology and clarity we will use this term throughout the document.

Recce require to have Line of Sight (LOS) towards the targets. The Recce will report any detected targets to the Players (on the picture Observers). When targets are detected, a menu will be made available that allows those TargetGroups to be designated. Designation can be done by Lasing, Smoking and Illumination. Smoking is useful during the day, while illumination is recommended to be used during the night. Smoking can designate specific targets, but not very precise, while lasing is very accurate and allows to players to attack the targets using laser guided bombs or rockets. Illumination will lighten up the Target Area.

Recce can be ground based or airborne. Airborne Recce (AFAC) can be really useful to designate a large amount of targets in a wide open area, as airborne Recce has a large LOS. However, ground based Recce are very useful to smoke or illuminate targets, as they can be much closer to the Target Area.

It is recommended to make the Recce invisible and immortal using the Mission Editor in DCS World. This will ensure that the detection process won't be interrupted and that targets can be designated. However, you don't have to, so to simulate a more real-word situation or simulation, Recce can also be destroyed!

1. Player View (Observer)

The RecceSet is continuously detecting for potential Targets, executing its task as part of the DetectionObject. Once Targets have been detected, the DesignateObject will trigger the Detect Event.

In order to prevent an overflow in the DesignateObject of detected targets, there is a maximum amount of TargetGroups that can be put in scope of the DesignateObject. We call this the MaximumDesignations term.

2. Designate Menu

For each detected TargetGroup, there is:

• A Designate Menu are created and continuously refreshed, containing the DesignationID and the Designation Status.
• The RecceGroups are reporting to each AttackGroup, sending Messages containing the Threat Level and the TargetSet composition.

A Player can then select an action from the Designate Menu. The Designation Status is shown between the ( ).

It indicates for each TargetGroup the current active designation action applied:

• An "I" for Illumnation designation.
• An "S" for Smoking designation.
• An "L" for Lasing designation.

Note that multiple designation methods can be active at the same time! Note the Auto Lase option. When switched on, the available Recce will lase Targets when detected.

Targets are designated per Threat Level. The most threatening targets from an Air to Ground perspective, are designated first! This is for all designation methods.

Each Designate Menu has a sub menu structure, which allows specific actions to be triggered:

• Lase Targets using a specific laser code.
• Smoke Targets using a specific smoke color.
• Illuminate areas.

3. Lasing Targets

Lasing targets is done as expected. Each available Recce can lase only ONE target through!

Lasing can be done for specific laser codes. The Su-25T requires laser code 1113, while the A-10A requires laser code 1680. For those, specific menu options can be made available for players to lase with these codes. Auto Lase (as explained above), will ensure continuous lasing of available targets. The status report shows which targets are being designated.

The following logic is executed when a TargetGroup is selected to be lased from the Designation Menu:

• The RecceSet is searched for any Recce that is within designation distance from a Target in the TargetGroup that is currently not being designated.
• If there is a Recce found that is currently no designating a target, and is within designation distance from the Target, then that Target will be designated.
• During designation, any Recce that does not have Line of Sight (LOS) and is not within disignation distance from the Target, will stop designating the Target, and a report is given.
• When a Recce is designating a Target, and that Target is destroyed, then the Recce will stop designating the Target, and will report the event.
• When a Recce is designating a Target, and that Recce is destroyed, then the Recce will be removed from the RecceSet and designation will stop without reporting.
• When all RecceGroups are destroyed from the RecceSet, then the DesignationObject will stop functioning, and nothing will be reported.

In this way, DESIGNATE assists players to designate ground targets for a coordinated attack!

4. Illuminating Targets

Illumination bombs are fired between 500 and 700 meters altitude and will burn about 2 minutes, while slowly decending. Each available recce within range will fire an illumination bomb. Illumination bombs can be fired in while lasing targets. When illumination bombs are fired, it will take about 2 minutes until a sequent bomb run can be requested using the menus.

5. Smoking Targets

Smoke will fire for 5 minutes. Each available recce within range will smoke a target. Smoking can be requested while lasing targets. Smoke will appear "around" the targets, because of accuracy limitations.

Have FUN!

Contributions:

• Ciribob: Showing the way how to lase targets + how laser codes work!!! Explained the autolase script.
• EasyEB: Ideas and Beta Testing
• Wingthor: Beta Testing

Authors:

• FlightControl: Design & Programming