This is a guide on how to use your wingman effectively. It covers how they execute the various orders, how the use the different weapon systems and some of the limitations of the A.I.
Wingman Basics
First thing to note is the Wingman A.I. is still very much a work in progress. They are pretty dumb but they will follow your orders exactly!
Issuing Orders
There are currently two methods of ordering your wingman…
1. Using the bindable keys which can be set in the Control Setttings menu. These will eventually be phased out as the number of commands will grow to be too large.
2. Using the Command Menu which is accessed by holding down either «Cycle Left MFD Page» o «Cycle Right MFD Page» buttons for 1+ segundos.
The Command Menu allows you to issue orders to your wingman using a collapsable menu system similar to a folder system in Windows. It has been built so that it can be used to not only control a single wingman but also multiple flights and the individual aircraft within those flights.
The Command Menu can either be used by defining keyboard/joystick inputs or via the built in joypad system. Existen 5 controls for the Command Menu….
1. Command Menu Toggle – toggles the Command Menu on/off
2. Command Menu Up – moves the selected option up
3. Command Menu Down – moves the selected option down
4. Command Menu Select – Selects the highlighted option.
5. Command Menu Back – Closes the current selected option.
For Joypad users the Command Menu can be opened by holding either the Cycle Left MFD button or Cycle Right MFD button until it appears in the top left of the screen. Once the Command Menu is open you can interact with it using MFD buttons 1, 2 ,3 & 4 which by default are assigned to the D-Pad as follows….
1. DPAD arriba – Command Menu Up
2. pad direccional abajo – Command Menu Down
3. D-pad derecho – Command Menu Select
4. Control direccional izquierdo – Command Menu Back
To close the Command Menu simply click the Cycle Left MFD or Cycle Right MFD button.
NOTA: While the Command Menu is open joypad users can’t interact with the selected MFD e.g. Moving the targeting camera. HOTAS users can work around this by using the «Direct Access» control S.
Using the Command Menu
To open the Command Menu either press the «Command Menu Toggle» button or hold the Cycle Left MFD or Cycle Right MFD button until it appears in the top left of the screen.
When the menu 1st appears you will see a list of all flights currently in the mission.
NOTA: Any option that has a «>» at the end is an expanding option where selecting it will give extra options. If an option does not have «>» at the end then selecting it will issue a specific order.
To issue orders select the required Flight by using the Command Menu Up/Down buttons and then using Command Menu Select.
Currently there is only ever one flight in a mission, in this case CROSSBOW 1, but there will eventually be up to 3.
When you select the flight you will get further options.
The 1st list of orders are Flight Wide orders. p.ej. Orders that will be issued to all aircraft of that flight. These are generally basic orders such as «Muevete» o «Mantén la posición».
Below these flight orders will be all the aircraft in the selected flight. Selecting these options will allow you to give orders to an individual aircraft within the selected flight.
Currently there are only ever 2 aircraft in the flight (and you are always the lead aircraft – in this case CROSSBOW 1-1) but there will be up to 4 aircraft per flight eventually.
Your wingman is currently always FlightName 1-2 – in this case CROSSBOW 1-2. Selecting this option will give you specific orders that you can issue to just that aircraft.
To issue an order simply highlight it then use the Command Menu Select control to send the order. Your wingman should respond and carry out the order.
To close an option simply use the Command Menu Back control.
Y, finalmente, to close the Command Menu either use the Command Menu Toggle control or click either the Cycle Left MFD or Cycle Right MFD buttons.
Wingman Order Behaviours
This area explains how each order works….
Form Up
This order can be issued to either the flight as a whole or to each individual aircraft within that flight. This makes the wingmen ro-join formation. It also instructs them to take off at the start of the mission.
Once issued, wingmen will form up into the currently selected formation (el valor predeterminado es «V» formation, other formations will be available later).
Wingmen will maintain their position in the formation and will follow the formation leader. At high speeds wingmen will begin to spread out and gain altitude to ensure safe operating distances.
Mantén la posición
This makes your wingman maintain their current position and altitude. They will remain in this state until you give them further orders.
Move to Position
Tells your wingman to move to the current location designated by your targeting pod. The targeting pod MUST be locked on for this order to be accepted. When your wingman arrives at the destination they will enter a low hover to remain concealed as best as possible.
Move to My Position
Tells your wingman to move to your exact position and altitude. Make sure you’ve moved before they arrive!
Attack My Target
This will instruct your wingman to attack your currently selected target. Your wingman will make a sensible weapon choice based on ammo quantities, range to target etc.
Attack My Designator
This will instruct your wingman to switch their weapons to your laser designator code. The weapon they launch will then home in on your designator. If the weapon has a telemetry link (p.ej. Hellfire) then your HUD will display time to impact as if you launched the weapon yourself.
Go Weapons Free
Instructs your wingman to engage and destroy any and all targets within range.
They will engage the highest threats first (p.ej. Anti air units) working from closest to furthest away depending on their available weapons and their respective ranges.
Go SEAD
Instructs your wingman to engage and destroy ONLY enemy air defences upto their weapon’s maximum range.
They will always engage the closest threats first.
Go CAS
Instructs your wingman to engage and destroy enemy ground units that are close by.
Your wingman will search for targets that are within 2km, then 4km, then 6km ranges.
They DO NOT prioritise enemy air defences in this mode but will attack them if they are inside the current engagement range.
RTB (Return to Base)
Instructs your wingman to fly directly to base and land.
Wingman Weapon Behaviours
Wingmen are only cleared to use Laser and/or Radar guided munitions. You will not be able to equip them with unguided weapons such as rockets or gun pod. Ellos pueden, sin embargo, use turreted weapons.
Weapon Selection System
Your wingman will make a fairly complex decision on what is the best weapon to use against any given target. This includes taking into account the weapon’s power vs target’s armour, available ammo, range and weapon cost.
They will favour using the cheapest weapon with the most cuurrent ammo for the job if they can.
For all weapons, your wingman will continue to fire until the target is destroyed.
Each weapon has slightly different usage behaviours….
Turreted Canon
Your wingman will opt to use this weapon if the target they are attacking is lightly armoured and within a 2km range. The closer they are to the target the more likely they will favour the canon instead of any other guided weapon.
Your wingman will use this weapon to attack heavy armour if they have no other weapon available or if they are too close to use guided weapons e.g. less than 1km.
Laser Guided Weapons
Your wingman will opt to use this weapon if the target is heavily armoured and/or it is beyond 2km in range.
To use this weapon your wingman will need direct Line of Sight to the target so will raise their altitude until they can see the target fully. Your wingman will only ever climb to a maximum of 150m above the ground unless they are already higher than this altitude when you issue an attack order.
Once the weapon is launched your wingman will maintain Line of Sight until the weapon impacts and the target is destroyed.
Radar Guided Weapons
Your wingman will opt to use this weapon if the target is heavily armoured and/or it is beyond 2km in range. To use this weapon your wingman does not need direct Line of Sight and will be able to fire the weapon from behind cover.
Your wingman will initially reduce their altitude to a low hover to make use of any available cover. They will then raise their altitude if necessary to ensure the missile will climb over any cover directly in front of them. If they do they will return to their previous altitude as soon as the missile is launched.
Wingman Tactics
Recuerda, your wingman is designed to support you in battle rather than completing the mission for you!
1. Keep your wingman safe! Try to position them behind cover while you scout out the area and reposition them if you suddenly find they are inside air defence ranges.
2. Utilizar el «Attack My Target» / «Attack My Designator» commands to quickly get your wingman to engage the required targets. Puedes usar «Attack My Designator» again as soon as your wingman launches their missile to get them to ripple fire.
3. Keep in mind what your Wingman can see. This is especially important when using Laser guided weapons as your wingman will need Line of Sight to the target to engage it meaning they may need to get up high to see targets that are hidden behind hills etc.
4. If your Wingman reports that there are no more targets but there are still targets within range on the Threat Display then this means they cannot achieve Line of Sight. You will need to re-position them to higher ground.
Wingmen will only ever climb to a maximum of 150m above the terrain height to try to get Line of Sight!
5. Usar «Go SEAD» to have your wingman engage any enemy air defences providing you with cover allowing you to concentrate on the mission critial targets.
6. When in «Go Weapons Free», «Go SEAD» o «Go CAS» modes you wingman receives a boost to their spotting ability and will mark targets on your Threat Display if they haven’t already been marked.
7. Usar «Go CAS» to limit your wingman’s engagement range to their local area.
