Warthunder radar mechanics are funny…its most based off of speed making heli basically invisible even while they should have a big enough rcs to provide a return on radar even for aesa radars.What happens to the returns the rcs should provide when the pd filter is not at play.You can see a small missile from 80 plus km away but not a heli 10kms away from you because of the pd logic on radars.
What would be the point of adding stealth planes then if radars in the game can just see fast and not based off rcs
Because the rotor blades, aren’t modeled to emit returns when they should.
13 Likes
Because we do not have the ability to toggle the notch filter in game. It is locked on when “looking down” with the radar. So you must use pulse/lprf mode.
Well, obviously everyone knows that an helicopter in hover mode should not give any radar return because helicopters don’t have a single moving part… right ?
Those fans on top that turn to help the helicopter fly ? Naaaah
5 Likes
If the heli was at altitude (2000+ ish ft) and you were in a non PD mode, they would be visible, but as they are low to the ground, such modes arent usable due to ground clutter.
PD modes only work when there is movement towards you (and away with all-aspect PD radars) , and to this effect, you can actually target a heli that is moving using radar. But when they hover, its the same effect as if an aircraft was in a perfect notch. (works with VTOL aircraft as well, a lot of people had fun with this in ARB when Fox-3s were first added)
IRL, helis should have a massive PD radar signature. SAMs already ignore the current modeling, and lock on regardless. Aircraft not being able to do the same is one of hte most infuriating things ever and has annoyed me for years
7 Likes
SAM radars to be specific. ARH missiles launched from those are still subject to the same limitations as aviation radars ie unless heli flies rather fast towards or away from the missile, it won’t be picked up by PD filtering radar.
At the same time, you have such marvels as Shilka radar - it is spoofed by chaff like you’d expect Pulse/LPRF and picks up chaff on Search, but has effective ground clutter filtering and can be notched.
Snailghetti at its finest.
3 Likes
that’s actually what’s wrong in the game:
through pulse doppler effect: you’d be come invisible to a radar only if you match speed and direction of ennemy aircraft.
considering the rotor(s - Ka-50/52), helicopters should be reflecting both very high (rotor) + low (frame) speed differential.
even VTOL Aircraft should be subjects to radar locks (low speed differential, when flying towards)