Q about the AGM-142 "Raptor"

[thatguy96]

There is a weapon in both the USA and USMC Obats called the "AGM-142 Raptor" (weapon 214 in the USA Obat and 222 in the USMC Obat). It is a PGM commonly used by SEAD aircraft in both Obats. After reading this it doesn't seem to be a weapon designed for SEAD so I'm curious as to why the decision was made to make this the improved weapon for this role when the AGM-88 does not even have a successor in public development. I've noticed a number of inconsistancies with US SEAD aicraft in general, but I thought I'd pose this question as it is the one I find most curious.

[Mobhack]

Popeye

SEAD planes can carry normal weapons (PGM, CBU, etc) as well as ARM.

Cheers
Andy

[thatguy96]

SEAD aircraft may carry normal weapons in addition or as substitutes to an ARM true, but the AGM-142 seems to be an interesting substitute seeing as currently the only carrier aircraft for the weapon in US service is the B-52H. I'm just curious as to how the AGM-142 was decided upon as the weapon to be modeled for this application.

[Mobhack]

SEAD aircraft carry ARM - it is the whole point of the class, otherwise players get confused when ARM-equipped ordinary strike planes wander off from the intended target point and offload on a ZSU-23-4. No SPMBT SEAD planes have zero ARMs (until all expended, when they operate as normal strike planes of course). And having a separate class allows the AI to chose these types planes for SEAD tasks when picking forces as well.

As to why that particular missile is on that particular plane - you would need to ask the designer(s) of the USA OOBs over the last 5-6 years or so.

Cheers
Andy

[thatguy96]

Well in this case I'm confused. There is an ARM weapon class (weapon class 16). The AGM-142 is not a class 16 weapon (it is class 17, a PGM). Unit 920 in the USA Obat, an F-35 JSF which is a class 214 SEAD aicraft has a weapon load out of 1 27mm Bordkannon (a class 11 weapon; weapon number 195), 2 AGM-142 (a class 17 weapon; weapon number 214), and 2 sets of 2 500 lb Paveways (a class 17 weapon; weapon number 212). Thus we have a SEAD aircraft with no class 16 weapons. This is the same with units 587 and 904 (again both F-35 JSFs) in the USMC Obat.

The AGM-142 is not an ARM in real life nor is it an ARM in game, which means these aircraft are Class 214 SEAD aicraft with no ARMs.

[Mobhack]

Which is a database error - we will need to adress this in the future patch.

Cheers
Andy

[thatguy96]

Okay, this is why I was confused. I'll just wait until the patch comes out to worry about any more of these issues. I'm sure a lot of these things will be corrected.