Communication

Radios

Selecting a Radio

Radio selection and audio volume are controlled through the communication system control (CSC) panel (Figure 3-1). Radio selections are also made with the radio select switch located on the pilot collective control head (Figure 3-2).

Adding or Editing a Channel

1. Select B4 to activate the COMM page.
2. Choose the radio you want to manipulate by selecting L1 to L5 (except L4)
3. Select R1 “ADD” to enable the Data entry at the bottom of the page
4. Fill the index of the radio
5. Fill the frequency
6. Fill the name or leave it empty and select the enter key

Deleting a Channel

1. Select B4 to activate the COMM page.
2. Choose the radio you want to manipulate by selecting L1 to L5 (except L4)
3. Select R2 “DEL” to enable the Data entry at the bottom of the page
4. Fill the index of the radio

Editing Frequencies from the Remote Frequency Display

1. Press the KYBD button from the pilot’s collective or the left knee of the copilot.
2. Fill the frequency on the active selected radio and channel
3. Press Enter to validate it

 

Improved Data Modem (IDM)

Overview

The Improved Data Modem is a subsystem of the CDS that handles data communication between aircraft. It is accessed using the Hands On Grip User Interface (HOG) and allows for messaging, target sharing, situational awareness on the battlefield and calling in fire support.

Special Controls

The HOG interface uses the Copilot Cyclic Grip controls for navigation and selection of menu items and has some specialized behaviors. The HOG interface is only accessible from the Copilot’s MFD.

Frame Freeze/Target Select / HOG ON/OFF

The MMS Frame Freeze/Target Select button is used to toggle display of the HOG UI. This feature is not accessible when the MMS Frame Freeze/Target Select button has another use, such as when using the Acquisition On The Move sub-mode.

MMS FOV - Wide Toggle Up 2x > 4x / HOG Menu Item Scroll Up & MMS FOV - Narrow Toggle Down 2x > 4x / HOG Menu Item Scroll Down

The MMS FOV input serves to scroll selection up or down when the HOG UI is active.

MMS Point-Track On / HOG Menu Selection Confirm

The Point Track input is used to confirm selection of an item in the HOG UI. The outcome of selection depends on the menu item selected.

Changing Callsign ID

Each aircraft spawns with an ID based on the callsign they have been assigned in the mission editor. This can be changed to make it easier to distinguish different aircraft in mission.

1. Display the HOG UI by pressing Frame Freeze/Target Select / HOG ON/OFF on the Copilot Cyclic Grip
2. Navigate to ‘OTHER FUNCS’ using the MMS FOV input
3. Select ‘OTHER FUNCS’ by pressing Point Track
4. Enter the ‘USER STAT’ page using the MMS FOV input and Point Track inputs
5. Select the option under ‘USERNAME’. The menu will automatically activate Data Entry Mode and a cursor will appear
6. Input your desired ID using the MFK and press Enter
7. Successful validation will update your ID and deactivate Data Entry Mode
8. Close the HOG UI by pressing Frame Freeze/Target Select / HOG ON/OFF on the Copilot Cyclic Grip

Sending a Position Report (POSREP)

A Position Report is an auto-generated message that includes your current position. Recipients can store the position as a Target Point for navigation.

1. Open the HOG UI
2. Select C2 MSGS
3. Select OWN POS
4. Select MOD HEADER
5. Select RECIPIENTS
6. Select the recipients for your POSREP message by highlighting and selecting the IDs available. Selected recipients will be marked with an asterisk.
7. Once the desired recipients have been selected, select BACK
8. Select BACK a second time to return to the SEND page
9. The first three recipients selected will now be displayed under the message subject header. Select CONFIRM SEND to send the message
10. The SEND STATUS page will be displayed and the message will be broadcast to the selected recipients. When the send process is complete, the top level page will be selected

Receiving a Message

When you receive a message from another player, an advisory will be displayed in the lower left of the MFD indicating the message type. The message will then be available in your inbox to open.

1. Open the HOG UI
2. Select INBOX
3. Select the received message from the list.

INFO
Depending on the message type, different actions may occur Fire Support requests will automatically display the relevant MMS page to view the mission data and accept the fire mission C2 messages will display the received text and subject, with various options such as target storing and replying being available depending on the message contents

Sending a Free Text Message

Free text messages allow a custom input message to be sent.

1. Open the HOG UI
2. Select C2 MSGS
3. Select FREETXT
4. Select MAN ENTRY
5. Data Entry Mode will be activated on the first available line. There are seven free lines that can accept up to 16 characters using the MFK. Each line can be confirmed by pressing Enter or selecting the next line
6. When the message is complete, select SEND
7. Select MOD HEADER
8. Select RECIPIENTS
9. Select the recipients for your POSREP message by highlighting and selecting the IDs available. Selected recipients will be marked with an asterisk.
10. Once the desired recipients have been selected, select BACK
11. Select BACK a second time to return to the SEND page
12. The first three recipients selected will now be displayed under the message subject header. Select CONFIRM SEND to send the message
13. The SEND STATUS page will be displayed and the message will be broadcast to the selected recipients. When the send process is complete, the top level page will be selected

Sending a Predetermined Free Text Message

The Free Text category offers a number of alternative preset messages that can be used to issue or respond to orders and allow the inclusion and sharing of Target Points. These include the ‘MOVE TO’, ‘HOLD AT’, ‘RDVZ AT’, ‘MOVING TO’ and ‘HOLDING AT’ messages. The process for each type of message is the same.

1. Open the HOG UI
2. Select C2 MSGS
3. Select FREETXT
4. Select MOVE TO
5. Select CHANGE TGT
6. Data Entry Mode will be activated below the TARGET ID line. Entering a valid Target Point ID will add the target data to the message
7. Select BACK
8. Alternative: Select MAN ENTRY
9. Data Entry Mode will be activated below the MOVE TO line. Any data may be entered and will be displayed to the recipient (e.g. ‘FARP’) however a entering a valid UTM position will allow the recipient to store the position as a Target Point
10. Select BACK
11. When the message is complete, select SEND
12. Select MOD HEADER
13. Select RECIPIENTS
14. Select the recipients for your message by highlighting and selecting the IDs available. Selected recipients will be marked with an asterisk.
15. Once the desired recipients have been selected, select BACK
16. Select BACK a second time to return to the SEND page
17. The first three recipients selected will now be displayed under the message subject header. Select CONFIRM SEND to send the message
18. The SEND STATUS page will be displayed and the message will be broadcast to the selected recipients. When the send process is complete, the top level page will be selected

 

Sending a Spot Report (SPOTREP)

A Spot Report allows for sending of target data to other aircraft. A Target Point must have been stored in order for a Spot Report message to be sent.

1. Open the HOG UI
2. Select C2 MSGS
3. Select FREETXT
4. Select SPOT
5. The SPOT page will automatically populate with the data from the first available target starting from 99T down
6. To choose another Target Point, select the target ID at position 2
7. On the LOCATION page, use the MMS FOV inputs to cycle through the stored Target Points. The Target Point UTM position is displayed above. Selecting the Target Point using Point Track will return to the previous page
8. The target data can be modified by selecting the TYPE/AFFILIATION entry at position 4. This will present a series of pages that allow the user to select the target quantity, type, sub-type and affiliation
9. The target’s activity status can be changed through the options presented by selecting the item at position 3
10. When the target data is complete, select SEND
11. Select MOD HEADER
12. Select RECIPIENTS
13. Select the recipients for your message by highlighting and selecting the IDs available. Selected recipients will be marked with an asterisk.
14. Once the desired recipients have been selected, select BACK
15. Select BACK a second time to return to the SEND page
16. The first three recipients selected will now be displayed under the message subject header. Select CONFIRM SEND to send the message
17. The SEND STATUS page will be displayed and the message will be broadcast to the selected recipients. When the send process is complete, the top level page will be selected

 

Storing a Target Point from a Received Message

Depending on the type of message received, a position may be available to be stored as a Target Point.

1. Open the HOG UI
2. Select INBOX
3. Select the received message from the list.
4. Select MSG ACTION
5. If the message contains a position that can be stored, the option STORE TGT will be displayed
6. Select STORE TGT
7. Select the position to store. Selected positions will be indicated by an asterisk
8. Select STORE
9. Data Entry Mode will be activated on the STORE AS item. Entering a valid Target Point ID will exit Data Entry Mode and return the user to the MSG ACTIONS page