MMS

Overview

The Mast Mounted Sight (MMS) is a stabilized sensor suite mounted above the main rotor. It consists of a Television Sensor (TVS), a Thermal Imaging Sensor (TIS), and a Laser Rangefinder/Designator.

1. Tele Vision Sensor (TVS) Laser Range Finder Designator (LRF/D)
2. Thermal Imaging Sensor (TIS)

The TVS & LRF/D optics are able to share the same external lens by means of a beam splitter lens, whereas the TIS requires its own dedicated lens

• The MMS is controlled from the Copilot Cyclic Grip and the MMS Control Panel situated next to the Copilot’s MFD.
• The MMS has a variety of functions and modes that allow it to search, detect, locate and track targets.
• The MMS combined with the CDS and IDM allows for target designation and storage, handover and remote engagement.

The MMS can rotate +/- 190° in azimuth and

+/- 30° elevation relative to the aircraft heading and pitch.	 

 

Mast Mounted Sight System Control Panel

The Mast Mounted Sight System Control Panel contains inputs for controlling the MMS modes, video displays and Laser Rangefinder/Designator.

1. Laser Switch ARM/STBY/OFF.
2. Code List Switch. Displays the Code List page on the Copilot MFD
3. First/Last Switch. Not functional in DCS
4. MFD Symbol Intensity Switch.
5. MMS Symbol Intensity Switch.
6. Video Gain Switch.
7. Video Level Switch.
8. Video Focus Switch.
9. MMS Symbol Intensity Auto/Manual Switch. Not functional in DCS
10. Video Gain Auto/Manual Switch. Not functional in DCS
11. Video Level Auto/Manual Switch. Not functional in DCS
12. Video Focus Auto/Manual Switch. Not functional in DCS
13. MMS Mode Selector

Pages

MMS Page

Most MMS modes share common elements, these are detailed below. Specific symbology is detailed in the relevant MMS Mode chapter.

1. Heading Tape
2. MMS Azimuth Caret and Lubber Line
3. MMS Azimuth and Elevation Display
4. Narrow Field of View Constraints
5. MMS Crosshair
6. MMS Advisory Display

• L1. RNG. The R2 bezel displays the current status, selected code and last returned range of the Laser Rangefinder/Designator. Activation of the bezel will display the Laser Code List and allow selection of one of the eight laser code presets through successive presses of the bezel
• L2. MARK. Not implemented
• L4. VIXL LIST. Not implemented
• L5. NORM. Displays the current TV/TIS mode. When displaying feed from the TVS, displays either NORM or INV for normal or inverted display. When TIS is selected, displays WHOT or BHOT for white hot/black hot display. Pressing the bezel will cycle between the two modes for the current feed R1. AUTOCUE. Not implemented
• R3. RECORD. Not implemented
• R4. VTR CONTROL PAGE. Not implemented
• R5. DCLTR. Activation of the R5 key will cycle the declutter mode of the MMS display. On the first press, all MFD symbology will be hidden. A second press will hide both MFD and MMS symbology. A third press will revert to displaying all symbology

Laser Code List

 

Laser Codes Page

The Laser Codes Page is activated by pressing the Laser Code List button on the MMS Control Panel. This page allows the edit to set the eight preset laser codes.

Pressing a bezel will activate Data Entry Mode on the selected Laser Code, allowing entry of a new code preset.  

Modes

Stow

When the STOW position is selected using the MMS Mode Selector, the MMS slews to the travel position and prepares for shutdown. The MMS may be shutdown once the advisory ‘STORE COMPLETE’ is displayed by moving the MMS Mode Selector to the OFF position.

 

Preflight

The Preflight mode is for performing setup and tests of the MMS system such as bore sighting the laser rangefinder/designator. These operations are not necessary in DCS World and so the Preflight mode is largely non-functional.

 

Pre-Point

The Pre-Point mode is one of the three operational modes of the MMS. Pre-Point mode will slew the MMS to a selected Waypoint, Control Point or Target Point. The desired point can be entered into – and selected from – the Pre-Point list.

 

1. Pre-Point Cursor. Indicates the position of the designated point. If the designated point is off-screen, indicates the relative direction to the point

• R2. PPT. Selecting this bezel displays the Pre-Point dialog and activates data entry mode. Repeated selection of the bezel will cycle the selected list item. Upon entry of a valid Waypoint, Control Point or Target Point ID, the point will be entered into the selected list item. The Pre-Point list will close after 5 seconds of the last key activation, and Data Entry Mode will be deactivated.

 

Forward

The second of the three operational modes of the MMS, Forward mode will slave the MMS to the aircraft’s heading. When in Forward mode, the elevation can be trimmed using the MMS Slew LOS input, however changing the MMS azimuth will break the MMS out of Forward mode and into Uncommanded mode.

 

Search

Search mode is the last of the three operational modes of the MMS. Search mode consists of two sub-modes: Sweep Search and Point Search. The sub-mode can be toggled using the L2 bezel.

Sweep Search

The Sweep Search sub-mode slews the MMS azimuth back and forth between defined search angles. The angles and speed of search can be adjusted using the bezel keys.

• L2. SWEEP. Indicates the selected Search sub-mode. Activation of the bezel toggles between Point Search and Sweep Search
• L3. SLOW. Displays the selected sweep speed. Toggles between SLOW and FAST
• L4. SWEEP ANG. Pressing the L4 bezel cycles between the available sweep angles R2. OSET. Cycles Sweep Offset between 90° left, center and 90° right. Selected offset is boxed

Point Search

The Point Search sub-mode slews the MMS between entered Waypoints, Control Points and Target Points. The MMS will dwell on each point for a specified amount of time before slewing to the next point in the list. Up to four points can be entered.

1. Search Point List

• L2. POINT. Indicates the selected Search sub-mode. Activation of the bezel toggles between Point Search and Sweep Search
• L4. DWELL. Displays the current Dwell Time in seconds. Selection of this bezel key activates Data Entry Mode and allows input of a Dwell Time
• R2. PT. Pressing R2 displays the Search Point List and activates Data Entry Mode. Successive presses cycle items in the list. Upon entry of a valid Waypoint,

Control Point or Target Point ID the currently selected list item is designated with the entered point  

Manual

The Manual mode of the MMS can be accessed from any of the MMS operational modes by toggling the Manual/Slave button on the Copilot Cyclic Grip. Manual mode provides stabilized slew control over the MMS using the MMS LOS Slew input, and is also a required intermediary mode when switching to or between any of the three operational modes.

 

Uncommanded

The Uncommanded ‘mode’ can only be entered in certain circumstances by ‘breaking out’ of another mode or incorrect use of the MMS. The MMS is considered uncommanded when not in any other mode, and this is communicated to the user by the lack of mode advisory text in the MMS display. When the MMS is uncommanded, stabilization is disabled and slew inputs are not smoothed. The MMS can be brought back to a commanded mode at any time using the Manual/Slave button on the Copilot Cyclic Grip.

 

Point Track

The Point Track mode is a sub-mode of Manual mode that is accessed by pressing the Point Track button on the Copilot Cyclic Grip. Upon activation of the button, the MMS will attempt to locate and lock onto an area of high contrast within the MMS field of view. This is displayed in real time using the gate symbology that expands and, if a target is found, is displayed around the area of high contrast. When the track is completed, the MMS will slew to the target location and maintain a lock until the target is either obscured or otherwise lost from the field of view. Point Track can also be accessed from Area Track and Offset Track modes by pressing the Point Track button. Point Track can be exited at any time by pressing the Manual/Slave button to return to Manual mode. Point Track is an entry point to the Acquire On The Move and Offset Acquire sub-modes.

1. Primary Gate

Area Track

The Area Track mode will lock the MMS to the current bearing and elevation. Area Track mode is a sub-mode of Manual mode and can be accessed by selecting the Area Track button on the Copilot Cyclic Grip. Area Track can be exited at any time by pressing the Manual/Slave button to return to Manual mode. Area Track is an entry point to the Acquire On The Move sub-mode.

 

Acquire On The Move

Acquire On The Move (ACQ OM) is a sub-mode of Area Track or Point Track that allows for the designation and acquisition of up to six simultaneous contrast locks. Acquire On The Move is entered from Area Track or Point Track by pressing the Area Track button. Upon activation, the crosshair will change and the Acquire On The Move diamond will be displayed. Using the MMS LOS Slew input, the user can slew the diamond cursor over targets where it will automatically establish a track upon release of the LOS Slew input. Selecting the Area Track button will allow for successive tracks.

The last selected targe will be displayed in the Transition Target Gate (thick box), denoting it as the Transition Target, while other targets are displayed in Secondary Target Gates (thin box). Using the Target Select Switch on the Copilot Cyclic Grip, the user can select which target is the Primary Target. Pressing the Point Track button will designate the Transition Target as the Primary Target, and the MMS will slew and establish a Point Track lock onto this target. Pressing Manual/Slave will eliminate all tracked targets from the display.

In order to access the Offset Acquire sub-mode from Acquire On The Move, the Transition Target Gate must be eliminated. This can be done by cycling the Transition Target until no Transition Target Gate is displayed.

1. Acquire On The Move reticule
2. Acquire On The Move diamond cursor
3. Transition Target Gate
4. Secondary Gate

Offset Acquire

The Offset Acquire sub-mode is accessed from Point Track and Acquire On The Move modes by selecting the Point Track button. Entering Offset Acquire enables the Laser Hit Point reticule, which can be slewed using the MMS LOS Slew inputs. The Laser Hit Point reticule displays the location at which the Laser Rangefinder/Designator will be fired, allowing for designation or ranging of an offset location from the current MMS target. The offset Laser Hit Point location is relative to any track and so will maintain a relative position to a moving target.

1. Laser Hit Point reticule  

Offset Track

The Offset Track is a sub-mode of Offset Acquire which slews the MMS to the Laser Hit Point reticule. Offset Track is entered by pressing the Point Track button while in Offset Acquire mode. Pressing the Point Track button a further time will return to Point Track mode.

 

Target Locate Mode

Target Locate is an intermediate mode for storing targets as Target Points. Target Locate is activated by pressing the Target Designate switch on the Copilot Cyclic Grip. When in Target Locate mode, the user can locate the target using the Laser Rangefinder/Designator. This will attempt to determine the position of the desired target. When the position has been determined, the symbology changes and the options to store the target are enabled.

1. Target Position

• L3. STORE MORE. Activation of the L3 bezel displays the Hands On Grip User Interface (HOG) menu system for target storage
• L4. STORE. Pressing L4 stores the target at the displayed index (e.g. 97T). Target metadata reverts to defaults
• L5. REJECT. Rejects the target and exits Target Locate mode