How effective are the ECM pods?

[Hangar200]

I read in a post how much work and research the F-4E team did wth regard to the ECM pods. Additionally the RHAW gear is very cool and works great.

That said…I've been flying a SAM busting mission against the TACPACK SA-2 - trying out the different ECM pods…and getting shot down on a regular basis.

So what is the deal? Do you wait until you get a SAM spike before you start jamming? Or before? Once an ECM pod is on, what is it virtually doing to the virtual SAM radar?

[JonathanBleeker]

Are you turning on the ECM pod in the rear cockpit from the ECM panel just to the right of the radar? It should start emitting when a spike comes up. The work you are referring to that we did on the jammer pods is not the code, but the modelling/painting. The ECM system code we use is a simple noise jammer from TACPACK, and it is the only one offered by TACPACK. It won't prevent you from getting shot down, but it will delay the SAM's acquisition of you so you will get a lot closer to the emitter before it fires. It isn't going to make you invincible but it will make your life a little easier in avoiding SAMs in order to hit your target.

[DISCODAN]

Any plans to integrate the AGM-88 just for the fun of it. I know it's not the F-4G : )

[Krazycolin]

Nope

[Hangar200]

Great! Noise jammer is perfect and now that I know how it virtually works–turn on before entering SAM envelope–I can rework some of my tactics. Thanks for the info!

UPDATE: I finally completed a SAM busting mission! - ECM and lots of chaff…BTW, where the heck is the chaff counter - back pit?