Paveway II Delivery Profiles - Buddy-Lasing - Medium Altitude - Circling (19/x)

In the previous post, we discussed the Wedge and Trail profiles, highlighting the trade-off between optimal lasing geometry and maximum survivability.

This final part covers the Circling profile, a method that fundamentally shifts the tactical priority toward target acquisition and persistent surveillance. We will see that there are two main variants, "Omnidirectional" and "Directional".

The previous assumptions remain true:

• by default, the SHOOTER will fly the standard medium-altitude level delivery profile;

• positive altitude staging will be the primary means of deconfliction.

I. Omnidirectional Circling

I.1 - Description

The Omnidirectional Circling profile is the most straightforward application of orbital tactics. In this profile, the LASER aircraft establishes a continuous 360° orbit around the target at a constant radius, typically around5 Nm, creating a persistent oversight of target area. While the LASER orbits, the SHOOTER holds in a safe area, generally 10 to 15 Nm from the target, ready to commence the attack run. This distance allows for a rapid transition to the release point. For extended holding, the SHOOTER can reduce speed to increase playtime but must anticipate the distance needed to accelerate back to release speed.

Maintaining an uninterrupted line-of-sight is a key technical consideration for the LASER. The aircraft's fuselage can obstruct the TGP's view, and the pod's mounting location dictates the optimal turn direction. For example, since the F/A-18 Hornet's TGP is typically mounted on the left side of the aircraft, a counter-clockwise orbit will maximize its field of view and ensure a more consistent track on target.

Once the LASER has acquired the target and the attack is cleared, the SHOOTER ingresses on the pre-briefed heading. This profile is easy to execute, and deconfliction is simple, maintained procedurally by the LASER's predictable orbit and strict positive altitude separation.

The omnidirectional circling is very easy to execute, requiring minimal coordination between the SHOOTER and the LASER.

Note: this profile is called "omnidirectional" because both the SHOOTER and the LASER can be in any relative position during the attack.

I.2 - Tactical Balance

This profile offers unparalleled battlefield awareness but is best suited for permissive environments.

Since the LASER can orbit for very long periods over the target area, we easily understand that the primary advantage is the persistent surveillance it provides. The continuous orbit allows the LASER to build detailed situational awareness, track moving targets, and support multiple attacks or re-attacks from various axes without resetting the formation.

But this advantage is at the same time the main drawback of this method: the predictable, repetitive flight path makes the orbiting LASER highly vulnerable to modern air defense systems, rendering this profile unsuitable for high-threat environments. Additionally, keep in mind that this profile is only suitable for "flat" or "omnidirectional" targets, that is to say targets that can be lased from any direction without risk of hiding the LASER spot to the weapon's sensor.

Also, this method will require a good ability to manage target masking, particularly during the last seconds before the attack: if the LASER is too close, or too fast, he might be forced into a hard turn in order to keep a good target lock. This maneuver can be dangerous if the pilot is focused in the cockpit and forgets to look outside regularly. In addition, vestibular Coriolis effect can add up to the disorientation in such circumstances. It is therefore highly recommended to "pilot the masks" well in advance, and make sure that you will be in a position to keep a good and stable track on target during the whole duration of the attack. In general, easing the turn and going slightly further away before bomb release will enable you to turn slightly towards target after bomb release, making it easier to avoid the masks in the front hemisphere.

Tactical Balance of the Omnidirectional Circling.

II. Directional Circling

II.1 - Description

While very similar to the previous profile, the Directional Circling method, also known as the "4 minutes circling", is a more procedural and synchronized technique designed to coordinate the SHOOTER and LASER with minimal radio communication. The aim is to ensure that the LASER is placed along the SHOOTER's final attack heading during the lasing phase, and particularly just before impact.

The Directional Circling profile is similar to the Omnidirectional Circling. The only difference is that the two aircraft must synchronize in order to make sure that the lasing will occur along the SHOOTER's Final Attack Heading (FHA).

In order to reach this synchronization, the LASER will give a call (at least) 4 minutes before estimated bomb impact. Once the LASER made that call, its job is to focus on time management and ensure that he'll release the bomb as close as possible to the announced TOT.

Important note: the "4 minutes" call is considered as "4 minutes to impact", and not as "4 minutes to bomb release".

The SHOOTER's role is primarily to be prepared to adapt to the "4 minutes" call in order to be along the SHOOTER's FAH at the end of the illumination phase.

II.2 - Practical tips

The question of time management would deserve a full article of its own. But since it's here a mandatory skill for attack success, it's worth giving you a few practical advice.

II.2.1 - The SHOOTER

For the SHOOTER: it is recommended to set up a holding pattern with a reference point (RP) located 2 minutes from target. At 15,000ft and 450 kt IAS, the RP should be 18 Nm from target.

The SHOOTER can establish a standard 4 minute holding pattern, with the "hot" leg towards the target. The "4 minutes" call will therefore come at the end of the "cold" leg. If the SHOOTER was holding at reduced speed to maximize playtime, he will have to take into account the acceleration phase in the hot leg to make sure that he will leave the RP at the correct release speed.

II.2.2 - The LASER

On his side, the LASER needs to be able to reach the desired lasing direction 4 minutes after the call. We can break down his options into 4 situations:

1. At the "4 minutes" call, he's already around the SHOOTER's FAH: he just has to fly a gentle standard 4 minutes circle around the target. At 350 kt IAS and 15,000ft, a 30° bank angle will result into a 1,5°/sec turn, and therefore a full 360° turn in 4 minutes.

   

2. At the "4 minutes" call, he's 90° after the FAH. The remaining 270° will take him 3' to complete. He needs to loose 1 minutes, by extending 30" away in one or another direction.

   

3. At the "4 minutes" call, he's 180° after the FAH. The remaining 180° will take 2' to complete. He needs to loose 2 minutes, by extending 60" away in the current direction.

   

4. At the "4 minutes" call, he's 270° after the FAH. The remaining 90° will take 1' to complete. The best option is to make a hard 360° turn in 3 minutes, in order to end up at the current position 1 minute before impact. It's recommended to start with a hard turn, that can be eased in the last part of the 360° turn in order to manage timing more precisely before the last 90° turn.

   

Notes:

• the "4 minutes" call is a minimum. Using 5 or 6 minutes is acceptable; 4 minutes is a compromise between speed and simplicity.

• habitually training to fly a 4-minute circling profile builds familiarity with the parameters (altitude, speed, bank) and reduces in-mission workload.

• the example parameters (350 kt IAS / 15,000 ft / 30° AoB / ~5 NM radius / 4-minute 360° turn) are easy to remember. You can prepare several parameter sets for different circling altitudes. Since TAS is the controlling factor, flying around 450 kt TAS at different altitudes is a practical rule of thumb; convert IAS→TAS as required.

• the attached table will let you determine the angle of bank / turn radius / rate of turn for a given TAS.

True Air Speeb / Bank Angle / Rate of Turn / Turn Radius table.

II.3 - Tactical Balance

The precise, procedural approach described above offers unique advantages at the cost of flexibility.

Tactical Balance of the Directional Circling.

On the positive side, we can note that as for the standard circling method, the LASER will keep good track on the target area at all times, making this profile particularly suitable for moving targets. Similarly to the Trail buddy-lasing profile, it will also be particularly suitable in case of poor weather and difficult terrain, or whenever a given lasing direction is obstructed (eg: smoke due to previous attacks).

If in that case the targets are not limited anymore to "flat" targets that can be lased from any direction, the increased difficulty of time synchronization requires good training in order to be performed successfully in operational context. We also need to acknowledge that this profile is poorly suited to dynamic situations. If the tactical picture changes rapidly, adjusting the rigid 4-minute cycle is difficult and cumbersome.

Conclusion:

You now have a working knowledge of medium and high-altitude buddy-lasing circling profiles and their respective strengths and weaknesses. Think of these profiles as tools in your kit: just pick the best one for the tactical situation of your mission.

The next and final step of this never-ending series will be a similar systematic study of the low level buddy-lasing profiles. Only then will we be done for good on this topic!