DCS F-16C | How does laser handoff from a Stormcaster drone actually work in combat testing? Flew the AGM-65D val/ver mission in Sentry Pacific 25 M5
Mission 5 of Sentry Pacific 25 has one of the most unusual setups I've flown in DCS: you're acting as a USAF Test Pilot validating whether the F-16C Litening pod can acquire a laser spot designated by a Stormcaster drone — the drone is airdropped from a C-130 into R-7201 and operated from a boat by AATC Special Warfare guys. Your job is to val/ver (validate & verify) the laser acquisition, then fire AGM-65D Mavericks for test completeness. What made it interesting tactically: - You need line of sight to the drone's laser, so altitude matters more than usual — climb as high as the cloud layer allows - The test card parameters are strict: this isn't a CAS mission, it's a precision test environment - You also need to hit the tanker on the East track for AAR currency before heading to the IP outside R-7201 - Intel notes Chinese Navy/Air Force still probing the area, so situational awareness stays high even during a "test" sortie Flew the full mission including the tanking and the 4-shot Maverick sequence (Stache takes first two, you take the last two). Video with all the procedures if anyone's curious about the R-7201 range setup:
https://linktw.in/xtdsEq <<< YOUTUBE LINK❤️
