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en/dev-docs/ah64d/34.tads-targeting-modes.md

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+# TADS TARGETING MODES
+
+The TADS may be utilized with several targeting modes to assist the Copilot/Gunner (CPG) in performing targeting
+operations against enemy target locations. Targeting modes consist of Linear Motion Compensation (LMC), Image
+Auto-Track (IAT), and Laser Spot Track (LST). These targeting modes reduce the workload of the CPG when
+using the TADS but do not directly affect the operation of any weapon system on the aircraft.
+
+
+### Linear Motion Compensation (LMC)
+
+Linear Motion Compensation provides additional stabilization of the TADS to compensate for linear movement of
+the aircraft or the target.
+
+When LMC is disabled, the slew rates of the TADS turret are based on raw
+input magnitudes received from the force-sensing Sight Manual Tracker
+(MAN TRK, also called the “thumb force controller”) on the TEDAC Right
+Handgrip. When no force is applied to the Sight Manual Tracker, the
+angular slew rates of the TADS turret are dampened in azimuth and
+elevation. When thumb force is applied, the TADS turret slew rate will
+increase as the force magnitude increases and will correspondingly
+decrease as force magnitude decreases.
+
+![LMC Indicator](img/img-324-1-screen.jpg){ align=left }
+
+When LMC is enabled, indicated by the presence of the LMC Indicator
+around the TADS Line-Of-Sight Reticle, angular slew rates of the TADS
+turret are maintained until modified by CPG input or alternate steering
+commands by the TADS electronics themselves. When no force is applied
+to the Sight Manual Tracker, the angular slew rates of the TADS turret are maintained. When thumb force is
+applied, the TADS turret slew rate will increase at a rate corresponding to the force magnitude applied to the
+Sight Manual Tracker.
+
+LMC automatically converts angular rates based on the current range value utilized by the TADS to compensate
+for motion parallax. As the range increases or decreases, the LMC will automatically adjust the TADS slew rate
+to maintain the calculated angular velocity at the corresponding range. As targets that are closer in range will
+have a higher angular rate compared to targets further away, the LMC will increase the TADS slew rate to
+compensate. In addition, angular rate gains from Sight Manual Tracker input force magnitudes will accordingly
+scale based on the current range value.
+
+
+![Linear Motion Compensation for Motion Parallax](img/img-324-3-screen.jpg)
+
+### Image Auto-Track (IAT)
+
+IAT is an automatic tracking mode that allows the TADS to automatically maintain the Line-Of-Sight (LOS) Reticle
+on battlefield targets. Unlike the previous generation of TADS in which the IAT tracking logic relied purely on
+object contrast amongst its background, the digital tracking logic within the M-TADS uses the scene content
+within the video source to lock onto distinct features.
+
+Additionally, the digital IAT will automatically enter an inertial track and “coast” in the event weapons fire, smoke,
+obscurance, or explosions on the battlefield interfere with its ability to maintain track. This inertial track logic
+prevents the M-TADS from locking on to an unintended target or nearby object when a break lock occurs, which
+was characteristic of previous versions of TADS that functioned purely on contrast tracking.
+
+When the IAT/OFS switch on the TEDAC Left Handgrip is momentarily set to the IAT position, an track is initiated
+on the target underneath the TADS LOS Reticle. When this occurs, a set of four brackets, called the Primary Track
+Gates, are placed around the tracked object, a Track Number is placed below the tracking gates, and the total
+number of tracks is updated in the top right corner of the TADS symbology.
+
+![](img/img-325-1-screen.jpg)
+
+1. **    Image Auto Track Primary Track Gates.** Indicates the primary tracked target. When the TADS LOS
+       reticle is within the boundaries of the Primary Track Gates, the gates are bolded.
+2. **    Image Auto Track Aim Point.** Displayed within the Primary Track Gates to indicate the precise location
+       the IAT will maintain the TADS LOS Reticle after the track is established and when returning the LOS Reticle
+       from an offset position.
+3. **    Track Number.** Indicates the assigned track number for the primary tracked target.
+4. **    Total Number of Tracks.** Indicates the total number of tracked targets, out of a maximum of 3. (See
+       Multi-Target Tracker for more information.)
+
+Once a new primary track is established, the TADS will automatically maintain the LOS Reticle over the IAT Aim
+Point until a slew is commanded. If the Copilot/Gunner (CPG) inputs a slew using the Sight Manual Tracker, the
+TADS LOS is released from automatic slewing and may be manually slewed until the TADS is commanded to
+return to the primary track using the OFS position of the IAT/OFS switch.
+
+The specific functionality of the IAT/OFS switch will vary depending on whether the TADS
+LOS Reticle is within the boundaries of the Primary Track Gates, signified by the gates
+themselves becoming bolded. Additionally, the commanded function when set to the
+OFS position is dependent on the duration of the press.
+
+
+![](img/img-326-8-screen.jpg)
+
+
+When the LOS Reticle is within the boundaries of the Primary Track Gates, the following commands apply:
+
+- IAT position will update the Aim
+     Point location within the Primary
+     Track Gates to the current
+     centroid of the TADS LOS Reticle.
+
+    ![ ](img/img-326-7-screen.jpg)
+
+- OFS position for less than 0.5
+     seconds will delete the primary
+     track.
+
+- OFS position for greater than 0.5
+     seconds will delete all tracks.
+
+
+
+
+![TADS LOS Reticle inside Primary Track Gates](img/img-326-2-screen.jpg)
+
+
+When the LOS Reticle is outside the boundaries of the Primary Track Gates, the following commands apply:
+
+- IAT position will establish a
+     new primary track and initiate
+     automatic slew for target
+     tracking.
+
+
+    ![](img/img-326-9-screen.jpg)
+
+
+- OFS position for less than 0.5
+     seconds will return the TADS
+     LOS Reticle to the primary
+     track’s Aim Point and initiate   
+     automatic slew for target        
+     tracking. A subsequent press
+     to the OFS position prior to
+     arriving within the Primary 
+     Track Gates will revert to
+     manual tracking.
+
+- OFS position for greater than 0.5 seconds will delete all tracks.
+
+![TADS LOS Reticle inside Primary Track Gates](img/img-326-10-screen.jpg)
+
+Additional details regarding the Image Auto-Track are shown below.
+
+- Target tracking is only performed in one TADS sensor at a time. If a track is established while the selected
+     TADS sensor is set to FLIR, the track will continue to be tracked within the FLIR camera, even if the CPG
+     selects DTV using the Sensor Select switch on the TEDAC Left Handgrip, and vice versa.
+
+- Once a primary track has been established, the TADS turret may only be slewed to the extent that the
+     primary track can be maintained within the current optical field-of-view of the TADS sensor within which the
+     automatic tracking is being performed.
+
+- Target tracking is limited to objects that occupy between 0.75% to 50% of the tracking sensor’s field-of-
+     view. If the object being tracked is too small or too large within the current optical field-of-view, a track
+     cannot be established, and an existing track will switch to inertial tracking.
+
+Due to the combination of these factors, FLIR is better suited for maintaining multiple tracks due to its wider
+field-of-view, especially for tracks that are widely spaced on the battlefield, or for retaining the primary track
+within the field-of-view when a significant offset slew is desired. However, the DTV is better suited for maintaining
+tracks at longer range due to its higher magnification levels.
+
+### Multi-Target Tracker (MTT)
+
+The M-TADS digital tracker is capable of maintaining an image auto-track on up to three separate targets, a
+single primary track and two secondary tracks. When being used in this manner, the tracking and slew logic and
+the IAT/OFS switch functions remain the same but are only referenced to primary track.
+
+![](img/img-327-1-screen.jpg)
+
+1. **Primary Track Gates/Track Number.** Indicates the primary tracked target and track number.
+2. **Secondary Track Flag/Track Number.** Indicates the secondary tracked target(s) and track number(s).
+3. **Total Number of Tracks.** Indicates the total number of tracked targets, out of a maximum of 3.
+
+Any time a new track is established, the new track is designated as the primary track, and the existing primary
+track is demoted to a secondary track. An existing secondary track may be promoted back to primary track at
+any time using one of two methods.
+
+- Manually slew the LOS Reticle over the desired track and momentarily press the IAT/OFS switch to the IAT
+        position. This will promote the secondary track under the LOS Reticle to primary track, update the Aim Point
+        of the new primary track, and automatic slewing will be performed until another secondary track is promoted
+        or the Copilot/Gunner inputs a slew using the Sight Manual Tracker. (See TEDAC Left Handgrip for more
+        information.)
+
+- Set the MTT Promote switch to the + or – positions to promote the secondary tracks to primary track in a
+        cyclic pattern. When a secondary track is promoted to the primary track using the MTT Promote switch,
+        the TADS LOS Reticle will be slewed to the Aim Point of the new primary track and automatic slewing will
+        be performed until another secondary track is promoted or the Copilot/Gunner inputs a slew using the
+        Sight Manual Tracker. (See TEDAC Right Handgrip for more information.)
+
+#### Inertial Tracking
+
+In the event weapons fire, smoke, obscurance, or explosions on the battlefield interfere with the automatic
+tracking of the primary or secondary tracks, the track will enter an inertial tracking sub-mode. In this mode, the
+track will “coast” along its previous path for a short period before the track is dropped altogether. If the track is
+reacquired while in inertial track, automatic tracking will resume.
+
+![Inertial Gates](img/img-328-1-screen.jpg)
+![Low Confidence Gates](img/img-328-2-screen.jpg)
+
+- If the primary track has switched to inertial tracking, the Primary
+     Track Gates will be replaced by the Inertial Gates. After 5 seconds
+     of inertial tracking, the Inertial Gates will be replaced by the Low
+     Confidence Gates.
+
+- If a secondary track has switched to inertial tracking, the
+     Secondary Track Flag will become dashed to indicate inertial
+     tracking. After 5 seconds of inertial tracking, the Secondary Track
+     Flag will become dotted to indicate low confidence.
+
+- If the track is not reacquired within 10 seconds of inertial
+     tracking, the track will be dropped and “TRK # DROP” will be
+     displayed in the Weapon Inhibit Status field, where # is the                             number of the track that has been dropped.
+
+    ![Inertial Track Flag](img/img-328-3-screen.jpg)
+
+If the primary or secondary tracks are forced outside the TADS field-
+of-view, the Primary Track Gates and/or Secondary Track Flags are
+replaced by bars along the edge of the video to indicate the location of
+the tracks relative to the TADS field-of-view.
+
+- When a track has been forced outside the TADS field-of-view, a
+     solid bar will be displayed along the edge of the TADS video with
+     the associated track number.
+
+- After 5 seconds of inertial tracking, the bar will become dashed to
+     indicate low confidence
+
+- A bracket will be displayed next to the bar to indicate which track
+     is the primary track.
+
+![Inertial Track Bars](img/img-328-4-screen.jpg)
+![Low Confidence Bars](img/img-328-5-screen.jpg)
+
+### Laser Spot Track (LST)
+
+The LST may be configured to search for and track pulsed laser designations using standard PRF codes
+independently of the ownship’s LRFD code. The Laser Spot Tracker is enabled using the LT switch on the TEDAC
+Right Handgrip. When set to the A position, the LST is enabled and set to automatic mode. When set to the M
+position, the LST is enabled and set to manual mode. When set to the O position, the LST is disabled.
+
+!!! NOTE
+    The TADS laser rangefinder/designator (LRFD) cannot be fired while the LST is enabled.
+
+When the LST is employed, the Multi-Target Tracker will continue to perform automatic tracking of the primary
+and secondary tracks if the respective tracks remain within the optical field-of-view of the TADS sensor. However,
+if the tracks are forced outside the TADS field-of-view while LST operations are being performed, the tracks will
+enter inertial track, and may eventually be dropped.
+
+
+#### Automatic Mode
+
+When the LST is enabled in the automatic mode, the TADS will enter a continuous, 4-bar azimuth/elevation scan
+pattern until a laser designation matching the PRF code assigned to the LST is detected, or the LST is disabled.
+Once a matching laser designation is detected, the TADS will slew to and track the laser designation. If the laser
+designation is lost, the TADS will resume the 4-bar scan.
+
+!!! NOTE
+    It is advisable that the LST be disabled prior to instructing the designating platform to cease lasing. If the
+    laser designation is lost before the LST is disabled, the TADS turret will resume the 4-bar scan pattern.
+
+In addition, when slaving the TADS to an acquisition source, the LST should be disabled prior to disabling the
+SLAVE function to ensure the TADS is not inadvertently slewed from the intended location by the 4-bar scan in
+automatic mode, or if a matching laser designation is detected in automatic or manual mode.
+
+![LST 4-bar Automatic Scan Pattern](img/img-329-1-screen.jpg)
+
+
+
+#### Manual Mode
+
+When the LST is enabled in the manual mode, the Copilot/Gunner retains manual slew control of the TADS turret
+until a laser designation matching the PRF code assigned to the LST is detected. Once a matching laser
+designation is detected, the TADS will slew to and track the laser designation. If the laser designation is lost,
+manual slew control of the TADS turret is restored.
+