SOFLAM in BF3, what good is it?

[Droppin Deuces]

Why can't the Javelin be used on buildings?

[iareConfusE]

Why can't the Javelin be used on buildings?

Won't fire without a locked target.

[CmpsdNoMore]

I wish they would add something where maybe if you locked on for twice as long it would hit the vehicle from the top anyway. It's hard enough to lock on once and hold it, so I don't think it would be too much.

[Droppin Deuces]

Won't fire without a locked target.

This I know. What I don't understand is why you can't lock on to whatever you want.

[Droppin Deuces]

I wish they would add something where maybe if you locked on for twice as long it would hit the vehicle from the top anyway. It's hard enough to lock on once and hold it, so I don't think it would be too much.

I saw an interesting video on Youtube where a dude was demonstrating that if you point your launcher towards the sky just as it locks on, it will go straight up and come down on your target within a certain range. I do this all the time now and it works great.

[iareConfusE]

This I know. What I don't understand is why you can't lock on to whatever you want.

Game isn't as sophisticated as they would like you to think.

[Scratch705]

I saw an interesting video on Youtube where a dude was demonstrating that if you point your launcher towards the sky just as it locks on, it will go straight up and come down on your target within a certain range. I do this all the time now and it works great.

but does it do the same damage as a true top down attack or just makes it so it doesn't hit obstacles in the way?

[triplestack3]

the SOFLAM is a pile. MAV is 1000x more useful

[Scratch705]

they need to extend the range it can lock onto targets, or at least limit the bright red glare that the targets see to the same range that it can lock onto them.

cause having that red beam visible from beyond the range of effectiveness makes it more useless since they now know where you are and that you are using a soflam and then the potential of javelin attacks so they avoid that area or they start to do some long range shooting at it. the laser designator on the attack chopper or tank is more useful since on the chopper it auto locks anything in range and no red beam, same with the tank laser, the only warning the enemy gets is the usual lock on warning, but they don't know where it is coming from.

[Saber2Golf]

This I know. What I don't understand is why you can't lock on to whatever you want.

It's not necessarily related to the game, but I want to back you up on this: IRL, the Command Launch Unit for the Javelin will lock onto a window of a building. Really, anything with an IR signature that stands out sufficiently from the background is g2g.

And in relation to the game, considering the Jav is a higher tier unlock, it really should be more effective than an RPG-7 IMO. Long lock and reload times plus the 3-shot limit is balancing it enough without all the other issues.

[iareConfusE]

It's not necessarily related to the game, but I want to back you up on this: IRL, the Command Launch Unit for the Javelin will lock onto a window of a building. Really, anything with an IR signature that stands out sufficiently from the background is g2g.

And in relation to the game, considering the Jav is a higher tier unlock, it really should be more effective than an RPG-7 IMO. Long lock and reload times plus the 3-shot limit is balancing it enough without all the other issues.

That's why it's pretty much useless in the game. Why bother with locking on to vehicles when you can just fire and forget instantly around a corner with an RPG?

[bRiT636]

SOFLAM/ Stingers and Javelin are useless unless you have team mates...I shot 12 stingers at the same A 10 last night (as he was dog fighting) and it didnt register a hit.

[Droppin Deuces]

but does it do the same damage as a true top down attack or just makes it so it doesn't hit obstacles in the way?

According to the guy who made this video it does.

I've actually had some pretty good success with it since I started using this technique.

[Droppin Deuces]

That's why it's pretty much useless in the game. Why bother with locking on to vehicles when you can just fire and forget instantly around a corner with an RPG?

Because in most cases with the Javelin, you're working from a pretty good distance against moving targets. It's a much better weapon than an RPG in those instances being that it's a true fire and forget weapon.
Heck, you don't even have to fire it to make effective use of it. Just lock on and watch as the tank that is camping next to your M-com evactuates.