On this page
Unfamiliar word? Select a dotted-underlined term for its meaning.
Open the options
- Press the default Escape key to open the game menu, then choose SETTINGS → RADAR OPTIONS.
- Find PASSIVE EW, ATMOS CLUTTER and RW OBJ CLUTTER. Check which are active before changing anything.
- Select one available option once to reverse its setting. Return to the same map area and compare the result. Use BACK to leave the submenu.
- If the keyboard behaves differently, check your saved key assignments. Do not change several settings together if you want to understand which one made a difference.
What do these words mean?
Clutter means extra marks you do not want when looking for aircraft. The game draws simulated clutter; every mark is not a tracked aircraft. A sweep is the moving radar scan display. Passive EW means listening for signals emitted by other equipment; see the bearing guide and the diamond-symbol guide.
Which option should I change?
| Option | What it controls | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| PASSIVE EW | The game’s passive electronic-warfare information. | Use the EW guides to understand bearings and diamonds. Turning an information layer off does not identify the aircraft for you. |
| ATMOS CLUTTER | The simulated atmospheric clutter-dot display. | Compare the same station and area before and after. This is a game display option, not a weather forecast. |
| RW OBJ CLUTTER | Simulated clutter associated with mapped real-world objects. | Extra map returns are not automatically aircraft. This option is separate from ATMOS CLUTTER. |
Why is PASSIVE EW locked?
On a profile set to Hard, the menu shows PASSIVE EW (LOCKED) and does not let this button change the setting. A lock means this control is unavailable; it does not tell you which aircraft a symbol represents. Check the profile difficulty rather than repeatedly clicking the locked option.
Clutter and radar power are separate
Turning one clutter option off can leave the other on. The settings menu keeps clutter enabled when either option is enabled. Right-clicking a ground radar marker also changes its normal/clutter/off state and can request clutter display. Keep a note of both actions if the picture differs from what you expected. Choosing a station in RADARS and toggling range rings are separate again.
Check a change without losing the context
Keep the same map position and station selected. Note the old setting, change one option and compare, then restore it if desired. If aircraft symbols disappear, use the missing-track checks; if only their text disappears, use datablock controls. For the real-world explanation, read weather and radar. Game clutter options do not replace that explanation.
If you suspect jamming
Hiding clutter is not a command to stop a jammer. Read the named radar and bearing in ASMA, then compare fresh sensor reports. The jamming guide gives the warning format, display checks and recovery steps.
Keep the intended clutter choices
In ordinary play, ATMOS CLUTTER and RW OBJ CLUTTER are remembered separately for the selected profile. There is no extra Save button for these choices. After a lesson, or if the picture differs when you enter another session, check the selected profile and both switches in Escape → SETTINGS → RADAR OPTIONS. Do not assume that your earlier clutter choices have returned. To keep the choices you want for ordinary play, select them again in an ordinary session, then use BACK and compare the same map area.