John Day

This is awesome news, thank you for your efforts.

If the development time of the AI Intruder is anything to go by (announced 2019), I don't honestly believe that the AI Draken (announced 2017) or Intruder will ever see the light of day until a full fidelity version is released.

I really don't understand how an AI aircraft can take twice as long as a Full Fidelity module to implement in game. The AI Draken was announced in 2017 and the AI Intruder was announced back when the Tomcat was close to release. How many full fidelity modules have been produced in that time ? Am I missing something here, are these AI aircraft some sort of internal joke ?

With the progress of the dynamic campaign being showcased, it got me thinking about logistics and repair. The dynamic campaign lends well to aircraft such as the C-130 and Chinook delivering bombs and missiles to bases as stocks become depleted, but what if they could transport aircraft components as well. If a repair system existed where you could take an engine that is being stored in a warehouse at an airbase and use it to replace a battle damaged engine, this would open up a number of gameplay opportunities. It would open up fleet management gameplay where you have to replace or repair damaged components using stores from your airbase inventory or if really desperate, robbing components from other aircraft. You wouldn't need to go crazy with the number of replaceable components, engines, wings, canopy, radome, undercarriage would be enough as a starting point. The other aspect that a more detailed repair system would bring is the logistics of transporting these components to where they are needed. I imagine something like this would not be easy to implement, but hopefully it will give ED ideas when thinking about enhancing the core game.

I agree, we have to accept what's out there, but no harm in asking I guess, especially as its hull is very similar to the Iranian Frigate IRIS Alvand that Admiral has created. Its a real shame, I purchased the South Atlantic map with visions of recreating the Falklands War, especially with all the assets that were teased during the maps development. Here we are a good number of years down the road with only 2-3 ships from that era, not to mention a whole tonne of missing AI aircraft from that period. The Admiral and many other modders like him do a great job creating as many ships as they can, but I guess they can only do so much, if only ED would help them but taking on some AI ships themselves or even giving access to SDK.

You make a fair point and thank you for explaining things a little deeper. Its is a shame that the technical aspects of ASW are a long way off, but should they get developed later on down the line, I am sure a Seaking would sell well, perhaps not as well as an SH-60, but nevertheless, still a solid module......... ooh, I've just had a thought, P-3 Orion, now that would be an interesting module !

Loving the Cavour, that is one interesting looking ship. Do you have any plans for ships from the Falklands War ? A Type 21 frigate or county class destroyer would be great for missions on the SA Map.

Ah a fellow modeller, I'm currently building up a collection of 1/144 Wessex, I even managed to bag a really old twin set of 1/144 Lynx from Fujimi.

Nah, Pumas, Wessex and Lynx are what you want for the Germany map !

I've got to be honest and say that I find that hard to believe. No other flyable aircraft in the game has anti-submarine capability, that feature alone (if fleshed out properly) would bring a whole new aspect of modern warfare to DCS. You also need to look at the maps you currently have and maps that are on the way, there is a Seaking for every map !! Lets take a quick look, Kola=Norwegian Seakings, South Atlantic=British Seakings, Iraq=British, US, Australian Seakings, Persian Gulf=US and Iranian Seakings, Top end Australia=Australian Seakings not to mention all the other maps where a carrier group could be used. Respectfully, I think you underestimate your audience.

I fear that ED are going to get grief no matter what they do. If they do a good job they will be damned for it being perceptively over powered and on the flip side, if it doesn't live up to what each player imagines an F-35 to be like, they will be damned again. As you say though, ED should at least be given the opportunity to try.

Yeah, perhaps I could have worded it better, I actually meant helicopter overload for the community more so than overload for ED.

Thank you for your reply, I totally understand what you mean by helicopter overload right after the release of the Chinook and Kiowa, however, I do feel that a Seahawk/Seaking are needed in the future to round out the carrier aviation experience. The possibility of an export SU-27 is pleasing to hear as FF REDFOR is lagging somewhat, but again, I understand that the Mig 29 takes priority. You mentioned more teams and teams that are specialised in certain areas, I wonder if you could tell me if there is a team for AI Aircraft and whether there are any plans to add AI Aircraft that are not currently represented in game ?

While I am not against the F-35A, I would have preferred if ED spent that development time on other aircraft that I feel would benefit the community more. Aircraft such as Blackhawk/Seahawk, Sepecat Jaguar, F-111, F-105, SU-27, Westland Lynx, Sikorski Seaking, EA-6B. Any one of these aircraft would add more value and playability to both current and future DCS maps.

Anyone can make a wish list of their favourite AI aircraft and to date I have not seen a single one added to the game. Because of this, I am going to approach my request by highlighting the number of current maps and potential maps that these AI aircraft would be suited to. Hopefully, this might highlight how much of an asset each of these aircraft would be for our enjoyment of DCS. General Dynamics F-111 ( Iraq - Top end Australia - Cold War Europe - Nevada - Vietnam ) Harrier GR3 ( Cold War Europe - South Atlantic ) KC-10 ( Cold War Europe - Iraq - Syria - Afghanistan - Nevada - Kola - Caucasus - Persian Gulf - Marianas ) F-105 Thunderchief ( Cold War Europe - Nevada - Vietnam ) Tristar KC1 ( Iraq - Afghanistan - Persian Gulf - South Atlantic - Cold War Europe - Kola ) VC-10 K3 ( Iraq - Afghanistan - Persian Gulf - South Atlantic - Cold War Europe - Kola ) Tornado F3 ( Iraq - Cold War Europe - South Atlantic - Kola - Nevada ) F/A-18E + G ( Iraq - Syria - Kola - Caucasus - Nevada - Marianas ) Sepecat Jaguar GR1/3 ( Iraq - Cold War Europe ) Westland Lynx ( South Atlantic - Cold War Europe - Iraq - Kola - Nevada - Caucasus ) Westland Puma ( South Atlantic - Cold War Europe - Iraq - Kola - Nevada - Caucasus ) Choctaw/Wessex ( Vietnam - South Atlantic - Cold War Europe - Nevada - Caucasus - Kola - Top End Australia ) CH-46 ( Vietnam - Cold War Europe - Nevada - Caucasus - Kola - Iraq - Syria - Persian Gulf - Marianas ) This list is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to aircraft not represented in game. I hope that by highlighting the theatres that these aircraft have operated in, that it will provide some emphasis on how sorely they are missing.