WinterH

Eh, so long as it gets carrier peeps happy and let us get the variant the matters, the E, I'm ok. It's not like people aren't taking off and landing from carriers with non carrier capable aircraft in DCS. The only thing that REALLY matters is getting a 1975+ F-4E ^_^ if we only get a naval Phantom it would be so incredibly disappointing and pointless as far as I'm concerned.

First off, if your radar is on, you will be seen on RWRs in search mode, but fi0 mode will not result in any lock or launch warning (aside from on aircraft with missile launch detectors, which are A-10C, JF-17 I think, Mirage 2000 if allowed in mission, and upcoming Apache and Blackshark3). In BVR mode, if your radar is OFF and IRST on, you can lock and shoot targets using any IR missile and they will not get any warning (again, unless it's an aircraft with a MAWS). However, your IRST uses a laser rangefinder, so aircraft with a LWR will get a warning, like Ka-50, and I think also the upcoming Apache. Helmet sight, if used with radar off will not result in any RWR warning. Again though, if an aircraft has a MAWS that'll still go off when you launch a missile.

Eventually, I want them both in DCS! But I'm very happy for the Fitter tease, as it's been one of the top aircraft I've wanted in DCS for many years. They would actually complement each other with a MiG-27K. Su-17/22 for more payload and endurance, also depending on version a lot more SEAD options, MiG-27K for Kaira optical targeting/lasing system.

To be fair, a Fitter would... well... fit for Syria, Iraq, Iran, think at some point Egypt used them too but those were older variants I believe. Also, in Soviet service, they were the staple of Afghanistan campaign, which is rumored to be a teased map in latest ED vid :).

Replying here to avoid discussion in SilverDragon's news/unofficial roadmap thread... Shape of the wings, position of pylons, location and number of wing fences, roundness of the fuselage, what seems like small intakes for systems further back the fuselage, what seems like a round main nose intake with a spike like nosecone etc all point to Su-17/22. Which was also kinda what seemed like under the tarp in previous new year tease image too.

My point of view as well. I came to accept and embrace DCS as first and foremost a simulation of cool aircraft, from anytime, anywhere and that's what I enjoy in it. As far as I am concerned, focusing on historical wars/theaters/periods/campaigns at the expense of other things that could be made but doesn't fit, would be huge loss. That said though, it doesn't need to be 100% this or 100% that. I'd still love Battle of Britain aircraft added for example. As aircraft are built, things slowly add up. Also Razbam seems to make lots of fitting AI assets for their South Atlantic map, with the intent of turning many of them into flyable modules later on. For me, very clearly, this doesn't take away from realism as implied in thread's title in any way, nor do I believe it to be a requirement to stick to realism. As long as depicted aircraft is done with utmost realism possible, I'm happy. Similarly, as long as I can make scenarios in mission editor, simple and complex alike, I don't think boring cockpit simulator thing really occurs, at least not that dramatically. All that's really needed to make that even better is arrival of famed dynamic campaign imo.

Among what's shown in the video, the (hopefully) F-4E tease at the end, and eventual A-6E. Besides those, hopefully dynamic campaign finally. As for the modules, I really hope we can get to experience F4U Corsair and Mirage F1 in coming weeks/months :).

Yeah, there isn't even a vague hint for a MiG-27 from anyone yet. A MiG-27K is among my greatest wishes in DCS right now. Hopefully someday

What Morrow said above. This looks like an invalid weapons config. Easy rule of thumb: Missiles + one type of unguided weapon. There are a few configs that flexes this rule a bit and still work, but if you take missiles + only one rocket type, or only gun pods, it'll work fine. If you try to mix S-13s and/or S-24s with other rockets it still won't work. If you mix S-5s and S-8s, or different kinds of S-8s, they will work, but you will lose automatic sight (ccip-like pipper) Or, like said above, stick with premade loadout options.

MiG-21Bis we have is more capable than those served in Vietnam war (though some may argue it's also somewhat less agile, which I'm not sure if I agree). A-6 and A-7 we are getting will almost certainly be post Vietnam too, with much better capabilities than those in Vietnam. I would hope, same goes for the F-4. Later 70s and 80s is a great period for DCS and it is getting filled up. Even MiG-19 and UH-1 aren't quite the right versions but they are close enough to roleplay Vietnam era birds I guess. For the rest, you'll need to wait for Leatherneck's F-8 which seems to be quite a bit in the future from now, and hope Red Star Simulations can really pull it off with their MiG-17 and become a new DCS dev. F-4 really isn't just about Vietnam, and it doesn't need to be either. Like others have said F-4E has a long and rich history worldwide. It still serves in Greek and Turkish air forces, albeit in heavily upgraded forms. But mostly standard F-4Es still served up until some years ago. Iran still operates F-4Es too.

^This, nowadays Combined Task Force Blue and Red both have access to all liveries for all aircraft. So it's a good way to check what liveries are available for anything

Now I wanna run tests too Thx for the post. As far as I know (not sure tho), GSh-30-2K does not use high penetration sub caliber rounds like 2A42 can, but even then Stryker and AAV does strike me off as potential anomalies, even BMP-2 feels too much tho. Bradley may perhaps be able to resist 30mm AP at that range frontally, not entirely sure.

F-4E and A-6E

A few months ago this was, again, reversed. As far as I know, the latest is, we are still getting Blackshark 3, with Iglas, missile warning system, new external 3d, but no DIRCM system as originally planned. I believe new 3d model is visible in the opening of recent 2022 and beyond video.

Do take a look at this mod: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3315543/ https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3315544/ It's in two parts, but I've found it to be pretty nice, did use it with a friend for a while to fly the A-4 from and didn't have issues. It's not a USN carrier, yes, but a set of small carriers that nicely represent A-4's home in Australian, Argentinian, and Brasilian services.

ARN-101 upgraded ones, I would say, are significantly different from Vietnam birds. However, pre-ARN-101 Block 53 should be post Vietnam enough for people like me, and could be fitted into a Vietnam era bird role for people like you. So I guess it is the "happy medium" as far as F-4E versions go. It would have Mavericks, Shrikes, Paveway LGBs, GBU-8 (but sadly not GBU-15), and Pave Spike daytime only TGP, as well as all air force Sidewinders from 70s to mostly likely all aspect 80s missiles. Like Northstar98 said, ARN-101 replaces old analog navigation and bombing computers with a new digital unit. So feels like it would indeed significantly alter the experience and capabilities. As for Vietnam birds vs post-Vietnam birds in general, I'm of the mind strictly leaning towards post-Vietnam is the right choice for DCS as it is. later 70s-80s is a great era to fill up, and there are a lot of existing and upcoming stuff from that period, and in a pinch they can even serve as underdogs in 90s scenarios with appropriate support. Vietnam war is a very interesting period, yes, but I don't see DCS having nearly enough stuff to properly support it at this point. But then, I also understand the argument that for that support to happen, they need to start somewhere. I still see it that any thing that is made in strictly Vietnam level is a loss where we could get the later version instead which would, in my opinion, add more to the sim as it is. I think "a version that fits both to Vietnam, and a post-Vietnam environment" is even more difficult for naval Phantoms right? Did they have a look-down radar already in the war? All these discussions make me realize one thing... F-4 is very much a prime candidate for a A-10C II or Blackshark 3 kinda treatment some years down the line.

Oh, I for one, would love that so much, been wanting them in DCS since forever! Besides, an emil would be a decent playmate for I-16 too.

You really seem to be out of date These days A-4E mod has mostly (perhaps fully?) working radio, can do aerial refueling, and has a pretty nice custom EFM flight model. For me personally it's more of a free module than a mod at this point to be honest. Edit: oh and also make sure checking out the bombing computer after updating (weapon mode to CMPTR position, select slick bombs, radar in AG mode, sight zero degrees depression, put the sight on your intented target, press and hold pickle, computer will release the bombs at the right moment to hit, you can also pull up to level flight as you hold the pickle)

I'm pretty sure F-4 we get will most likely be a later 70s or maybe even an 80s bird. Only the earliest F-4s had an IRST, which as far as I know didn't prove to be much good, and quickly made away with in following versions. That said, upcoming F-8 and MiG-23MLA should both have IRST sensors as far as I know. As for the topic of this thread, Heatblur already gives us a module with F-14B, F-14A early and late, and a very early Iranian F-14A. That's 4 variants already. I'd much rather see them make different aircraft. Much, much later down the line after they give us multiple new airframes, and if relevant information became available, then maybe why not. Rather than seeing more and newer F-14s, I'd love to see multiple different F-4 variants for example. Or perhaps to see them tackle a Soviet era bird like Su-17 or MiG-27. Or Draken, Jaguar, etc.

F-104, F-105. Also I think it's not entirely clear from just the pipper whether it'd be F-4E or other variants. Pretty safe bet that it was teasing the phantom and not the other two though.

I know, but I still feel like Q1, which is 3 months mind you. Wags doesn't show every module as far as I can recall, at least when it comes to 3rd party ones.

I do personally think it will be Q1 '22.

It was removed intentionally as this variant apparently didn't have that ability IRL. Need to use differential braking now.

Just want to say that I've been having this since 2.7 came with Nvidia DSR too. I'm stuck with a craptacular old 1440x900 monitor, but was using the sim in 1920x1200 with DSR prior to 2.7 just fine. Since then, regardless of full screen or not, DSR won't work anymore.

That would, of course, be entirely counter-productive Which isn't the point being argued. Point is, a post-Vietnam F-4E can fit into a lot more potential scenarios, threat levels, types of operations, a certain period of coming of age in multirole aircraft tech, while still being ostensibly able to play the part of an older one with a few restrictions. It had the same radar and defensive bits as far as I can tell. Depending on when exactly, even the engine can be the same.