Kev2go

yes bigger differences with newer block. People seem to be drawing comparison of recent features. But purely from screenshots alone we can't tell all that, and although not yet announced i'm not holding my breath for such a late enough tranche for many of those more advanced A2A weapons or an IRST pod. So likely the only real difference will be the skin, and therefore interchangeable with what EF user you want to play purely on changing the skin.

so how is the german EF different from the English ones besides having different paint scheme and/or markings? because seeing the WIP EF screenshots with Luftwaffe markings thats the only noticeable difference to me between the RAF one.

Yea, it seems the proper A/G capabilities started with Tranche 2. Although Tranche 1 block 5 is said to have introduced some initial A/G functions, unfortunately i think the block 5 is only really able to carry LGB's for buddy lasing. Im not even sure the EF can use unguided GP bombs at that point in time?

considering that veao left, it is pleasant to know someone else was able to get a license to make a EF simulation. EF was not something i was thinking about as being anywhere near the top of my personal wishlist but certainly will be something i very much purchase. This should be a a dream to fly. great maneuverability, and a T/W that should be even better than the Viper

Im wondering is it a new 3rd party OR any of the currently existing ones making the EF?

Forthe "salute" option can we expect ED to create a visible pilot animation like HB did for the tomcat?

both are 50% off so with the current sale its a good time to get both . Although the harrier is a unique due to VTOL capabilities it does have some limitations being a dedicated CAS jet. The hornet is a multi role fighter. It is not only capable for A2A roles, in air to ground it is still more flexible in its employment for A/G missions besides CAS compared to the Harrier due to wider variety of guided munitions. So due to purely due to being a faster jet with greater role versatility i say between the two i would still choose the Hornet. Edit: since some have suggested the F16, I would also say that the Hornet is more feature complete. the Hornet is still better bang for your buck than the Viper as of now. and still arguably so even when both are feature complete since F16 aint getting JASSM, the Hornet will still be king in terms of standoff muntions.

I remember way back when razbam said the AGM65G was just a placeholder until ED made the AGM65F for the Hornet. Since the Agm65F has been on the hornet for some time now, when can we expect razbam to replace AGM65G and port over the AGM65F for integration on the Harrier?

The basic F5E-3 , and as the type operated by USAF, USAF or USN Aggressor units never used Aim120's or AGm65. If anything the F5E aught to be remodeled into two separate F5E( F5E-3 USAF, and or F5E3 Swiss/ and/ or F5N USN) allowing F5 module to have INS and digital radio set on top of what it currently has but that's about it.

I would like to think the Plus would come first, or be more likely because of cockpit and many other avionics functionality being shared with AV8B N/A and due to similarities between APG65 radar and APG73 on ED's Hornet. a New FM and new 3d model is needed but thats still time saved in development relative to a totally different harrier derivative requiring everything done from scratch. AS Razbam said way back when N/A was announced that they would have already went towards developed the plus if only ED had A/G code ready. And i agree having a more fleshing out jack of all trades ground attack is very nice. However even so the Radar on the harrier won't truly make it a fighter. Harrier plus is a very poor mans fleet defender. Itl come at the case of extra weight ( worse T/W and climb and worse turning.) and harrier N/A is already a relatively slowish subsonic jet. I dont think Razbam would be able to find new enough documentation to get AIm120 operating procedures for plus as they were only integrated into USMC operated harriers 2011 at earliest. So if PLUS happens it will likely be a pre 2011 model and thus have no BVR capability. Although Radar has advantages as you can have the radar to slew AIm9's or to provide gunsight computed gunnery solutions. Even if did get AMRAAM, it wouldnt be able to match the standoff distance of a Hornet let alone a viper because as we know launching them at higher speeds allows missile to be lobbed further. In my experience flying N/A it its quite overrated as a dogfighter. Its a much chunkier boi than the older sea harriers and GR1/3's which most harrier fans seem to refer when talking of dogfighting. If a Harrier is not armed with Aim9's , I find its actually easier to dogfight and win with a F86F or Mig15 against a av8b N/A than it is for N/A to win Against those, let alone a Hornet. granted N/A it lacks radar aid to provide guns solution, so there is that.

This :D ( good timing when it was posted btw heh)

ITs similar, but there are some slight differences aside form being the older APG65 radar. the APG65 radar antenna in the harrier had to be scaled down due to size constraints. the radar antenna only 23 Inches as opposed to 28 in the Hornet. According to the tactical manual the Harriers APG65 radar can do up to EXP 3 zoom along with medium resolution SAR . That I find very interesting, when apparently it was thought only the APG73 radar after Phase 2 upgrades got such capacity. Any noted differences can be adjusted from relative source code from Hornets radar based on source documentation pertaining to the harrier

Its a more recent adoption. From sources i found Aim120 was not implemented operationally until as recent as 2011 for the usmc. Don't know if razbam can get documentation that recent. The most recent tactical manual i ever came across was from 2002. Any AIm120' employment procedures are not documented or listed as an authorized weapons store at this point in time.

F35 is a next generation multirole platform . F22 already exists as a 5th gen stealth air superiority fighter. F15X is an overhaul in avionics, relative to the current eagles, but til never be stealth gen 5 aircraft with low observable RCS. Perhaps the USAF might just buy F15EX's as to compliment the USAF fleet and repalce some older Strike Eagles, but itl never be an F35 contender either in sales or actual role. Maybe Boeing will have better luck marketing a spit and polished 40 year old aircraft via FMS to nations that are restricted from the F35 for political reasons. this was the same argument that was probably made every time new technology came about, Why replace X with Y when Y is 30 or 40 years old and combat proven? Because technology changes and if you fall behind, you will suffer against an adversary that has progressed further. If this was the logic actually put into application then there would never be progress. Stealth isn't just nice to have, but it is a necessity for any future conventional conflict to have an advantage ( at least for now when stealth aircraft aren't so common yet) IF Stealth wasn't important, other nations that are regarded as adversaries to the USA wouldn't be building their own gen 5 stealth fighters.

Maybe hornet pilots fly the hornet because they like it, not because they want the most capable jet. . Not all viper drivers have the hornet, and not all horent drivers have the viper. Some have both and other aircraft because they literally like collecting and flying al forms of aircraft. And with the Jeff the red force do have a study sim module within the same ballpark of the hornet and viper. It's not like anyone "needs" any aircraft. They just want to fly it. The f35 certainly is a fascinating aircraft. However considering this isnt a online arcade avaiation mmo,, exact forced balance is not a prerequisite for a study sim. EVEN aircraft that are within a comparable ballpark in avionics and mission roles, are not the same. Many aircraft are dissimilar. As similar as viper and horent are on the mission types, they are pretty dissimilar in they way they are flown against one another.

Ed still needs modules to make profit. And they said a new project will be announced within March. Doubt its gonna be the phantom given certain keywords they used, but there is something already brewing.

Though both require crew/teamwork mindset the pilot does have more control in the F4E than in the tomcat. In the F4E pilot does at least have close canopy switch, and armament selector panel, and i think the pilot can still guide in AGM65's or bullpups ( hand control stick in the pilots pit) if need be. In the tomcat pilot can';t so much as wipe his rear end with toilet paper without assistance from the RIO :D Of course best multiseaters, are the ones where the pilot is control and can do just about everything as if they were a single seater ( F/A18F and F15E) , and the backseater is just there as a ridealong, maybe to manage only the boring repetitive stuff no pilot wants to do, like radios, or manually input coordinates. You know just enough to keep em occupied, and feeling as if they are needed ;)

yes hopefully ED delays in releasing the next patch having nothing to do with the corona virus. P.S besides right now is not a good time to be spending on modules anyways. wanna save your money, for the obvious price hike we can expect due to the recent Toilet paper crisis. Ih hear the new fear index..... is in the toilet! its understandable, no one wants to be isolated at home only to have nothing to wipe themselves with after a trip to the potty. Now that would make for a good horror flick! Toilet paper > non perishable food. AMIRITE!?

And? In a certain case the higher price tag for a non partner nation, still came lower than projected to another competitors. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-aerospace-belgium/belgium-picks-lockheeds-f-35-over-eurofighter-on-price-idUSKCN1MZ1S0

How is rambling on and obsessing about about cost overruns of the projects development pertinent to how this aircraft is going to or not going to be in DCS?

Not to mention you need even better hardware. I heard people with 2080s complain the still need to lower some settings to get better fps.

Except that the f14 never got a substantial upgrade until the f14d. F14a is only a few years apart from the f16 by initial service dates but was designed around 1960s technology, whereas the rest of the teen series were based around utilizing the best available technology during thier development, furthermore being lucky to in a timeframe where the digital revolution was happening. Whereas f14 production ceases by 1990, f16 is still produced to date. Further more f14 did not get a significant upgrade until the f14d, whereas f16 and other teen series got continual upgrades ever few production lock furthers by regualr intervals continual power production upgrades. This really shows when comparing the hornet and viper. So I disagree the analogy of an old woman still stands. The tomcat didnt age gracefully. Edit: Also to note And f16 phase is only really happening with the usaf, and it's very slow gradual process. The ang will still be expected to be rocking vipers for decades to come, and are already investing $$ for modernization to include aesa radars. The ang in the past have and still have deployment overseas, so it's not like the f16s will just fly around in circles stateside, and never have any further potential to see combat use.

People seem to forget how long link 16 development and implentation took. Jtids was expected to go operational by the late 80s immediately after f15c's msip 2 upgrades. Rebranded under link 16/mids which essentially took until the 21st century before any fighter were using it operationally., never minding standardizing it upon NATO and making further refinements. Already link 16 is deemed dated, not just from a gen 5 perspective, but even from its generatio it is realized that even last gen fighters need more a modern follow up to link 16.

There is no skewing anything. You just used dated price listings. People make the same mistaking citing 18 mil pricetag on the f16c. This was the same old bs arguments and criticisms brought up any time a new mission platform comes online. " But but x aircraft that just came about is more expensive and has had developmental issues, and does not have same xombat readiness than ( now dated) y aircraft that is 30+ years mission proven." Like with the f15. People seem to forget the f15 today is not the same old daddy's f15a. that went off the production line in 76 with pre PSP apg 63 radar. Just as the hornet program going into the 80s. So the story with f35 is just history repeating itself but in the information age. The fm had the same stance and lost any shred credibility long ago. F35 is currently combat ready platform. And an excellent one at that. It's still arguably the most successful gen 5 multi-role fighter, especially if you try to find any other foreign aircraft program remotely in the same class as the f35. But hey old memes never die, and some will only ever obsess and keep rambling on about the negatives at every chance they get.

Few years ago. Perhaps Now its only 78 - 115 million.