Evoman

Why not just upgrade to your GPU with something affordable? You can currently find a used RX 580 8GB for around $100 on ebay.

I totally agree that DCS is lacking a good naval trainer. As a matter a fact it has been brought up several times before that DCS needs to add a free trainer of some sort to be included with the free DCS download. And what better choice than something that is carrier capable like the T-2 Buckeye or A-4. I think that having a carrier capable aircraft included with DCS would really attract more interest in DCS as a whole and other carrier capable modules for sale. What ever work that would be need to make it happen would not only pay for its self but many times over by the increased sales it would generate.

+ 1 This is the second thread I have seen requesting this. It should also include the green dye that the raft releases to make it easy to spot from the air. This reminds me of this classic scene from Top Gun when Goose is killed when they had to eject over water.

I highly recommend everyone seeing this S-3 Viking documentary to not only refresh your knowledge but to learn of how much more versatile the S-3 really was. There really has not been any other aircraft that is carrier capable that has so many capabilities like anti-submarine warfare, aerial refueling, surface surveillance, surface warfare and electronic warfare. Even I was was surprised to find out that its versatility came in very useful during dessert storm.

It seems like the new current DCS ecosystem of expanded naval operations is really going to make the S-3 Viking capabilities very useful. The S-3 would be be the only aircraft that can do anti-submarine warfare, aerial refueling, surface surveillance, surface warfare and electronic warfare. And on top of that it can operate off carrier decks. It even has a built in APU capable of unassisted starts.

I have come across several comments on youtube and other forums including this one of people that are not interested in the typical combat missions. But they still like to fly in DCS because of the high fidelity flight model that DCS has to offer. Most of them just like flying from one airfield to another. So don’t you think something like the S-3 Viking, C-2 Greyhound or E-2 Hawkeye could lure that customer base and attract new ones to DCS because they would actually be attracted to a non-combat aircraft that would offer them a mission set that they would actually find interesting. Just because you don't see a market for the Viking does not validate that there might not actually be market for it. It’s no different than saying that there is no market for wagons in the US market because SUV’s are the top sellers. But then that thinking is proved wrong by the Subaru Outback. Military is not only about combat. Many military flights are boring long hours loiters, where nothing happens at all. Fighters alone have not won any war. Besides DCS already has many combat jets, a few trainers and even an aerobatic airplane the Christian Eagle but not one support fixed wing aircraft.

Now that DCS has Submarines that got me thinking that now its the perfect time to introduce a sub hunter like the S-3 Viking. Plus it could also serve double duty as an Ariel refueling tanker as well.

I agree that one of the first things that DCS needs to do is update the engine and world to support more core functions. Because as is DCS can only support the simulation of up to two engines. So before any multi engine heavy aircraft even can be considered DCS needs to be updated to support it.

Your bottom line question leaves me confused as to way are you even asking it unless DCS is the only modern game/sim you have played in the last decade. The times when games were hardly updated and the code pretty much stayed the same are a thing of the past. Most new games are updated on a regular basis. Even games like the Sims 4 which has a huge modding community is constantly updated to the point of breaking mods. This leaves only the best modders around that stay on top of things with updates to their own mods. Some of the best mods I have seen automatically detect a change in the version of the game when its stated and it generates a message saying that an update is necessary. It even goes as far as linking you to the site for the update.

I totally agree with this statement. The times when games were hardly updated and the code pretty much stayed the same are a thing of the past. Most new games are updated on a regular basis. Even games like the Sims 4 which has a huge modding community is constantly updated to the point of breaking mods. This leaves only the best modders around that stay on top of things with updates to their mods.

I totally understand why you and many others have wished for more 4th gen Russian jets over the years. But unfortunately for the very reasons for which you mentioned the situation is what it is. I am sure that ED is well aware of the situation and are eagerly waiting for a change to allow them to move on. In the mean time we are just going to have to make due with 3rd gen and lower scenarios now that DCS will be getting the MIG-23. We are all just going to have to be patient for the Red forces to be slowly rolled out.

The chart does not seem to be perfect or complete but its the best I have seen as far as layout. Unfortunately the chart is missing several older Naval aircraft like the F-8. I actually found the F-14B and Viggen to be just right for my taste. The F-14A would probably be ideal for you when ever it gets added.

Here is a good chart that puts all of the combat aircraft in perspective to their generation. I would like to see the rest of the Gen 3 airplanes come to DCS to complete the set. Then they can start working their way back to Gen 2.

We would all love to be able to fly our favorite modern jet. Unfortunately I have also come to terms of the reality that it is just not that easy for any developer to make a full fidelity simulation of modern military aircraft with classified systems. So I would rather prefer DCS to focus on developing the older jets first for which they can more realistically and easily obtain the necessary licenses. Then if in the mean time they get granted a license to do something more modern they could also also work on that.

The current E-2C is being replaced by the E-2D as we speak. So maybe there could be a chance to develop the E-2C if not the E-2A. The B to C was pretty much an engine upgrade. But it has been discussed before that many would be happy with a flyable Hawkeye with a generic radar model if it is not possible to model the classified radar systems.

It would be cool to have a the V-22 but because it is still so new it would be far more difficult to gain the necessary permits and licenses to clear it for development. While the C-2 is older and being replaced by the V-22 it would be far more feasible to get a license. That is one of the main reasons why most of the DCS veterans are preferring older aircraft because they would be far more realistic and quicker to acquire a license and develop. See this recent thread for more info: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=262653 As reminder once again to those that are unaware of what it takes to just get a license read this announcement. https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/news/2019-11-29_Kiowa_Announced/ And as another reminder the the C-2 would help with the future development of the E-2 Hawkeye because it shares the same wings and power plants.

I like your idea and I think it would be a hit with those that have no interest in flying the typical armed combat mission. However there is currently one big limitation in DCS that limits the simulation of aircraft engines to only two. So until DCS is updated to support multi engines you are going to have to limit the list to twin engine planes. My first choice for a twin engine cargo airplane would be the C-2 Greyhound. It would be the only cargo airplane that could operate off carrier decks and would be a perfect fit for the current state that DCS is in with all of the new naval maps coming out soon.

The C-2 Grayhound would be great option as it would be the only medium cargo airplane that is capable of operating off carrier decks. And because of its simplicity the development time would probably be a lot shorter because it has no weapons or radar to model. Plus it would help with the future development of the E-2 Hawkeye because it shares the same wings and power plants as the C-2.

Last I heard about the F-4 was that work had began on its development but it was put on hold to do the F-16 first since there had been a huge crying/demand for the Falcon. Eagle Dynamic said they would pick back up development once they got the F-16 and F/A-18 squared away along with other projects in development like the P-47 and and Mi-24. By the way the particular model that was in development was the F-4E. https://belsimtek.com/news/1787/

Another benefit of having the Hawkeye in DCS is that it would make the development of the C2 Grayhound that much easier because they both share the same wings and power plants. Or vise versa, if the Hawkeye is not feasible at the time because of restrictions with the radar then the C2 Grayhound could be more easily approved for development. Plus the development time would probably be shorter then most because it has no weapons or radar to model.

I totally agree! We already have most of the aircraft that flew in the Korean war. Plus with the ongoing tensions with that part of the world it would be a popular map with anyone else curious to plan out what if scenarios.

From what I have found in a quick research is that the F-117 has still being spotted flying around in Nevada. Because the Nighthawk is such a unique platform they offer a valuable opportunity to serve as an ideal test bed for a variety of projects, such as developing new radars or materials or testing new sensors. They can also be used as an aggressor squadron to train at detecting stealth aircraft . So I don't see them being fully retired and declassified anytime soon. https://www.8newsnow.com/news/area51/i-team-f-117-nighthawks-still-being-spotted-in-the-skies-years-after-retirement/

While it would seem like a no brainier and easier to just upgrade the F-15, I feel like if it has not been done yet its probably for a good reason that is holding up ED from doing it. For now I have plenty to keep me busy for a long time mastering the F-14 and Viggen. But when ever the F-4 Phantom does eventually get released It will be a day one buy for me.

Eagle Dynamics has stated before that they will not be making anymore FC-3 level aircraft for DCS. But it might be a possibility for the new MAC game they are currently working on that will have aircraft with a more simplified control system to appeal to a larger audience. Kinda of like a more sophisticated ACE combat.

That was my first logical search option in the past but unfortunately it did not produce the results that I was looking for. But now after searching with the "Search titles only" I got the desired results. But it was still a bit tricky. They need to default it to search by titles only because that might be the root cause of why we are still seeing new threads created like this one from time to time of people stating that they tried to search before.