Lace

Hell yes. A must for central Germany & Iraq.

I've had a bit of time to digest the video now, and my feelings are a little mixed. The DCE is not going to be easy to showcase in a short video, but it looks like there has been a lot of work on the ground unit AI which is very welcome. F-15C is good news, I hope there will be more FC3 aircraft brought into full-fidelity, especially with the central Germany map. A-10A, I'm looking at you! F-35 was completely unexpected, as the difficulties of accurately modelling in service (and very high tech) aircraft are well known. As one poster already mentioned, there are probably as many lines of code in the F-35 as there are in DCS. Many of the sensor capabilities are classified, so best guesses will have to do, which honestly I'm ok with. I don't get the whole imbalance argument though. I know there are plenty of PvP players who keep score and like things 'fair', but in real combat if you find yourself in a fair fight, then someone screwed up the planning. Air combat is not some chivalrous fight like knights of old, it is lurking in the dark waiting to shoot your enemy in the back of the head without them even knowing you were there. Fair should never come into it. I'm a bit disappointed not to have seen more of some of the other 3rd party modules in development, I won't bother listing them as we all know what is coming in the pipeline, but it would have been nice to see some footage of them Central Germany looks great though, and at least it seems like they are making it temporally relevant, which is a nice change.

I could say the same about the whole WWII aspect. Complete waste of time and resources for me personally, I have no interest in FF red air either, oh and the Caucasus is geographically irrelevant to 90% of the modules we have, so why waste time and effort on that? However I appreciate I am not the only ED customer and different people want different things. NTTR is probably my most used map, and as much as I would like a refresh or expansion, ED have stated time and time again that it is 'feature complete' so it seems doubtful.

GR.3 would be a great fit for the Fulda Map. SHAR would be nice too though.

Yes indeed. The whole Iraq map is present, including the top (Kuwaiti) end of the Persian Gulf. The 'North' part of the title refers to the high detail area. Edit - Here is the map: The whole red area is present, the blue area is high detail.

Version 3 with Roland sites and Iraqi Army Corps positions. Desert Storm Template v3.miz

Mission attached with all SA-2, SA-3 and SA-6 sites. Updates to follow with Roland sites and other DMPIs. Desert Storm Template v2.miz

105s a bit 'modern' for Desert Storm, CBU-87 with CCIP and no TGP more realistic (the Hornet has Rockeyes as default), but whatever floats your boat. I deliberately kept the cloud base low which doesn't give you much vertical to play with. I just flew it through again tonight and there are a couple of tweaks to make, and that carrier landing is darker than the inside of a black cat, scary stuff. Not bad for a simple little mission though. I managed to incorporate all the new toys - fog, volumetric lighting, Iraq map, and copy & paste in the ME!

The remainder of displaced Iraqi ground forces are moving north from Kuwait towards Basra. They have set ablaze several hundred oil wells during their retreat. Any vehicles along MSR 80 within Kuwait or MSR 8 in Iraq is to be considered hostile and should be neutralized before they can regroup and engage coalition forces advancing from the Southwest. Designer notes: F/A-18As from VFA-15 flew from USS Theodore Roosevelt and engaged targets on the 25-27th February 1991 in what would become known as 'The Highway of Death'. This scenario is inspired by these sorties and is not meant to accurately represent any single mission or attack. Due to the limitations of DCS F/A-18Cs will be a stand in for As and DL & HMCS is disabled. The convoy is very close to WP3 and can easily be seen on A/G RADAR. Even though the southern part of the Iraq map does not feature any buildings it is still useable and has some decent textures. I think for this mission it works as is. Highway of Death.miz

As per the title please.

Overview of Iraqi Army units. https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=17rqXoQtRtrvw8Mdb58tRo_8dFh_geVY&usp=sharing II Corps 51 Mechanized Division (northernmost) Located around 29°54'N, 47°54'E Has a mix of SA-7b Grail MANPADS teams, SA-9b Gaskin SAM units, and ZSU-23-4 Shilka AAA units Forms the northern defensive belt 2 Infantry Division (central) Located around 29°39'N, 48°02'E Equipped with SA-7b Grail MANPADS teams and ZU-23-2 AAA units Covers the central sector 37 Infantry Division (northeastern) Located around 30°04'N, 48°17'E Similar equipment mix to 2nd Infantry Division Defends the northeastern sector Unidentified Infantry Division IV Corps (southwestern) Located around 29°30'N, 47°48'E Similar equipment to other infantry divisions Covers the southwestern approaches II Corps Assets Located around 29°49'N, 47°52'E Has heavier AAA with S-60 57mm guns and SA-9b Gaskin SAMs Appears to be corps-level air defense assets For a polygon enclosing all positions (in DMS format): Northwest: 30°09'45"N, 47°49'30"E Northeast: 30°10'15"N, 48°19'45"E Southeast: 29°24'45"N, 48°04'15"E Southwest: 29°25'15"N, 47°43'45"E III Corps 8 Infantry Division (southernmost) Located around 28°36'N, 48°03'E Equipped with SA-7b Grail MANPADS and M1939 37mm AAA batteries Defends the southern sector 7 Infantry Division (western) Located around 29°00'N, 47°33'E Similar equipment to 8th Infantry Division Covers the western approaches 29 Infantry Division (west-central) Located around 28°42'N, 47°42'E Similar equipment mix to other infantry divisions Defends the west-central sector 5 Mechanized Division (central) Located around 28°52'N, 47°54'E Has SA-9b Gaskin SAMs, ZSU-23-4 Shilka AAA, and SA-7b Grail MANPADS Controls central area 42 Infantry Division (central) Located around 28°43'N, 47°54'E Standard infantry division air defense 19 Infantry Division (eastern) Located around 28°54'N, 48°10'E Standard infantry division air defense 18 Infantry Division Located around 28°40'N, 48°15'E 15 Infantry Division Located around 29°16'N, 47°48'E 14 Infantry Division Located around 28°52'N, 47°38'E 11 Infantry Division Located around 29°07'N, 48°05'E 3 Armored Division Located around 29°07'N, 47°51'E Has SA-9b Gaskin SAMs, ZSU-23-4 Shilka AAA, and SA-7b MANPADS III Corps Assets Located around 29°03'N, 47°44'E Has S-60 57mm guns and SA-9b Gaskin SAMs as corps-level assets For a polygon enclosing all positions (in DMS format): Northwest: 29°19'00"N, 47°31'30"E Northeast: 29°13'15"N, 48°19'45"E Southeast: 28°36'15"N, 48°07'30"E Southwest: 28°36'15"N, 47°31'30"E IV Corps 21 Infantry Division (eastern) Located around 29°12'N, 47°15'E Equipped with SA-7b Grail MANPADS teams Defends eastern sector 36 Infantry Division (central) Located around 29°02'N, 47°24'E Similar equipment to other infantry divisions Controls central area 30 Infantry Division (western) Located around 29°07'N, 46°57'E Equipped with SA-7b Grail MANPADS and M1939 37mm AAA batteries Covers western approaches 20 Infantry Division Located around 29°08'N, 46°45'E Standard infantry division air defense 16 Infantry Division Located around 29°06'N, 47°10'E Standard infantry division air defense 6 Armored Division (northern) Located around 29°19'N, 47°35'E Has SA-9b Gaskin SAMs, ZSU-23-4 Shilka AAA, and SA-7b MANPADS Defends northern sector 1 Mechanized Division (north-central) Located around 29°12'N, 47°42'E Has similar equipment to 6th Armored Division IV Corps Assets Located around 29°15'N, 47°21'E Has S-60 57mm guns and SA-9b Gaskin SAMs as corps-level assets For a polygon enclosing all positions (in DMS format): Northwest: 29°24'15"N, 46°41'15"E Northeast: 29°27'00"N, 47°47'15"E Southeast: 29°02'30"N, 47°24'00"E Southwest: 29°07'45"N, 46°41'15"E IX Corps 45 Infantry Division (eastern) Located around 30°03'N, 45°17'E Equipped with SA-7b Grail MANPADS teams Defends eastern sector 52 Armored Division (central) Located around 29°56'N, 46°57'E Has SA-9b Gaskin SAMs, ZSU-23-4 Shilka AAA, and SA-7b MANPADS Controls central area 17 Armored Division (northern) Located around 29°51'N, 47°12'E Similar equipment to 52nd Armored Division Defends northern approaches 10 Armored Division (northeast) Located around 29°31'N, 47°27'E Similar equipment to other armored divisions Covers northeastern sector 49 Infantry Division (southwest) Located around 30°32'N, 46°53'E Standard infantry division air defense with SA-7b Grail MANPADS For a polygon enclosing all positions (in DMS format): Northwest: 30°38'45"N, 46°48'15"E Northeast: 30°34'30"N, 47°31'30"E Southeast: 29°45'00"N, 47°31'30"E Southwest: 29°59'15"N, 45°10'00"E Republican Guard Tawakalna Division (Republican Guard Mechanized Division) Located around 29°40'N, 47°00'E Has SA-6 Gainful SAM batteries, SA-13 Gopher SAMs, ZSU-23-4 Shilka AAA, and SA-14 Gremlin MANPADS Supports mechanized operations Hammurabi Division (Republican Guard Armored Division) Located around 30°12'N, 47°24'E Similar equipment to Tawakalna Division Heavy armored unit Medina Division (Republican Guard Armored Division) Located around 30°05'N, 47°10'E Similar equipment mix to other armored divisions Main armored force Special Forces Division Located around 30°11'N, 47°42'E Lighter air defense with SA-7b Grail MANPADS Adnan Division (Republican Guard Infantry Division) Located around 30°18'N, 47°42'E Infantry division with MANPADS and ZU-23-2 AAA Al-Faw Division (Republican Guard Infantry Division) Located around 30°24'N, 47°24'E Similar equipment to Adnan Division Nebuchadnezzar Division (Republican Guard Infantry Division) Located around 30°20'N, 47°15'E Similar equipment to other infantry divisions Corps Assets ZSU-57-2 AAA batteries at around 30°32'N, 47°30'E Provides heavy anti-aircraft capability For a polygon enclosing all positions (in DMS format): Northwest: 30°32'15"N, 46°54'00"E Northeast: 30°32'15"N, 47°57'00"E Southeast: 29°36'00"N, 47°57'00"E Southwest: 29°36'00"N, 46°54'00"E

Here is a google maps link to a selection of fixed site DMPIs I collated. Given the limits of google maps layers, I will create another for mobile positions soon. I have only processed the information into a visible format, The data is based on the 'Command: Modern Operations' database. I cannot take any credit for its creation or verify the accuracy of the data. It is meant purely as a starting point for content creators to have something on which to base their missions. I am also in the process of creating a 1991 .miz template with fixed SAM site positions, which should be ready soon* https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1Mpgn-fTBUxToUqsZMYORpQ_cW4L8gQs&usp=sharing Anyway, hope it is of some use. *(two weeks!).

Yep, eagerly awaiting another excellent development report.

I've been thinking more about which major releases are still un-hinted and un represented in DCS. There aren't many left really, especially modern US fighters (lets face it, they make up the bulk of the sales and are the most popular releases). The Carrier air wing is pretty much complete (A-6 and USN F-4 already in the pipeline). The most prolific aircraft of of the last 40 years are already here (F-16, 15C, 15E, A-10, F-5, with A-7, Tornado, Typhoon, on the way. There have been numerous Vietnam-era aircraft announced, and we are all familiar with the problem of modern Russian aircraft, but nevertheless the MiG-29A is incoming. Rotary wing still has plenty of mileage, with the various Blackhawk variants, Cobra, Seaking, and plenty of others. Regarding logistics, the C-130 is in development, might we see a C-17 from ED, the current lack of an updated AI model (which wouldn't look out of place in FS2004) could mean it is part of of bigger project in the background and will come with the full module? The big names most notable by their complete absence are the F-111, the Rafale and Gripen, lacking even AI models. The F-111 could be even more important if we lose the F-15E, which currently is the only true all-weather attack aircraft in the whole game (at least until the Tornado arrives). There are loads of core upgrades we could list, but the big reveal has always been a new airframe, and almost always (only the F-4 AFAIK) direct from ED rather than a 3rd party. So lets see some more unfounded wild speculation please.

Yes, placeable runways would add a huge amount of value. In many cases the non-modelled air bases are visible in the satellite terrain imagery, so a placeable runaway, some aprons and HASes etc. and you could include all the basing options ED decided to leave out. Even if it is just somewhere to launch and recover from, and not necessarily anything in any great detail or particularly close to the real installation.

Anyone had a look down south yet? I had a bit of a fly over Kuwait last night, and while there are no buildings, there is a surprising amount of visible detail on the textures, and the terrain mesh seems complete. Almost like one could just plonk down some target units and start flying some DS missions...

Is there not a 'Unit Detects' trigger, or am I thinking of another game (C:MO)? That would cover all criteria - detection range, altitude, LOS, etc? Place a search RADAR unit for your interceptors scrambles, and allow the SAM units to do their own detection and engagement logic?

@Northstar98 I totally agree that the system is far from perfect, and can be improved in many ways, I am simply explaining why ED chose to deliberately implement it in that way. It's not a mistake or a bug, but nor is it 100% right. You absolutely should be able to make tweaks, change local settings, etc. The whole atmospheric modelling should be completely reworked into something like XP12, as what we have currently, is a massively oversimplified model with some nice eye candy effects.

Because to get a decent pitching deck you need an unrealistically high surface wind speed. How often would you see real-world aviation ops (never mind carrier ops) in sustained 100kt winds? In order to get the desired 30kts over the deck the carrier would have to be going 70kts astern!!

Oh, for sure, one could manually make the adjustment. My issue is that it is often reported as some sort of bug or mistake. Where it does fall down however, is with EDs insistence to linking sea state with wind, which really is unrealistic, and results in people having to set a ridiculously high surface wind speed to get a pitching deck scenario, which then makes the coupled winds even more problematic. The solution to that is to have an independent swell setting, and have small waves (chop) a function of surface wind speed.

The way DCS does it is a bit backwards, but does make sense if you want to define conditions on the ground for airfield ops. Really, you should define the wind at 1600ft and it should automatically adjust for the surface, but the link still remains. It is realistic that winds 'slack and back' (in the Northern hemisphere) when approaching the surface due to friction and the Coriolis effect, so should be about 50% reduced, and backed by 30degrees (veer by 30 in the Southern hemisphere) compared with those at altitude. This is even more noticeable at night where the slacking and backing effect is increased due to colder, denser surface air, however DCS doesn't take this into account*. The effect is reduced over water where there is less surface friction. Again, not modelled in DCS's atmosphere*. Having these independently configurable wouldn't make sense from an atmospheric modelling point of view, as which ever one you choose to define will effect the other. It is just not realistic** to have the wind speed and direction the same at 1600ft as it is at the surface. Perhaps ED need to place a note in the manual explaining this to prevent this confusion. It isn't a bug, and it isn't wrong. People don't intuitively understand it because unless you are a pilot or meteorologist, it is not something you will encounter day-to-day. * AFAIK ** 99% of the time. As always there are some unusual cases where this might not be true.

It's obvious that some people don't understand how winds work.

After Afghanistan I decided I would give Iraq a miss. However, after the positive comments here I unsurprisingly relented and installed it last night. I was not disappointed. Way better than Afghanistan at launch, and non of the harsh texture changes and odd placement of objects and textures. It seems pretty good at altitude and down low, and the mountains to the north on the Turkish/Iranian border are really well done. Personally I'm more interested in the southern part for Desert Storm/OP Granby missions, but if it is as well done as the first half I'll be very happy. Performance is decent, though I do get some stuttering over Baghdad, I might have to dial the settings down a little, but I can live with that. Hopefully there will be some optimisation to come, as I have generally found that new maps have this issue, and improve over time.

The coupled winds is based on real-world conditions, it is not there by accident or oversight and it is well understood by real-world pilots that winds slack and back as you get closer to the ground (in the northern hemisphere - they slack and veer in the southern). It should be less pronounced perhaps, and is a gradual rather than step change, but it is a real thing. I agree there needs to be a way to set the swell independently from winds though. This has been discussed in many threads and asked for many times. IRL swell is not dictated by wind speed, chop is. Swell can be the result of a weather system hundreds of miles away and it is possible to have a big swell even on a day without a breath of wind.

The fog is an excellent update. The Strike Eagle really comes into it's own now with auto-TFR low-level IMC missions. It really suits the Kola map. I only wish we could get some way to disassociate and independently set swell from the wind speed, so we can set up some authentic winter North Sea 2nd Fleet carrier ops. The mission editor copy/paste is a very welcome addition, Honestly, I'm struggling to see a huge difference in the F-5, though I admit it is not my most flown aircraft.