Wags

Dear all, In an upcoming update, we will be introducing a Payload Restriction option in the Mission Editor. This will allow mission designers to restrict weapons to specific stations for both single- and multi-player missions. I am posting this here as we hope this will be a good solution for “HARMgate”. Based on further research, it comes down to a “it depends” situation. While some Viper units have had their HARM shooters wired for STA 4 and 6, other did not. This explains the conflicting SME feedback and mass-consternation and confusion. With the addition of the Payload Restriction option, we’ll let you decide. Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, We plan M788 Target Practice and M789 HEDP. Kind regards, Wags

In the words of on of our SME testers, flying the Apache should feel like cheating, it is so easy. Kind regards, Wags

Starting today, we'll be talking a lot more about our DCS: AH-64D. This will be particularly true in upcoming newsletters. As I do for the Hornet and Viper, I'll also try to give some updates here. Our sprint goal is to have the AH-64D complete enough to create the pre-order launch video. Here is a general overview of where we are with our US Army AH-64D Mid-Block II (2005-2010): 1- The cockpit graphics are around 90% complete. Remaining items are behind the PLT seat (CB panels and other items), the rifles, cleaning up some temp textures, completing the compass on top of the PLT instrument panel, and few other items. 2- The external model is about 85% complete, with remaining work mostly on the animations, lights, skins, weathering, and damage model. 3- The flight model without SCAS is quite close to where it needs to be, so, much of the FM work is on SCAS and the hold modes. When complete and SCAS engaged, the AH-64D should be the easiest whirly bird to fly in DCS. 4- The cold start procedure is coming along, but it will probably be one of the last items we complete prior to early access launch. All of the sub-systems like the APU, engines, fuel system, electrical, etc. must first be complete. 5- AWS and rockets are nearly complete, with the bulk of the weapons work now focused on the Hellfire 2 (SAL2). 6- Defensive systems like the ASE and CMWS are complete. 7- Initial sounds are integrated, but much tuning and adding of VMU sounds remain. 8- MTADS, IHADSS, MPNVS are well underway with most of the work on clean up and adding some remaining display items. 9- TSD and navigation are complete and undergoing debugging. There are of course many other items that comprise the larger project, but I hope this will provide you a general overview of where we are in August 2021. Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, At early access launch, the AGM-114K SAL2 will be included. Later, once the FCR is added, the AGM-114L will be added. Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, While certainly not a Viper-only item, we've been making good progress on the AIM-120 INS guidance when the missile has no DL and out of HPRF seeker range. Added a new active seeker with physical signal calculations and doppler search/doppler tracking (velocity gate). We simplified the seeker gimbal model that results in a good improvement. Added a new guidance processor with Kalman filtering and optimal guidance law (to account for target accelerations, target inertia, missile control loop inertia, and missile x-axis acceleration.) Added datalink-aided INS. Added aircraft weapon control system emulator for initial missile targeting and datalink support. These changes will make the AIM-120 a much more lethal weapon for a Cheap Shot (ending support between HPRF and MPRF). Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, In one of next Viper updates, we'll be adding the option to toggle between LAT/LONG and MGRS on the Steerpoint (STPT) page. This done through a DCS (dobber) right press and only for Steerpoints 21 to 25. While this may seem a bit odd, it is correct for a 2007 Block 50. Also, there is about a three second delay when converting from LAT/LONG to MGRS. Note that to toggle between MAN and AUTO Steerpoint sequencing, the MAN/AUTO field will need to be highlighted and then press M-SEL to toggle. The DEST page will also have this, when this DED page is added. Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, Per the change log today, we continue to work on the Hornet, although the bulk of our modern day, fixed-wing aircraft dev resources are now on the Viper. The biggest tasks for the Hornet are ACLS and Approach mode ATC. Once these are further along, I look forward to providing an instruction video. Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, With the release of the CBU-105 WCMD today, some of you may be asking yourself, "where the frack is the CBU-103?!" Fear not, it's still coming but we are currently not satisfied with the CEB weapon affect or visual effect. Once we nail these down, we look forward to releasing this weapon and updating the CBU-87 that also uses CEBs. Kind regards, Wags

Flight Dynamics Update Dear all, One of the most important updates we are working on for the Viper is adjusting the angle of attack and G loading models. We’ve been making good progress, and the sustained rates match the reference data well across airspeeds, altitudes, drag indexes, etc. The same can also be said for acceleration and Instantaneous Turns Rates (ITR) below approximately 20k MSL. We do though still need to adjust acceleration and ITR above 20k MSL. This is not a simple matter, and we hope to have this task complete this autumn. Kind regards, Matt

Dear Viper Pilots, Thank you for participation in DCS: F-16C Viper Roadmap features poll. We received more than 9,500 responses. DCS: F-16C Viper development is again at an accelerated pace. We focused on bug fixing in the first half of 2021, and while we will continue bug fixing, we will now also be adding new features. Green: Completed Blue: In development Gray: Planned Please note that Viper is based on a United States F-16C Block 50, circa 2007, with the 4.2+ OFP. As such, items like the following are not correct as they came in later versions: GBU-39 AGM-158 GBU-54 APKWS Other items would not be correct based on the Viper version and country like: Conformal Fuel Tanks AIM-7 AGM-84 The list of delivered features this year includes: AGM-65D/G/H/K Maverick AGM-88C HARM POS and HAS Modes GBU-31 and GBU-38 JDAM AGM-154A JSOW BRU-57/A Smart Rack VV/VAH HUD Option Travel Pod The planned poll features to be delivered by the end of 2021 for DCS: F-16C Viper includes: Flight model and FLCS tuning. This focuses on angle of attack and G, and we believe it will result in more accurate sustained turn performance, instantaneous turn performance, and acceleration. HARM Targeting System (HTS) pod and HARM Attack Display (HAD). Air-to-Air Radar improvements: DTT SAM mode, bullseye, and intercept steering cue. Landing and takeoff handling tuning. JHMCS support for the Radar Warning Receiver, Link 16, and Air-to-Ground mode. Electronic Countermeasures: ALQ-131 / ALQ-184 ECM pods and FCR jamming indications. Air-to-Ground Radar: Ground Map, Expand, DBS modes, Fixed Target Track, Ground Moving Target, Snowplow, Sea, and AGR modes. Semiautomatic and Automatic Countermeasures Programs. Mark Points. HOTAS Steerpoint Selection. Lat / Long and MGRS Coordinate Selection. CBU-103 and CBU-105 WCMD. Horizontal Situation Display (HSD) cursor. ACM Slew Mode. BULL and HMCS DED Pages. Further development will continue with the following list of planned poll features: Targeting Pod (cross between LANTIRN and Litening). ICP Modes: CRUS, TIME, FIX, ACAL, and DEST DED pages. Of these, CRUS will be the highest priority. HUD Toss Anticipation Cue. Desired HUD Airspeed Caret for CRUS mode. GBU-24 Paveway III. Wing Fuel Tank Pylon Jettison Correction. FCS BIT Animations. BDU-50 Training Bomb. Jet Fuel Starter (JFS) Door Animation. Air Show Smoke. Mk-84AIR. NCTR. Remaining Bombing Modes: DTOS, MAN, and LADD. Animated Tail Hook. Alternative Landing Gear Handle. Radar Velocity Search Mode. Refactoring radar detection logic. TDOA for HTS. Updating VIP and VRP logic. LAU-68 and LAU-131 2.75" Rocket Pods. Targeting pod MASK cues. INS/GPS Update. Cockpit View Pilot Model. New weapon fusing options. AN/AAQ-33 Advanced Targeting Pod. After Early Access Data Transfer Cartridge (DTC) and Mission Editor/Planner. Work is currently focused on the navigation database functions. Air-to-Air datalink assignments (after DTC IDM Datalink Functions). RWR Handoff PRF Tones (waiting on PRF tone library). ALE-50 Towed Decoy (waiting rope physics for this and other tasks). Sincerely, Wags and the Eagle Dynamics Team

Dear all, Like many things in life, it depends. The threat circles are a function of the mission planning software (JMPS), and there are various display options for these. One option is to have them turn red when the ownship symbol passes into one, or not. So, there is not really a right or wrong answer here. When we implement the DTC, we’ll try to make this a selectable option. In the meantime, we’ll see about defaulting it to red when the ownship is within one, but as I hope you can understand, this is an exceptionally low priority compared to other Viper tasks. - Wags

Dear all, In the next big update for the Viper, later in July, we'll have quite a few house keeping items. I plan to do a little summary video of these next week. Kind regards, Wags

DTOS mode will be coming. Kind regards, Wags

For such a situation, you'd use the JDAM in VIS mode to roughly place the HUD designation cursor over the target, and then set it as the SPI. Based on talks with Viper pilots, the VIS HUD slew is quite coarse, so they would most often fine tune SPI placement with TGP/AG radar (coming later). Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, You can download the free Mariana's map as DLC from: DCS: Marianas on Steam (steampowered.com) for steam. or if standalone version using the module manager at the top of the main menu. Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, While the we'd like to add the Sniper TGP at some point, after the project is feature complete, it is not something we can promise at this time. We'll see... Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, A little update on HARM loading. After being provided ample evidence from those in the know, we have adjusted loading of the AGM-88. Whilst it will still be possible to load HARMs on the four stations, HARMs loaded on STA 4 and 6 will have no umbilical connection, and thus no communication with the MC. As such, you are fee to carry them, as indicated in some images and a loading chart, but they cannot be employed. We expect this to be in a July 2021 update. Also for July, you can expect the AGM-154A. CBU-103 and CBU-105 will probably be in August. Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, I created this today, and I thought it might be interesting/useful for those wishing to get a head start on your controller profiles. Kind regards, Matt AH-64D Block II Cyclic and Collective HOTAS.pdf

Section on weapon splash damaged added. Kind regards, Matt

Dear all, Sadly, I ran out of time to create a landing video prior to the launch. I hope to find time in my schedule to still create it, but in the meantime, attached are my landing notes based on the actual Mi-24 flight manual. I sincerely hope that you are all enjoying the Hind as much as I did learning it and creating the videos. Kind regards, Matt Hind Landing.docx

It works okay here. Please find an example start up track attached. Since my video, we added the need to enable the AC transformers. Kind regards, Matt Hind-Start-Example.trk

Dear all, As has been mentioned earlier, we have two, dedicated engineers assigned full-time to the Viper, and other engineers participating when available. Once the Hornet leaves early access, additional resources will be brought to bear on the Viper. Items currently being worked on for the Viper include: Updated flight model dynamics for G and angle of attack. Addition of IAM weapons that include JDAM, JSOW, and WCMD. Pre-Briefed (PB) mode for the AGM-88C HARM. Air-to-Air radar improvements. After which, important development items will include: Air-to-Ground radar CRUS page JHMCS Air-to-Ground mode HARM Targeting System (HTS) Electronic Countermeasures And more. In parallel, we are also addressing many bugs and needed and adjustments. Kind regards, Wags

Dear all, For the next, big Open Beta update, we plan to include several new Hornet features that include: Pre-Briefed (PB) mode for the HARM to include both HRM and A/C sub-modes. Pullback (PBLK) mode for the HARM / HRM OVRD. Improved HARM TOO handoff for two emitters at once. Adjusted AGM-88C HARM flight and seeker dynamics. ATFLIR targeting pod. Complete remaining Litening targeting pod tasks. TDC slew Wide Acquisition (WACQ) ACM mode. RAID Single Target Track (STT) mode. SPOT radar mode. Saving PRF to SET options. BRA indication with L&S. Coupled (CPL) autopilot mode. New flares with increased inventory loading option. AGM-84K SLAM-ER. New elevation tracking model to resolve JHMCS designation drift. Updated flight model, FCS, and drag values. Many of the above items are completed internally, and other are still in being worked on. Please understand that this list is our best projection, and it is very much subject to change based on testing results. In parallel, we are also addressing many bugs and needed and adjustments. We are reading all your valuable feedback. Thank you! Kind regards, Wags

Thank you for the kind words, Wilbur et all. It’s a true passion for myself and the team. Kind regards, Wags