bies

Zero looks so good. IIRC Zero is the most complete when it comes to documentation, even real flying aircraft.

Maybe Ki-84 Hayate or N1K2-J Shiden-Kai, to fight incoming US Corsair and Hellcat. How much documentation exist? Zero would be nice as well, but it may be hopelessly outdated in 1944 over Marianas.

MiG-23MLA Razbam chosen is the best, the lightest airframe with the strongest engine and reinforced wing root. It was still a dangerous fighter in late 1970s. Wneh MLD was outdated when it entered production as MiG-29 was already in production as well, alongside this last -23MLD variant.

Vietnam obviously, overall Korean War is such a low hanging fruit for the ED. Two main opponents, full fidelity F-86 and MiG-15, are already there. Mustand and La-7 as well, A-1 Skyraider in developement. Just making eagerly awaited and universally requested Korea map anyway. And Soviet ground assets. When all about Korean war screams great gameplay, two symmetrical sides, all out long conflict with tanks, artillery, warships, air power, engaging close air to air and air to ground combat etc.

My humble opinion is ED should make some coherent chosen operation. Not jumping on random places. We have great Normandy 1944 with proper map, air/ground/sea assets, but the only problem with current Normandy 1944 is some of the first birds like Bf-109K4 P-51D, Fw190D9, don't fit the timeframe/operation. When later, created with better overall idea in mind, like Mossie, P-47D, Fw190A8, Spitfire IX fit quite well. That's why right now it's probably a time to focus on Pacific when they already started with Marianas WW2 map, Corsair, Hellcat, maybe previous P-51, P-47 - and zero Japanese Zeroes and other, better fitting 1944 Marianas Philippines campaign Japanese aircraft. So even though Mediterranean would be great as well it's better to focus on one theatre at the time.

Overall Korean War is such a low hanging fruit for the ED! Two main opponents, full fidelity F-86 and MiG-15, are already there. Mustand and La-7 as well, A-1 Skyraider in developement. Just making eagerly awaited and universally requested Korea map and Soviet ground assets remain. And all about Korean war screams great gameplay, two symmetrical sides, all out long conflict with tanks, artillery, warships, air power, engaging close air to air and air to ground combat.

Corsair, finally!

Yes. There were 4 main F-15C standards: 1979 to 1984: Initial F-15C, similar to F-15A but a bit heavier, reinforced wing for 9G, a bit more internal fuel, added internal AN/ALQ-135 ECM, AN/ALR-45 flares/chaff, upgraded APG-63. Used in combat only by Saudi Arabia during 1991 Gulf War with 2 air kills Mirage F1. 1985 to 2004: F-15C MSIP II, added new F100-PW-220 engines, PACS armament control, MPCD display, AN-ALR-56C RWR, AN/ARL-47 flare/chaff, improved AN/ALQ-135 band 4 ECM, NCTR IFF, PSP processor, ACSG HOTAS, pugraded HUD, partial NVG integration, AMRAAM integration and wiring. This variant achieved nearly all F-15C air kills, it was used in late Cold War in Europe, 1991 Gulf War operation Desert Storm with 36 air kills, 1993-1995 Balkan War operation Deny Flight, 1999 operation Allied Force with 2 air kills MiG-29. This is FC3 F-15. 2005 to 2016: still F-15C MSIP II, but mid life upgrade, added Link-16, JHMCS, GPS-navigation, AIM-9X integration, APG-63v(1) with reliability and ECCM upgrade, newer computer. Used in Operation Iraq Freedom since ~2005, no air kills as Iraq basically didn't have aviation anymore. This will be FF DCS F-15. 2017 to 2026-pahse out: Golden Eagle, added AN/APG(v)3 AESA LPI radar, PAD Passive Attack Display with sensor fusion, AIM-120D integration, Sniper pod, new digital HUD classified AN/ALQ-135 ECM and AN/ALR-56C upgrades, classifed EPAWSS self protection. Used in patrols over Syria operation Inherent Resolve since ~2018, no air kills.

"Now" is not relevant as we don't have any assets or modules from "now" anyway. But yes, India-Pakistan would be a good map for the Cold War era all out wars in the region, especially from 1965 and 1971. As other were just limited scale engagements, not even wars. And 1947 didn't include any meaningful air operations. There is still no Korea or Vietnam, massive many years long wars, with thousands of aircrafts shoot down. Because developers initially prioritize less relevant regions. Probably will happen it the future.

1) Making some completely unrealistic fictional MODs for proper and realistically modeled 1980s Soviet aircrafts would be waste of time, money and resources. 2) It would be better to include more proper late Cold War NATO aircrats, like our current F-14A/B, Mirage F.1, F-4E, Gazelle L and incoming Tornado IDS, A7E, A6E, Bo-105 PAH-1 etc. E.g. F-15C MSIP II from 1980s/Desert Storm or F-16A or C Bock 30 or Apache A would be nice in the future. 3) DCS will never be artificially balanced; 1944 P-51D won't stand real chance against 1964 MiG-21PF. 1955 MiG-19P won stand a chance against 1975 F-15A Eagle. 1983 MiG-29 9.12 won't stand a chance against 2003 F/A-18C. And it's fine, it's as it should be. If they would - it would actually point there is something fundamentally wrong with the whole simulation. PS. When electronic warfare will be modeled to the bigger extend in DCS, such 20 years older aircrafts like 1980s F-14A/B or MiG-29 9.12 will be even way more helpless against mid-2000s variants of F-16C or F/A-18C.

It's AI fault. ED is actively working on AI right now, AI ground forces progress is already noticable, and things like AI aircrafts having generic RWR, LWR, uninterrupted guidance etc. are very important to adress, as they are copletely changing the tactics. Making some legitimate ways impossible. Especially because this things are way easier to solve then AI behaviour in complex situations.

Yes, i must have heard it as i remember how they were waiting for Turkey to approve their operation from thir territory.

It must be true if he said so - and the reason why USAF gave 7440th Composite Wing and Saudi squadrons such a secondary/support role, mostly BARCAP outside of main combat area.

To put some facts in order - it was nearly all MSIP II during Gulf War. There was no F-15C MSIP I, original F-15 "MSIP Phase I" plan was canceled - USAF went straight to MSIP II ("MSIP Phase II"). MSIP II started in 1983, aircraft being operational since 1985 and modernization went fast and smooth. All of the USAF F-15C Eagle squadrons that deployed to Desert Storm flew under MSIP II upgrades, with NCTR, upgraded computer, MPCD, AMRAAM integration (not utilized due to blue-on-blue concerns) etc.; 27th TFS (1st TFW, FF) "Fighting Eagles" operating from King Abdulaziz AB, 71st TFS (1st TFW, FF) "Ironmen" from King Abdulaziz AB, 53rd TFS (4th TFW, BT) "Tigers" from Prince Sultan AB, 58th TFS (33rd TFW, EG) "Gorillas" from King Faisal AB - all were flying MSIP II. Saudi F-15C were pre-MISP II. This four USAF F-15C MSIP II squadrons achieved 34 out of 36 F-15C air kills of Gulf War, 2 were achieved by Saudi pre-MSIP F-15C. In late December 1990, USAFE had 10 F-15C Eagles already in Turkey on rotation and NATO exercises. When Turkey approved combat operations, those aircraft (drawn from rotational squadrons such as the 525th TFS and others) were merged into the 7440th Composite Wing (Provisional) at Incirlik on 16 January 1991. EDIT: This was non-MSIP II group, performing BARCAP outside of main combat area, in Northern Iraq, to prevent fleeing aircrafts from landing in Iran, similar to Saudi F-15C on the south. USAF didn't want any non-MSIP II aircraft to be engaged in air combat as non-MSIP II didn't have the new NCTR capability which was a BIG deal, they were afraid of blue-on-blue without this additional IFF.

Yes! After all this years - Fulcrum. And in the purest, best looking original variant, with the best kinematoc performance! This early Fulcrum was a rocket ship, before they started to add more and more stuff to it. Thanks ED.