[Survivable over-water bailouts/ejections]

With the new Dynamic Campaign and CSAR missions it will be a must. Especially it's easy to code in a rudimentary way, even the old sims had this function.

[New system for viewing maps in cockpit]

Yes, I'm not sure how exactly, but something should be done. I think about something simple, like a map on a kneeboard.

F10 is kind of experience-breaking and silly, let alone zooming, let alone GPS in WW2/Cold War era 

[Appreciation, The Gulf War / Operation Desert Storm]

Thanks for this map! To be fair it was always the most obvious choice for the Middle East map, two major all out wars: 1980s Iraq-Iran War and 1991 the Gulf War.

I have nothing against "anti-terror operations", but let's be fair - all out conflicts, with both sides using tanks, artillery, air power, logistics, SAMs etc. are where DCS shines. 1950s Korea, 1960s Vietnam, 1970s Syria, 1980s Fulda Gap, 1991 Gulf War.

Good luck with THE MAP 

[I'm on the hook.]

On 11/10/2023 at 12:06 PM, Crash * said:

a VR pilot body and I'm in.

True, a pilot body, even if made just so so, adds a lot, especially in VR.

[F-4 BVR Tactics]

When it comes to identification: such extensive two factor identification was proper in assymetrical warfare over Vietnam, escalation control not to shoot Soviet/Chinese aircraft etc. Not for near-pear opponent, like NATO vs WarPac over Europe.

[Fulda Gap]

Any 1960s-1980s-ish Fulda Gap will be a good representation. Only a "modern day" skyscreaper futuristic architecture Germany, trying to 'imitate' Cold War, hot border, divided Germany would be a really bad choice. A gamebreaker. Without proper vibes/atmosphere.

Our Mirage 2000, AJS-37 are 1990s variants. Cold War 1980s Mirage 2000C and AJ-37 would be nice in the future.

A-7E, A-6E, Su-17M4, MiG-23MLA, MiG-29A, Tornado IDS, Bo-105, C-101, Gazelle L, Mi-24P, F-14A/B, L-39, Huey plus most of AI assets, AI aircrafts, SAMs, EW radars etc. are ~1980s variants.

Mirage F.1, MiG-21bis, IAI Kfir, F-5E, F-4E are 1970s variants. Still used during 1980s

MiG-17F, F-100, A-1, F-104, MiG-19, G.91R are likely 1950s/1960s variants.

MiG-15bis and F-86 are early 1950s.

[AWACS module for the DCS]

I propose an AWACS/GCI module, with reasonably realistically recreated legacy E-2, A-50, E-3, some NATO and WarPac EW radar.

With their basic limitations, radar rotation time, radar resolution with range, merges, IFF, symultaneous tracks limit, terrain masking, ground clutter and weather filtering etc. Just like current DCS modules do. Not a strictly classified modern one, just a legacy platforms.

Something like 2001 F-22 TAW AWACS, but more ambitious. It would add a lot to the overall experience, realism and it would be a ton of fun coordinating an air combat in reasonably realistic AWACS with its basic limitations and capabilities etc.

[Fulda Gap]

Add A-7E, MiG-29A, Tornado IDS, F-14, F-4E, Gazelle M, MiG-21bis and many more.

According to the last polls Fulda Gap and Vietnam are the most requested maps.

[Will the Hook ever be functionally implemented ?]

Yes. This would be usefull and realistic. In fact breaks malfunction was always a real risk, an often failure.

That's the reason USAF have sarcificed some mass and drag only to have this hook on their high performance fighters.

[22.03.2024 - MiG-29A Announcement | Afghanistan Development Report | Spring Sale Final Hours]

Fulcrum looks awesome, i like the pilot model, GCI integration, new cockpit model. GCI API may be a gamechanger. Thanks!

[MiG-29A FF: capabilities and how will it fit into the (meta)game?]

On 3/12/2024 at 1:27 PM, strelok2014 said:

DCS: F/A-18C lot 20, F-16C block 50 and F-15E Suite4E+ has engines, radars and avionics 1992+. After 1990-1991 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the development of military equipment in the USSR/Russia stopped abruptly. So, i think the best and fair timeline is <1989 (before aim-120, R-27ER(ET), R-77):
F-86F, F-100D, F-104, F-5E, AJS37, A-4E, Mirage F1, A-7E, F-4E, IAI Kfir, A-10A, F-15C, F-14A/B, AV-8B(NA), Mirage 2000C. (AIM-7M, AIM-54A(C), AIM-9M and old)
MiG-15bis, MiG-17F, MiG-19P, MiG-21bis, MiG-23MLA, MiG-29A (9-12), Su-25, Su-27P (R-24R(T), R-27R(T), R-60M, R-73 and old)

100% agree. 1980s was the last time when some kind of natural balance existed IRL and Soviet aircrafts could put up a fight. Both in tactical engagements and on a strategic scale. And "artificail" balancing is not a job of a simulator, its job is to pick the spots/timeframes where some kind of real life balance occured naturally, like WW1, WW2, Cold War air campaigns of Korea, Vietnam, Middle East wars like Iraq-Iran war etc. Before the 1990s AMRAAM, R-27ER, Link16 etc and collapse of the Soviets.

1980s with a mix of a bit older 1970s and brand new 1980s aircrafts like full fidelity F-14A/B, Mirage F.1, Huey, Gazelle L, MiG-21bis, L-39, C-101, MB-339, F-5E, Mi-8, Mi-24, Bolkov-105, Tornado IDS, Kfir, F-4E, MiG-23MLA, MiG-29A, A-7E, A-6E, with low fi FC3 A-10A, Su-25A, F-15C, Su-27S is one of such sweet spots. AJS-37 Viggen and Mirage 2000 could nearly squeeze as well into the 1980s with small modifications.

Early Cold War with MiG-15bis, F-86, G.91, MiG-17, MiG-19, F-100, F-104, A-1 would be the other one.

That's why MiG-29 9.12 is a perfect variant, fitting the timeframe with the biggest number of DCS modules.

[MH-60T or really any CSAR/HEMS/SAR rotary-wing]

UH/MH-60 would be nice. Though UH-1 or Mi-8 are already there, A-1 Skyraider is being developed, we just need the mechanics of CSAR etc.

Hopefully it will come, with some other missions, together with Dynamic Campaign.

[F106 for Dcs]

On 3/11/2024 at 11:08 AM, Bremspropeller said:

Officially the fastest single engine jet.

F-104s were flown north of 2.5 occasionally.

Wasn't F-104 limited to some Mach 2.2 - 2.3 by its tail?

[Reworked and color corrected AIM-9M/X.]

Basically both schemes are needed, newer ones for the F/A-18, F-15E and the F-16.

And current legacy ones for F-4, F-14, Tornado IDS, Mirage F.1, F-15C, A-7E etc.

[Phantom F-4E released?]

On 2/5/2024 at 12:43 PM, primus_TR said:

Strike Fighters 2 is helping a bit with the f4 itch, but for how long? Damn, this will be the best module ever. 

Strike Fighters had some great warlike atmosphere. And really nice, moody music.

 

[How look Mig-29A Cold War Opponents?]

Cold War lightweight super nimble F-16A, especially early "small tail" pure dogfighter like Block 10, with analog cockpit would be awesome. F-16A Block 10, in Israeli service, scored vast majority of all F-16 air-to-air kills.

Cold War full fidelity F-15 from 1975 F-15A, up to 1985 F-15C MSIP II, would be great as well. Our low fidelity FC3 F-15 represents ~late Cold War/Desert Storm F-15C MSIP II, but it's simplified, lacking most of radar modes, many electronic devices etc.

Or early lightweight F/A-18A, even more maneuverable then our late F/A-18C.

 

For now full fidelity F-14A/B, F-4E, Mirage F.1 and low fidelity F-15C will fit the 1980s timeframe as well.

[MiG-29A FF: capabilities and how will it fit into the (meta)game?]

31 minutes ago, F-2 said:

Correct the 33rd fighter wing was carrying AIM-120 from at least 1989 and they were delivered in 1988

Exactly. Short test serie for evaluation squadrons of both AMRAAM and R-27ER were tested since 1988 during the final phase of the Cold War. Though both entered operational service in 1991, they are for completely different scenarios in a different world, when Desert Storm ended, USSR collapsed.

[MiG-29A FF: capabilities and how will it fit into the (meta)game?]

8 hours ago, Ramius007 said:

Even if A used ET/ER in Russian service, still it should be definitely removed from G variant, neither Germany nor Poland had access to ER/ET, ED had this thing right,as default loadout is 2xR-27, 2xR-73 and 2xR-60M

 

True. Plus both AIM-120A AMRAAM and R-27ER were sent in small numbers to evaluation units for testing in 1988. And both entered service only in 1991. AIM-120 and R-27ER/ET are basically a hardline dividing the previous Cold War/Desert Storm era and starting post-Soviet era with completely different world.

In Cold War 1980s scenarios MiG-29 will cary R-60. R-73, R-27, but surely not R-27ER/ET anyway.

Personally i think it will be a fantastic module, A variant with the best kinematic performance but the most rudimentary avionics, realistically recreated, with rich real life conflicts history.

[DCS: MiG-29A Fulcrum]

Yes! 1980s Late Cold War is going to be awesome in DCS, MiG-21bis, MiG-23MLA, MIG-29A, Su-17M, Mi-24P, Mi-8, L-39, Mirage F. 1, Tornado IDS, ~Viggen, Kfir, Gazelle L, F-4E, F-5E, F-14A/B, A-7E, A-6E, Huey, MB-339, C-101. 

Cold War Fulcrum fits perfectly.

Only some USAF premiere fighter like F-15 or F-16 from the era will be missing. Thanks ED for making full fidelity Fulcrum. 

[F-16A]

19 hours ago, Harlikwin said:

An early Blk15 was the most prolific, exported, and versatile while still being old school. But I'd be fine with either at 10 or early 15. The late 15's are mfd monsters like our current Viper, don't want that.

The difference was Block 10 achieved nearly all F-16A air kills. When other blocks like 1, 5, 15 haven't seen much action. They would be less relevant than Block 10.

[Would you like more modern weapons on russian 4th gen fighters even if its not realistic?]

35 minutes ago, upyr1 said:

How about the Su-22 variant which I believe Octopus G is working on? 

Still not clear, we have to wait for the official announcement.

[late 80s/early 90s F-18A add-on]

Even easier to make a proper separate variant by just disabling post 1991 systems.

F/A-18C entered service in 1985, exactly like F-15C MSIP in USAF or Su-27S in USSR. Both Su-27S and F-15C MISP are bread and butter of 1980s DCS SP scenarions and MP servers. 1985 early F/A-18C without JHMCS, Link 16, MIDS, earlier -400 engines and few other small changes would be at home as well in such scenarios.

[late 80s/early 90s F-18A add-on]

8 minutes ago, Hulkbust44 said:

Of all things, weapons weren’t part of the conversation, that’s easy.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

So why did you use false statement?:

Quote

"a desert storm era Hornet with datalink, JHMCS and advanced weapons is what we have right now."

Such false information mislead people who read the forum and have no knowledge about the relevant versions.

[late 80s/early 90s F-18A add-on]

On 9/19/2023 at 11:08 PM, Hulkbust44 said:

FYI, the current implementation of our "C" model Hornet, except for the engines is a circa 02'-03' A+. The Hornet is a glass cockpit aircraft, a desert storm era Hornet with datalink, JHMCS and advanced weapons is what we have right now.

No. F/A-18C during Desert Storm 1991 didn't have Link 16, JHMCS, AMRAAMs, MIDS, modern targeting pods, GPS guided munitions and many modern weapons we have. This were coming only much later, in mid 2000s, some 10-15 years after Desert Storm.

1980s/Desert Storm era F/A-18C would be a nice addition, still relying mostly on visual range combat, maneuverability, pilot skills employing most weapons, with coherent enviroment, proper era Soviet flayable opposition etc.

And such legacy variant would be fairy easy to implement for ED - as other said differences were mostly avionics, so it would require to simply disable some systems, modes, weapons.

[Wishlisted module / era]

15 hours ago, MAXsenna said:

Cool poll!

Looking at the votes, it seems that the majority wants Cold War fought in Western Europe or the Pacific!

 

So Korea, Vietnam, Fulda Gap. Yes, that would be awesome.