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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

So why did you use false statement?: Such false information mislead people who read the forum and have no knowledge about the relevant versions.

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.

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

Great to hear that, i hope for some first Cold War map in DCS, either Korea, Vietnam, Fulda Gap, GIUK etc. There are dozens of Cold War era modules in DCS, both released and during development, but zero maps. Only "modern day" ones.

That's unfortunate. Bo-105 would be arguably the most exciting helicopter to just fly. A tem experienced with helicopter FM can make it really well.

Razbam did a great job with recent F-15E, but they've never release any helicopter. Helicopters require totally different FM API to be coded from scratch by the 3rd party. It would be way better for Miltech to cooperate with Polychop, their last Gazelle FM update is very good, Bo-105 could be released after the OH-58 Kiowa, using their new helicopter FM API they've created. It would be importent to recreate it in-depth as Bo-105 had some exciting handling qualities.

Mirage III would be great, but i doubt there will be any update in the next few years as Razbam has few projects open.

Great news in my opinion. We have ~2008 US Army AH-64D so ~2008 US Army CH-47F fits perfectly. I don't like random, unfit, niche low serie modules like year 2017 Italian ICH-47 would be, outside of DCS timeframe, not fitting anything else, making DCS less coherent, single aircraft simulator, without proper environment. Every relevant variant, creating coherent environment, fitting other modules timeframe will be good. Early analog cockpit and manual flight control CH-47A, B, C, D from Vietnam or later Cold War would be great as well.

Yes, MiG-21F-13 was the best, the most maneuverable, bubble canopy with good visibility and without the front frame, internal gun, no radar but radio rangefinder, the most distinct MiG-21 variant, it was used in Vietnam.

My opinion always was - only a combat simulator can do the justice to the combat aircraft. Similar with F-117.

This. Something like Sonalyst making DCS: ASW module. Implementing basics of ASW environment.

Now there is some nowe, even more paranoid law in Russia, basically prohibiting the collection of any information about military equipment. IIRC this was the main reason why ED was forced to abandon work on MiG-29 9.12 from mid 1980s.

Making some modern totally classified weapon, with zero data, in completely unrealistic way, would be pointless. But that's just my opinion. And right now late 1990s AIM-120C-5 in DCS still lacks some of its real life capabilities.

It would be nice. On the other hand a group of modders planned to make a MiG-25P, but after trying to obtain the documentation they concluded it's still classified to the point it wouldn't be possible to make even a reasonably realistic MOD and decided to go for MiG-25RB instead.

We don't have them, they would be great though, and this are classic Cold War fighters as much as MiG-25. Still i hope some day MiG-25 will become declassified enough to be possible to make it as full fidelity DCS module.

Yes, it was often modeled well in older simulators. Being shot, with deafened hearing, stunned was always very immersive, especially in VR. And especially if getting surprised by enemy fighter or AAA fire. Returning home with badly damaged barely responsive aircraft, with pilot half blinded by the oil, wounds, shattered canopy, either ditching in the field in collapsing cracking airframe or attempting emergency landing, was one of my favouirite parts of the flight if successful saving my virtual pilot's life.

Yes, full fidelity original steam gauges Soviet Su-25 from 1980s Afganistan, to fly together with Mi-24, would be great. Skill dependant and engaging Soviet flying artillery, jet IL-2 on steroids, rich combat history, probably possible to model in depth. Going in hot wit a pair of Su-25 with guns, rockets, bombs and still being able to return home after getting hit by some AAA would be satisfying. Original Cold War analog A-10A in European camo, with close range weapon, flying at tree top level to sneak and attack Soviet mechanized columns, would be great as well. Both were requested many times. Time will tell if someone is going to model them.

Thanks, this makes such configurable Cold War variant even easier. Do you know about any other new systems our Mirage 2000 received 1990s except for NCTR IFF and digital radio?