bies

It was Su-34. Su-35 is totally classified and it would be completely unrealistic even as AI aircraft. According to main topic - yes, absolutely, it would be great to have Cold War era ground assets and AI aircrafts. It doesn't have to be tens of thousands $ extremely high polygon models like full fidelity module, just on par with average DCS AI assets.

Casmo's comments on updated Apache FM, it looks like a step in the right direction, but there is some issue with excessive tail rotor thrust.

Did Iranian F-14A, F-4E, F-5E use original english cockpits or their native iranian versions? I'm asking about the Cold War era - 1970s pre-revolutionary Shah Iran and 1980s revolutionary Iran during Iraq-Iran war.

And MiG-17 is officially coming!

Yes, it would be even better, i just proposed different flag to minimise ED work, just a different texture over the flag for earlier scenarios.

Cold War era Mi-8 would be great especially when Afganistan map will be released, together with Mi-24, Su-25, SU-17 the Mi-8 will be most important module for 1980s Afganistan war.

Our Mi-8 co-pilot always has only Russian (Russian Federation) big flag on his uniform, even if pre-1991 date is selected. Please make it the Soviet Union for earlier scenarios on uniform for USSR era (or no flag like it historically was). This flag is really big and very much visible for the whole flight and it breaks the immersion in earlier Sovier-era scenarios, Cold War, Afganistan etc. when such country didn't exist. Soviet helicopter pilot during 1980s:

Yes, we've tested it with friends few days ago, it worked very well. I can't wait for the final release and implementing it in most MP servers instead of SRS external application.

Will this new radar model become some kind of API to be used by other developers and modules across DCS? Or it will be exclusive for F-16 and F/A-18 radar modeling? Thanks for your work!

Yes, this would be awesome. We've seen more and more inverse kinematics implemented in DCS modules last few years so probably some day we will have moving hands.

Exactly, thanks for correction.

It's hard to tell because it's FC3 simplified aircraft. It's basically a mix of different variants. In manual its radar is named AN/APG-63(v)1, but it has capabilities of Cold War AN/APG-63 with PSP with only 4 targets simultaneous engagement. It's at least 1985 MSIP II variant since it has 1985 standard avionics elements, radar with PSP and TWS mode, NCTR, AN/ALQ-135 internal ECM, AN/ALR-56C RWR, digital display instead of analog weapon selector, integration with AMRAAM, ALE-40/45 countermeasures dispenser. It is also pre mid-2000s modernisation since it doesn't have AN/APG-63(v)1 simultaneous 6 targets engagement, Link16, JHMCS, AIM-9X integration, GPS navigation etc. In short it's correct for ~1985-2000 scenarios - it doesn't have any capability 1985 MSIP II didn't already have. But being FC3 module it's pointless to rivet count, something will always be wrong, many radar modes are missing even for 1979 basic F-15C like Velocity Search, Short Range Search, Low Pulse Repetition Frequency pulse backup mode, slewable AutoGuns, Super Search, Manual Track, Visual Identification, Beacon mode, Sniff passive listen-only mode, A-G Ground Mapping, A-G Plan Position Indicator for slant range, A-G HUD mode, AN/ALQ-128 EWWS and probably many other electronic gizmos.

Small hint: F/A-18 has been designed for A-A configuration with 2x AIM-7 Sparrow/AMRAAM on semi-recessed low drag fuselage pylons plus 2x AIM-9 on wingtip low drag pylons. And internal gun. In this configuration Hornet created low drag and it was capable in air combat. Taking A-A weapon on wing pylons was possible, but at the expense of disproportional drag increase, making F/A-18 practically a subsonic aircraft. Wing pylons are designed to carry A-G ordinance, they require additional rack in order to accomodate A-A missile and the missile itself create full drag. It's enough to compare drag index of semi-recessed pylon with conventional wing pylon+rack.

All IRST are hugely overperforming in DCS right now, but they are being reworked to interact with atmospheric conditions, clouds. This will reduce their effectifeness dramatically making them useful only is specific situations, like IRL.

Basically half of "not cool" features you mentioned are awesome. No MFDs or glass cockpit make it most appealing to me.

P-42 drag reduction was huge compared to Su-27, it didn't resemble Su-27 performance. It was not only missing many elements of the structure, but also has been polished and sealed over the whole surface of the aircraft. No matter what you do you should never be anywhere near P-42 numbers, both drag and weight. Modifications we know about were: Engines uprated to 13,600kg/f each for additional ~2100kg/f of thrust Weight reduced by few tons to 14,100kg The aircraft was stripped of paint, polished and all drag-producing gaps and joints were sealed to reduced drag Wing high lift devices keyed to reduce drag Cut tail boom Cut vertical stabilizers Removed vental fins Removed drag chute and fences Removed the optical unit of the optical-location station Removed wingtip launch rails Air Intakes has been fixed Keels Reduced in Height Removed radar and weapon control system Radar radome was replaced with a lighter metal nosecone

It's possible. There is an interview with Indian pilot, he flown MiG-25 as well, according to him max range profile was using 1-st stage afterburner and supersonic flight.

Makes sense. I've basically never used INTL as Link16 shows what aspect and range to expect. It was probably different during Cold War / Desert Storm before Link16 when standard was to use INTL not to get caught off guard easily. Thx.

Thanks for interesting and detailed context.

Yes, thanks, my bad, lack of radar radome shows reconissance variant. I'll replace the photo with correct one - not to confuse further readers.

Soviet MiG-25PD used the infrared sensor "Систе́ма контроля положе́ния непри́ятеля" in the nose of the aircraft, being part of a "Бортовой комплекс радиотехнической и инфракрасной разведки и наведения" - Onboard Complex of Radio-Technical and Infrared Reconnaissance and Targeting". Some export MiG-25PD were deprived of this system. I don't have a detailed information of the system parameters, though, it's possoble the system is still partially classified. The system was far less exposed compared to the MiG-29 and the Su-27 IRST, not to compromise aerodynamics of supersonic cruise of the MiG-25. As the MiG-29 and the Su-27 were meant to fly supersonic only occasionally.

My suggestion is: George/Petrovich AI should become an API to be used by all ED and 3rd party helicopters like other parts of development kit. Huey, Mi-8, Gazelle, further Kiowa, Bolkov-105 and others. It already works really good for Mi-24 and AH-64. Unified co-pilot AI = need to remember only one logic to operate all helicopters (with small modifications to accomodate needs of specific type like differences between Petrovich and George). Win - win for all ED, 3rd parties and players. Contrary - every developer forced to use their own different AI logic, and make it from scratch, different for every developer and every helicopter (and player forced to remember all the different logics co-pilot AI) would be just a bad choice. Significanly increasing all helicopters development time, making players uncomfortable to operate different helicopters and DCS feeling less unified, loose cluster of modules. cheers

This is 1990s Ka-50 variant. 2000s Ka-52 is slower, heavier, less maneuverable. Contrary we have 2000s AH-64D. Original Cold War/Desert Storm AH-64A was faster (some 20kts / 37km/h), lighter, more maneuverable.

Is this Japanese influence or original Chinese culture? It was so infantile/sweet. Maybe we don't know Chinese culture at all and we just feed on stereotypes. Menwhile European fairy tale cartoons for children...

No. What you've posted is 2 years old speculation and 2 years old posts from 2021. Later on Deka Ironworks stated they won't be alble to make it or obtain documantation and they would risk jail trying. And they wasnt to make some Chinese aircraft, not Russian license built one. After that they announced they've chosen Chinese J-8II fighter.