bies

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?

Yes, but it include late 1990s additions like crucial NCTR IFF, digital radio (it had original analog radio before the update so it's aldeady done) and at least one radar mode to be proper 1980s/Desert Storm Mirage 2000. Yes, thanks for clarifying color DEC mode, do you know where it was implemented, more or less? I hope this small but important changes would be easy to implement as an option like with F-15E.

When i fly Mirage 2000 i've noticed it's mostly used in Cold War/1980s/Desert Storm scenarios - but our Mirage 2000 represents late 1990s upgrade with NCTR, color ground level terrain avoidance mode and digital radio (which replaced original 1980s analog radio your module used before the update). This is a bit unfortunate as it's a bit too late for late Cold War / 1980s or even Desert Storm scenarios. At the same time surely not proper to face 2000s F-16C, F/A-18C, F-15E etc. with JHMCS, AMRAAM, AIM-9X, Link 16. This would be Mirage 2000-5 era, which is out of reach. Could you please enable an option (similar to your F-15E) to make 1980s Mirage 2000 variant, disabling this few 1990s elements? It would make it proper also in scenarios when it can show its full potential. Cheers and thanks for your work!

What is this gun argument about? In late 1950s and in 1960s when Starfighter took part in combat a gun was still crucial, widely used by Starfighters in both A/A and A/G role. In 1970s a gun was relegated to secondary role by more reliable and higher performance missiles, but Starfighter was outdated in mid 1970s when F-14s and F-15s, and soon F-16s were flying around. What is haracteristic - all this 4th generation fighters still featured internal guns.

Last trend is withdrawal from physical stealts as it's impossible to hide from modern IRST which are able to detect even a heated air around flying aircraft from dezens of miles. AESA radars using GaN technology also offer fantastic performance. That's why the most sophisticated militaries like US or Chinese are all in designing very long range weapon and wingman drones, as they came into conclusion (considering plethora of parameters, technology advances and trends) manned aircraft going anywher near the enemy will be lost immediately. What is more AI systems are replacing more and more human inputs - and they are advancing rapidly. US pilot involved in the program stated the best human pilot doesn't stand the slightest chance against similar AI piloted fighter in close air combat as his movements and judgements are basically perfect and faultless to the tiniest move, making dozens of perfect imputs every second. Way beyound any human capabilities. He also stated close air combat is more of an excercise or demonstration and it is considered basically the least important part of the program, but he is not allowed to reveal other, way more important fields and combat acitvities AI is replacing human right now. According to him progress is so unbelievably rapid every few moths revolitionize AI capabilities to the poin it's even hard do understand the new parameters or rules perfectly valid just few months ago. This will relegate human from military aviation actual combar activities very quickly, making it completely unattractive from PC simulator point of view. That's why WW1, WW2, Cold War etc., when human pilots, with all their flaws, mistakes, emotions and imprefections, were still crucial element in air combat, will always be popular in PC smulators and games. Like Starfighters fighting MiGs over Vietnam in 1960s.

Gun surely will dissapear, 100nm+ missiles are already leading trend most advanced militaries invest in. In a long term directed energy weapon. Starfighter obviously became outdated in the middle of 1970s when F-14 Tomcat and F-15 Eagle became operational, but Starfighter was all about late 1950s and 1960s. When it was used in combat in the Vietnam war, in India-Pakistani wars, other flashpoints like Taiwan Strait, Berlin crisis. This was an era gun was still one of the main weapons, missiles were short range, limited sensor guidance, limited G-loads, limited engagement envelope etc. And those times Starfighter was one of the top fighters in the world.

Full fidelity fighter F-15A or C would be awesome. Maybe someday, Razbam did a great job with the F-15E.

USAF F-104C deployed during Vietnam war were flying with refueling probe regularly, escorting allied aircrafts and providing CAS.

1950s shining, bare metal, high visibility USAF liveries looked so satisfying.

Didn't know that, thx.

For me the gun is F-104's most important weapon. All Starfighters taking part in combat or crysis US F-104C over Vietnam, Taiwanese F-104A over the strait, Pakistani F-104A over Kashmir, German F-104G during Berlin Crisis were equipped with a gun. Pakistani put them to good use. Compared to gun-less 1960s MiG-21s, F-4 Phantoms - Starfighter with its 6 barreled revolver was awesome. When F-104 entered service Vulcan gun was brand new invention and the best gun in the world. During late 1950s/early 1960s gun was still among the most important and reliable weapon. Plus it's just more satisfying to strafe in supersonics slashing attack some MiG, compared to firing the missile.