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Hi, I’d like to get player's opinion on the current landscape of mission planning tools available for DCS World. The context is serious/realistic pre-mission preparation, with the goal of supporting structured multiplayer operations (up to a large COMAO level). I'm interested to hear from others: What are you currently using in single player, and in your squadron/group? What do you consider must-have features in a modern DCS mission planning suite? Here's a quick overview of the tools I’m aware of, with some notes based on experience: 1. CombatFlite Pros: The only complete standalone planner available today Unique features. E.g.: intervisibility analysis Supports import of .miz files Extensible to new theaters with basic user effort Cons: Development appears to have stalled; no updates in a long time Export of .miz files needs a lot of workarounds Still in my opinion the most complete standalone planner available today. 2. CombinedOps Pros: Web-based and multi-user capable Real-time coordination across participants ACO and ATO generation tools Free Cons: Limited set of mission planning features, not yet matching the depth of CombatFlite for detailed planning tasks Depends on active server hosting Overcrowed view for complex missions You must work from an existing flight in a .miz file 3. FragOrder Pros: Web-based and multi-user capable Real-time coordination across participant Direct editing of DCS .miz files in a web interface Cons: Limited in flexibility and detail of planning You must work from an existing flight in a .miz file 4. DCS Web Planner Pros: Free Cons: Lacks advance mission planning features No collaborative use case Depends on active server hosting You must work from an existing flight in a .miz file Thank you!

Hello everyone, I'm glad to announce that the Cold War Germany CombatFlite theater is now available! If you don't know how to use CombatFlite on new theaters, you can find more details here: Creating a Cold War Germany Theater (Patreon) Additionally, a first map using this theater has been released on ED User Files: Cold War Germany - Elevation Map (ED User Files) Please note that due to maximum file size in ED User Files, most of the maps won't be published here. Thank you!

In military aeronautics, a good flight planning accounts for almost 90% of mission success... And for that, we are fortunate to have a dedicated software for DCS World: that's CombatFlite. It has proved to be an essential tool for flight planning and mission creation, from the simplest to the most complex ones. Unfortunately, it seems that updates to this software have now been discontinued, and it is unlikely that a dedicated theater will be created any time soon. The only option we have is to modify an existing theater and manually integrate the data we need. This is the path I've taken, and I've decided to modify the “Persian Gulf” theater to include mapping of the Afghan theater, as well as the data required to use all the software's functionalities. In the coming weeks, I'll explain you how to do that, and I'll direct you to the necessary files to let you use CombatFlite on the Afghan theatre!

Hello, Here is a quick review of my publications during the last months of 2024, in case one of these topics is interesting you more particularly: - Targeting: discovering the Electronic Target Folder, introduction to the Collateral Damage Estimate process, ETF example for initial OEF campaign, introduction to the No Strike List and NSL example for Afghanistan; - CombatFlite maps: Iraq maps (like ESRI and ONC), Middle East 1:5.000.000 GNC map (from Syria to Afghanistan), Kola maps (ONC, TPC, topo, etc...); - Weaponeering: bomb fuzes guide, recommended bomb fuze settings for the Hornet, Viper and Warthog; - Airport charts and procedures: explanation of tactical take-off and landing procedures in Afghanistan, landing charts and procedures for several airport (in particular, Kandahar); - Maps: introduction to MGRS and CGRS grids, examples for Afghanistan (MGRS maps, CGRS grid for OEF); Many more will follow, and I'll be happy to get your feedback and hear about your topics of interest in order to guide my work. Enjoy your reading!