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REDFOR CARGO AND TANKER (AWACS) PLANE: IL76MD/78M MODULE FOR DCS WORLD After the announcement of the C130 in both cargo and tanker versions, it would be nice if ED would consider to develop a REDFOR equivalent for cargo and aerial refueling operations. This would contribute to a better ballance between opposing forces in DCS, and overall more possibilities for logistic operations in DCS. Why is the IL76 base the perfect choise for these tasks in DCS World? The IL76 is since the 70s in constant production and was delivered to many different nations like RUSSIA, CHINA, INDIA, PAKISTAN, SYRIA, BELARUS, UKRAINE,ALGERIA, IRAN, and many more. There the plane proved its reliability in decades of intense use in many different airforces. This makes the IL76 perfect for the most versatile military and civilian missions in DCS World. An IL76 Module could be use for aerial refueling (IL78) AWACS operations (A50/A100) cargo transport, aswell as cargo and paratrooper drops (IL76). The IL76 was also used on many of the digital battlefields we have in DCS World. This and the versatile capabilities make the IL76 perfect as a possible new DCS aircraft. Data and system modelling: I hope that because of the long production time there should be many diffrent documents and databases available for the IL76. The long production time is also conductive to modeling different versions of the aircraft, as its not necessary to use the most modern (likely) classified version for refference.

BLUF, I would like to see SAM’s better modeled within DCS. I’ll be speaking primarily about the SA-2 but the points I bring up apply to other SAM’s in the game. There are a few things on the in-game SA-2 that are modeled but not function such as the trough antennas on the Fan Song Target Engagement Radar (TER) that allow it to do its own limited search function. These antennas can scan a fixed area at a time or be combined with the rotation of the whole unit to provide 360 degrees of search. Another thing missing on the Fan Song is its optical tracker. This allowed crews to track targets without the use of the 2 parabolic dish antennas mounted on top. Since the missile guidance was accomplished using Command Guidance instead of Beam Riding the target aircraft wouldn’t get a missile launch warning until the beam from the missile uplink antenna also encompassed the aircraft. This is also true for when crews tracked targets using the Radars, the aircraft would be alerted via its RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) that it was being locked onto, but the missile launch alert would not be given until the aircraft was in the same beam as the missile. For a brief explanation of why this happens continue reading this paragraph, if you already have a grasp of it feel free to skip to the next one. On radar's like the Fan Song that use command guidance, there will usually be antennas dedicated to tracking a target and antennas dedicated to missile guidance or, "talking to the missile." Because the radar's goal is to get the missile out in front of the aircraft to pull lead and not waste its limited energy, it will be fired with lead and the narrow beam of energy pointed at it to give it commands during flight will likely not encompass the aircraft until the missile and aircraft are very close (this scenario assumes a side aspect shot). The aircraft will be kept in the beam of a tracking antenna that works with a computer or the operator to tell the uplink how to guide the missile. The optical tracker is seen on most "E" models of the Fan Song radar which is the variant modeled in game, this is evident by the placement of the 3 parabolic dishes as well as the trough antenna's. From what I have read the SA-3's Low Blow radar includes similar trough antennas however it does not utilize them in the same search function, instead they act as receivers. These Trough antennas are fixed in place so they are limited in azimuth and elevation in terms of search capability, however the inclusion of these antennas mean systems like the SA-2 are not completely useless if the search radar is offline. Something to note is the choice of search radar for the SA-2 and SA-3 being the P-15 Flat Face in game. In real life as far as I've read the P-18 Spoon Rest was the intended Search Radar for at least later model SA-2’s such as the “D” model we have in game. It was also used with the SA-3, however the SA-3 also used a later version of the P-15 called the P-15M Squat Eye. Both the Spoon Rest and the Squat Eye include better performance over the Flat Face. Something that I cannot confirm (as I do not know how the guidance is modeled) but suspect to be inaccurate is the flight path taken by missiles using command guidance. Rather than being fired and leading the target they seem to lag behind it or travel directly to it as if they were beam riding. My final point on the SA-2 specifically is the maximum range of the system. The Target Tracking radar is the SNR-75M4 Fan Song E (it could also be the SNR-75M3 Fan Son E I have not been able to distinguish between the two systems based on our in-game model). The variant of SA-2 to use Fan Song E’s was the SA-2D which used the 5Ya23 missile. This missile has a maximum range of 76,000 m or 41.04 NM. The missile in game has a maximum range of 28 miles, which while being a more realistic firing range as it's much closer to the "no escape" range of the missile, is still short of the maximum range. It's important to note that the statistics for the type of missile used in game seem to be relatively accurate, I believe it is just the wrong missile being used for the variant of SA-2 we have. To conclude, I would like to see track radars have expanded functionality to match their real world counterparts, the variant of SAM specified (like SA-2B, SA-2C, SA-2D etc...) and the components and missiles of SAMs used in game synchronized and their specifications brought in line with the appropriate variant. Thank you and Happy Holidays Sources: http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-Engagement-Fire-Control.html http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-S-75-Volkhov.html Both sources include other links to information

Hi all. I have a Dell G7 gaming laptop and, of DCS World. I have a display issue. The window doesn’t display fully. For example, when I do the start up training for any of the modules I cannot turn on the battery because I can’t see it. It’s outside the window. That sucks since I’m unable to train. The correct resolution, 1920x1080, is set both on the Dell and the module. Any and all help will be appreciated. Thanks, Gunslinger II

U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has selected the AT-802U Sky Warden system from L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor Inc. for its Armed Overwatch program. The Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery contract award includes a cost ceiling of $3 billion. The program includes delivery of up to 75 manned fixed-wing aircraft, with an initial program award of $170 million. Air Tractor reported that the future AT-802U Sky Warden fleet will provide close air support, precision strike, armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), strike coordination and meet advanced air control requirements for use in austere and permissive environments. The aircraft will be used in irregular warfare operations. The above statement is from an official press release. ED needs this as an official mod to fill a gap in the lineup. Current COIN aircraft in DCS are badly outdated and not very survivable. This aircraft even though it started life as a crop duster, is heavily armored, relatively fast (for a turbo prop), carries a large payload. It is also very agile, has the latest sensors and datalink, can carry the same weapons as an A-10C II (yes, even LJDAMS, minus the GAU) and has two seats for multicrew. Second on my wish list after the Osprey for Spec Ops work. null