Next aircraft speculation

[King_Hrothgar]

Yep, the Viggen seems very likely now. I missed Cobra's avatar change but a lot of others saw it and all seem to agree on what it was. For what it's worth, the Viggen did pop up as a possible option very early on in this thread as it always did fit all the clues.

 

As for what the Viggen brings to the table, it may not have seen much (or any) action, but it will add a lot of new things to DCS. The addition of fire and forget anti-ship missiles is certainly something by itself. Another interesting bit is the use of manually piloted radio command air to surface missiles. The Viggen had a second joystick in it for this purpose, despite being a single seater. Using those is certainly going to be a challenge. In the air to air role, from what little I know it looks like it will be a good opponent for the MiG-21 if they stick with a pre AIM-120 version. Given that the AIM-120 was added only very late in the Viggen's service life, the earlier models seem more likely.

[MBot]

Given that the AIM-120 was added only very late in the Viggen's service life, the earlier models seem more likely.

 

It seems the fighter variant is out of question anyway. An A-G radar and anti-ship missiles were only carrier by the 1970s AJ 37 strike-fighter (and the SH 37 marititme reconnaissance aircraft). The JA 37 fighter wich carried Skyflash and later AIM-120 missiles did not have the anti-ship capability.

[WinterH]

If it will be Zero and Viggen, I would be exceedingly happy with both!

[whitehot]

jeez, I 'd love the Viggen, but none of the air forces currently in DCS ever flew it..

I mean, you have a fighter jet which is great in itself, but behind it, nothing that could "support" it in missions, campaigns and so on, as there is no Sweden in this sim..

 

If I could choose between it and a Mig-25 or 31 I'd pick the Mig anytime, at least in the context of the current DCS wold

[King_Hrothgar]

I'd do the same but we weren't given that option. Of the oddball aircraft of little historical or potential significance, one can do a lot worse than a Viggen. But I absolutely agree that major military aircraft types should be given priority in general. I'll buy the attack Viggen if that is in fact what they are making. But I'd be unlikely to buy any other non-standard types. One is enough imho and this one is unusually interesting given the anti-ship, air to ground and air to air ability.

[some1]

If you can add a new airplane, you can also add a new country to the game. Or even a new theatre.

 

In the context of Black Sea map we have now, half of the current content in DCS doesn't make sense. ;)

[Zibell]

If I understood correctly, they will release a theater with it, so chill bros.

[Lucas_From_Hell]

If we do see a Viggen I will be in flight sim heaven. Just make sure to give us a Blackbird to intercept too :D

 

Scenarios with the Viggen aren't hard to come up with - after all, we've played all sorts of invasions of the Caucasus from all directions for all reasons, mixing Sweden in the bunch isn't that hard.

[emg]

at least in the context of the current DCS world

Many of us played Lockon. That game had a focused context, but we can see how ED want DCS World to live up to its name.

Fw 190 etc

Korea fighters

Vietnam model Huey

Edited May 21, 2015 by emg

[Dahlbeck]

jeez, I 'd love the Viggen, but none of the air forces currently in DCS ever flew it..

I mean, you have a fighter jet which is great in itself, but behind it, nothing that could "support" it in missions, campaigns and so on, as there is no Sweden in this sim..

 

If I could choose between it and a Mig-25 or 31 I'd pick the Mig anytime, at least in the context of the current DCS wold

Now, as people have pointed out, a plausible scenario involving the Viggen, would require a map including or at least close to Sweden. The natural choice would of course be a southern Baltic Sea theatre.

 

However, we've also seen videos with people working on a northern Norway map in the ED terrain tools. One thing to consider here is that the northern Norway/North Cape area doesn't leave many or (even any) Swedish air bases near the probable AOR. Of course, one could dream up a (alternate history) scenario where Swedish forces assist Nato forces in a battle around the North Cape while operating from Norwegian bases, but it sure wouldn't be optimal.

 

Anyway, this might suggest that the small, cold and oceany theatre that has been mentioned is a northern Norway/North Cape area for the Tomcat and that a more expansive south Baltic will follow later on.

 

As for "supporting" units (in the sense of units forming possible scenarios), Finland operates the F/A-18 (albeit, until recently, as the F-18, in fighter capacity only). Also, AI-wise, Norway and Denmark has the F-16. Opponent wise, the Mig-21 and the AJ 37 would probably be a good match-up. That said, for the AJ 37 not to seem lonely, you would need AI versions of either the J 35 Draken or the JA 37 Viggen.

 

All this assumes they're making the AJ 37 in the first place...

Edited May 21, 2015 by Dahlbeck

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Finland was flying the MiG-21 back then as well, it's a good plane set already.

 

I think it's also worth considering peacekeeping missions if to be as realistic as possible. A little civil war here or there, both sides get scraps of the armed forces, civvy casualties are high, there goes a composite peacekeeping mission.

[Dudikoff]

However, we've also seen videos with people working on a northern Norway map in the ED terrain tools. One thing to consider here is that the northern Norway/North Cape area doesn't leave many or (even any) Swedish air bases near the probable AOR. Of course, one could dream up a (alternate history) scenario where Swedish forces assist Nato forces in a battle around the North Cape while operating from Norwegian bases, but it sure wouldn't be optimal.

Anyway, this might suggest that the small, cold and oceany theatre that has been mentioned is a northern Norway/North Cape area for the Tomcat and that a more expansive south Baltic will follow later on.

 

Really? What video was that? Exciting news, if true :)

 

Why wouldn't the scenario where the Swedish fighter operates from Norwegian airbases be optimal? I mean, whether it operates from Norwegian or Swedish base against a Soviet invasion, it's alternate history in any case. Personally, I'd rather choose the map which provides more scenario options and between Sweden and Norway there's little competition IMHO. And this is without mentioning that for the optimal Swedish scenario, you'd need an extra vehicle and airplanes objects pack.

 

That's not to say that some Baltic map would not be handy, but, the problem is that there were no carriers there. So, the map should include a decent part of land (unless you want to strike at the invasion ships over and over again) and those coastal areas have the major cities so the map would ideally have to somehow choose a part which includes airbases from several nations, but no major cities so as not to make it too complex to make.

Edited May 21, 2015 by Dudikoff

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Dudikoff, check out the Il-2 1946 Baltic Sea map. It was a thing of beauty, and covered from St. Petersburg to Helsinki and Tallin. Lots of airbases, land and islands too. If they did a similar one expanding onto Eastern Sweden it would be perfect.

[whitehot]

And this is without mentioning that for the optimal Swedish scenario, you'd need an extra vehicle and airplanes objects pack.

 

Yep, that's what I meant. While with some fantasy effort the planes we currently have in DCS can be stuffed in the caucasus, the Viggen in itself without Swedish armed forces would be really a longshot. And I 'm saying this keeping that AC in my heart, I always liked the Viggen in particular, but also all the other Swedish military airplanes, bar the Gripen (I feel like the latter is a "globalized" fighter, something which is very peculiar to the previous swedish fighters got lost forever).

 

If some map and some swedish content comes out, I would also really like having scenarios in which Sweden keeps its neutrality, think about a campaign in which as a swedish Viggen pilot you must defend the borders of your country from either NATO and Soviet bloc countries AC, which are fighting a war between them, maybe launching provocations on Sweden to drag it into war..

 

Also, somebody talked about a "small map for the F-14".. I hope it's not too small, because with Tomcats it ain't that you can have a 100 miles square to operate in.. The whole concept of that AC, it's radar and weapon system is "Long Range"..

[emg]

If some map and some swedish content comes out, I would also really like having scenarios in which Sweden keeps its neutrality, think about a campaign in which as a swedish Viggen pilot you must defend the borders of your country from either NATO and Soviet bloc countries AC, which are fighting a war between them, maybe launching provocations on Sweden to drag it into war..

I agree these scenarios would be really fun :thumbup: but I hope people know Swedish neutrality in the Cold War was a bit of a joke. Swedish airbases had NATO comms equipment secretly setup in the 60's. Their SAMs and air radars were British, US and French.

There was also an agreement with the US to have their SSBNs stationed off the west coast, with the Swedish airforce protecting them from Soviet ASW.

 

I recall a Danish foreign minister saying "Sweden, neutral? It's the least neutral country in the world!"

Edited May 22, 2015 by emg

[Dudikoff]

Also, somebody talked about a "small map for the F-14".. I hope it's not too small, because with Tomcats it ain't that you can have a 100 miles square to operate in.. The whole concept of that AC, it's radar and weapon system is "Long Range"..

 

But it's a carrier plane so once the carrier is available they can add hundreds of miles of sea to the map :)

[TheSkipjack95]

I'd love more carrier borne aircraft. Intruder, Phantom, Corsair II, Crusader.... If it touched a flight deck I want it

[zantron]

I'd love more carrier borne aircraft. Intruder, Phantom, Corsair II, Crusader.... If it touched a flight deck I want it

don't get me wrong, id love to have these too! i just hope we get some period non-american craft as well - like su-17 or mig-23 or high fidelity mig-29 or something. gonna have to even it up with the mig-21 vs the f-14 and f-18 (and whatever next leatherneck has be it viggen or the A-6)

[ChoSeungWan]

su-17 or mig-23

Both have been confirmed to be in the works by LN.

[BlackLion213]

Both have been confirmed to be in the works by LN.

 

Really?!

 

I didn't see that. Cobra mentioned in an interview that a MiG-23 was "very likely", but I don't think anything has been confirmed except the F-14.

 

Did I miss something?

 

-Nick

[Buzzles]

Really?!

 

I didn't see that. Cobra mentioned in an interview that a MiG-23 was "very likely", but I don't think anything has been confirmed except the F-14.

 

Did I miss something?

 

-Nick

 

No, I don't think you have. All LN have confirmed is the F14 module. Anything else is wishful thinking at this point, I've especially not seen anything on the Su-17.

[Akki]

I really would like to see this on DCS. Please Cobra let this dream come to a reality in the best sim ever made

[Zibell]

How many skyflash missiles can it carry? Two or four? I've only seen pictures with two.

[Jediteo]

2 Skyflash on the JA37C and D, 4 AMRAAM on JA37D

[Harle]

I really would like to see this on DCS. Please Cobra let this dream come to a reality in the best sim ever made

 

What's so interesting about SAAB? It didn't even take part in any conflict.