TBS?!?!

[Weta43]

From memory (waaay back) - wasn't the origin of E.D.'s F-16 idea that some European airforce had commissioned E.D. to do a high fidelity, fully clickable training sim for them & we were going to get it's offspring?

[Shepski]

OK...I need to be specific too. ;) For starters, we need TACAN functionality, not just INS. Along with that, we need to have control over the HDG and CRS knobs on our HSI. :D

 

Are there TACANs in Russia, the Ukraine, and Georgia? The former USSR has very few VORs and rely primarily on NDBs for radio NAV aids.

 

This is from 2001... http://www.cipdd.org/cipdd/_a&s/a&s2001/m0101.htm

 

In some time to come, Georgia plans to instal TACAN navigation system (NATO-standard) with western assistance

 

Heading and Course knobs work in Black Shark.

[ARM505]

It's wrong to assume that the military doesn't like to share - look at Steel Beasts PRO PE. It was never actually going to be released, it was to be made purely as a training tool for military applications - but fans (myself included) were very keen on getting SOMETHING before the long awaited Steel Beasts 2, so it was released with it's high price tag (125 USD). Upgrades and enhancements are driven by military client requirements, so it's often seen on the forums that somebody would love to have a certain feature (functioning tank suspension was a recent example), but there are higher priority updates required by military clients, so our little wish list waits. It's a fantastic sim, and I'm really glad they got it out to us as well.

 

So, the bottom line - the military are actually not as demanding and whiny as us, but they do demand accurate systems modelling of those that are modelled. Judging by SB Pro PE, not all systems have to be modelled, as long as the principles are correct and bad habits can be minimised or eliminated. Unless it's classified, there's no reason why we can't get the same product - but don't expect modern graphics etc, these just aren't as important to them.

[Guest IguanaKing]

Are there TACANs in Russia, the Ukraine, and Georgia? The former USSR has very few VORs and rely primarily on NDBs for radio NAV aids.

 

This is from 2001... http://www.cipdd.org/cipdd/_a&s/a&s2001/m0101.htm

 

In some time to come, Georgia plans to instal TACAN navigation system (NATO-standard) with western assistance

 

Heading and Course knobs work in Black Shark.

 

There would be if Western Air Forces were operating there, which they are in the game. We have people who are trained in bringing that stuff in and setting it up quite quickly. ;)

[deathcoffin]

Just like the gulf war:smartass:

[GGTharos]

It's wrong to assume that the military doesn't like to share - look at Steel Beasts PRO PE. It was never actually going to be released, it was to be made purely as a training tool for military applications - but fans (myself included) were very keen on getting SOMETHING before the long awaited Steel Beasts 2, so it was released with it's high price tag (125 USD). Upgrades and enhancements are driven by military client requirements, so it's often seen on the forums that somebody would love to have a certain feature (functioning tank suspension was a recent example), but there are higher priority updates required by military clients, so our little wish list waits. It's a fantastic sim, and I'm really glad they got it out to us as well.

 

So, the bottom line - the military are actually not as demanding and whiny as us, but they do demand accurate systems modelling of those that are modelled. Judging by SB Pro PE, not all systems have to be modelled, as long as the principles are correct and bad habits can be minimised or eliminated. Unless it's classified, there's no reason why we can't get the same product - but don't expect modern graphics etc, these just aren't as important to them.

 

The military provides you with an SRD (Software Requirements Document) which you then go through and mark each point as can/can't do, and suggestions for it. The Final SRD is agreed on by both parties, and is the key deliverable for the company writing the software.

 

When the software is delivered there is a signed-off CAT (customer acceptance test) and nce signed, the software is 'in production' and 'in maintenance' ... typically, depending on the contract, bug fixes are covered by the maintenance agreement, and design changes or feature additions are either covered for in the contract or pay-for after a cost estimate.

 

This is a process which we do NOT have in the entertainment industry. There might be something loose of this sort going on ebtweent he publisher and devs.

[Shepski]

There would be if Western Air Forces were operating there, which they are in the game. We have people who are trained in bringing that stuff in and setting it up quite quickly. ;)

 

Well I guess Eagle forgot to include the TACAN setter upper units in Lock On and since the above mentioned countries have no TACANs to begin with, the sim has no TACANs either. ;)

[Guest IguanaKing]

OK. Western forces wouldn't be operating from airfields there then. :smilewink: Its no big deal really, but it would certainly add to the realism of the game.

 

BTW...the TACAN setter upper units are called Combat Controllers. It'd be so cool to see a simulated version of their work in the sim.:)

[Brit_Radar_Dude]

.....then says two more under development and lists them as the F-16 and F/A-18.

Kudos for Ed for going after business in the defense sector where the real money is. That can only benefit our Community. However "under development" can mean anything from "90% of our staff are now working on it full time" to "we have one guy part time searching the 'Net for some stuff". Often "under development" means that it will be under development as soon as you sign a contract and give us some money up front.

 

I've worked for a number of defense contractors for the last 25 years and this what defense contractor marketing departments say and really mean........

 

They said: "Feasability studies are complete and we are in pre-production"

They mean: "Two of our guys have talked about it by the water cooler...."

 

They said: "This product is in production "

They mean: "....and they figured out what colour to paint it"

 

They said: "This product is in post-production "

They mean: "We have sent someone out for a tin of green paint"

 

They said: "This product is off the shelf"

They mean: "We already have a tin of green paint"

 

They said: "This product is off the shelf but is easy to modify to your (winter) specifications"

They mean: "We already have a tin of green paint, we can buy a tin of white and charge you for both"

 

They said: "Our skilled team are ready to modify the product to your specifications"

They mean: "We have hired a guy who can paint, he has his own brush"

 

They said: "This product is easy to modify by the end user"

They mean: "We can sell you a 30,000 dollar paint brush"

 

I don't think Ed are as bad as the average defense contractor but if they hang out with those folks too long.....;)

[Olgerd]

Are there TACANs in Russia, the Ukraine, and Georgia? The former USSR has very few VORs and rely primarily on NDBs for radio NAV aids.

 

This is from 2001... http://www.cipdd.org/cipdd/_a&s/a&s2001/m0101.htm

 

In some time to come, Georgia plans to instal TACAN navigation system (NATO-standard) with western assistance

 

Heading and Course knobs work in Black Shark.

 

There should be present a possibility to add portable TACAN station (i.e. as a static object) somewhere on the map.

[Shepski]

There should be present a possibility to add portable TACAN station (i.e. as a static object) somewhere on the map.

 

Hi Olgerd,

 

Does that mean you are going to model the TACAN setter upper units in Black Shark? :) How about VOR/VORTAC snd NDBs?