DCS: F/A-18C Mini-Updates

[Wags]

Dear all,

 

Regarding the Maverick TDC slew for the Thrustmaster Warthog mini-stick axis, this has been a point of great frustration for the team this week. After testing the same function on other throttle mini-sticks (VKB, Virpil, CH, Saitek, the Thrustmaster TWCS), we only see this issue with the Warthog. This appears to be a hardware issue that we cannot resolve through software (a conflict between TDC press and TDC slew at the same time).

 

We do realize that this is a very popular throttle (I use one too!), so we plan to make an option of requiring TDC press to slew the seeker. While it will not be accurate to the real operation of the AGM-65F, it should allow Warthog user much better control.

 

This will require significant recoding, so it may not be ready for this week’s Open Beta. However, we are devoted to resolving this issue. In the meantime, we suggest setting a separate button for TDC press (ENTER) but still use TDC slew axis.

 

Thanks!

[Wags]

They did not make it in time for the Open Beta, but attached are LGB and IR Maverick instant action missions for the Caucasus map.

Caucasus FA-18C Paveway II Laser Guided Bombs Practice.miz

Caucasus FA-18C AGM-65F Maverick Practice.miz

[Wags]

Hey everyone,

 

To be as transparent as possible on this, we have four engineers on the avionics and weapon systems. While we’re not ready to attach dates, this is the general order of development for the next couple of months. Please recognize that this can change:

 

Engineer 1: Correct DUD cue logic, fuse setting, tune AGM-65F TTMR/IN RNG, and adjust AIM-9X tones. Once those are done, then JDAM.

 

Engineer 2: AGM-88C HARM and then ATFLIR.

 

Engineer 3: IFF interrogation, HAFU and color change when MSI is enabled, and then LTWS/TWS.

 

Engineer 4: Datalink with MIDS / Link-16 / MSI color display symbols, then the UFC BU page, and then INS ground and ship alignment.

 

Thanks!

Edited December 23, 2018 by NineLine

[Wags]

Happy new year everyone!

 

A little good-news update to pass along regarding the targeting pod for the Hornet. As many of you are aware, USMC Hornets fly with the AN/AAQ-28 Litening targeting pod when deployed from airfields. This is the same TGP used for our A-10C. As such, we now plan to first introduce the Litening pod to the Hornet prior to the AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR pod. This will allow a more complete selection of targeting pod options (can also be used for other countries like Spain of course), but also allow us to introduce a targeting pod into the project sooner than we had originally expected.

 

Thanks!

[Wags]

Hornet Mission of the Week

 

It seems a lot of you had fun with the "Valley Run" mission, but it's not much of a challenge. Let's try something a bit more skill-based? Attached is a "River Run" challenge mission that requires you to make it through all the gates in less than 345 seconds. Unlike the Valley Run, you can't just firewall the throttles, you'll have to manage airspeed to stay as fast as possible, while slow enough to make some of the turns.

 

Have fun and good luck!

River Run.miz

Edited January 10, 2019 by Wags

[Wags]

Sometimes an image or two are worth a thousand words...

[Wags]

Mission updated on 11 January 2019

 

Hornet Mission of the Week

Situation

Over western Iraq on day one of Operation Desert Storm, United States Navy F/A-18C Hornets operating off the USS Saratoga in the Red Sea racked up the first air-to-air kills by Hornets. This mission also showcased the Hornet’s ability to rapidly transition from an air-to-air engagement to delivering bombs on target. This mission is not a recreation of that mission, but rather takes inspiration from it.

 

An outstanding insight into the historical engagement can be found here on the Fighterpilot Podcast:

 

https://www.fighterpilotpodcast.com/podcast/017-desert-storm-mig-kill/

 

Ahead of you at waypoint 1 is Shiraz airbase with the Sector Operations Command (SOC) as your primary target. Bullseye MANNY is 20 nm to the northwest at your waypoint 4. The second element is assigned the POL facility. Fight your way to the target and destroy it with Mk-84 bombs to accomplish your mission. Bringing up the rear is a flight of Hornet’s with AGM-88 HARMs to suppress SA-6 SAMs in the area.

 

Objective

 

Destroy the SOC at waypoint 1, ref briefing images.

 

Multiple SA-6 SAM sites are situated in the Shiraz area. These will be targeted by the SEAD flight. Short-range air defenses in the target area include 23m AAA and SA-13 SAMs.

 

This mission requires the DCS: Persian Gulf Map.

 

Have fun and good luck!

Persian Gulf FA-18 Strike Fighter.miz

Edited January 11, 2019 by Wags

[Wags]

Data Link / MSI, MIDS and COLOR coming to life. Much to still do though, but situational awareness will be getting a huge boost.

[Wags]

Next week work begins on LTWS and TWS! This will be development in parallel with MIDS/L-16/IFF/NCTR.

[Wags]

Magnum!

[Wags]

DCS: F/A-18C Hornet – AGM-88C HARM SP Mode Introduction

 

Next week we plan to release the AGM-88C HARM with the Self Protect (SP) mode. Soon after we will follow that up with the Target of Opportunity (TOO), Pre-Briefed (PB), pullback modes.

 

Operation of the HARM in SP mode is quite simple:

 

1. Master Arm Switch to ARM
2. A/G Master Mode ON
3. Select HARM from the TAC/Stores page
4. Press the HARM Sequence/RAID/FLIR FoV switch or to cycle the ground-radar emitters on the EW page / EW HUD / Azimuth Indicator (aka RWR scope)
5. RESET will automatically select the highest threat emitter
6. Press and HOLD the weapon release button or [right ALT + SPACEBAR]
7. Shout MAGNUM at the top of your lungs

 

 

Some notes:

 

• HARM range is highly dependent on launch altitude and speed. A high and fast launch at 45k MSL at 1.3M will allow engagement out to 80 nm.
• When in SP mode, no target range is provided. Have a good understanding of where the target may be before you launch that HARM.
• Some advanced SAM systems can shoot down a HARM. It is not a magic bullet.
• Most of all, have fun and enjoy the SAM payback!

[Wags]

Although the Hornet has more skins than any DCS World module, we are still adding more. Later this month we’ll be adding:

 

VFA-97 Warhawks

VFA-192 Golden Dragons

NSAWC Blue Splinter

 

The first two will be for a new Hornet, Persian Gulf campaign being developed by Bunyap and I.

Edited January 15, 2019 by Wags

[Wags]

Mission of the Week

This week’s mission comes on the heels of the HARM with SP mode release into the Open Beta this week. This is a standard Instant Action mission in the Caucasus map to practice using the HARM against a variety of targets.

 

This will later be integrated into the game.

 

Thanks and have fun!

Caucasus FA-18C AGM-88C HARM.miz

Edited January 22, 2019 by Wags

[Wags]

There seems to be a bit of confusion on how to properly set up bomb fuzes since the 16 January Open Beta release. This video is provided to help shed some light.

 

 

Thanks and have fun!

[Wags]

Mission of the Week

Red Flag Iron Hand

This week's mission takes place in the Nevada map as part of a Red Flag exercise.

 

Due to the large file size, it cannot be attached. Please use this link:

 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1wUqPuPvj00n_t0WcUrpxsDlYqBHnQ1Sz

 

Your flight is one component of a larger strike into RED territory that consists of fighter sweeps (F-15C), strike (Tornados), and SEAD/DEAD (F/A-18C and F-16CJ). Your flight targets are two SA-6 SAM sites 20 nm southeast of Tonopah. These threats must be eliminated prior to the Tornado flights crossing the fence.

 

RED air activity is expected to be high and consist of MiG-29, Su-27, and MiG-23.

 

Note 1: This mission uses real radio traffic from a Red Flag exercise, but it is solely for atmosphere and has no bearing on the mission you are flying.

 

Note 2: This can be a difficult mission with numerous threats and allied flights. This is designed for experienced Hornet pilots.

 

If you enjoy this mission, be sure to check out the Red Flag campaigns for the A-10C, F-15C, AJS-37 Viggen, and M-2000C on our e-Shop and Steam.

 

TASK:

 

Destruction of Straight Flush SA-6 SAM radars at WYPT 7 and 8.

 

In addition to the two SA-6 SAM sites, two MiG-23 Floggers fron the Red Eagles squadron will scample out of Tonopah AFB to intercept you. Both aircraft must be splashed.

 

MISSION PLAN:

 

Communications:

Strike: COMM 1 Channel 1 124.00

Nellis Tower: COMM 1 Channel 2 132.550

AWACS E-3 Darkstar: COMM 2 Channel 1 127.000

Tanker Arco: COMM 2 Channel 2 130.000

 

Players:

Chevy 1 and 2: F-15C north and south CAPs

Chevy 3 and 4: F-15C sweep

Colt 3 and 4: F-16CJ SEAD/DEAD

Colt 7 and 8: F/A-18C SEAD/DEAD

Uzi 1, 2, and 3: Tornado Strike

Arco 1 and 2: S-3B tankers

Texaco 1 and 2: KC-135 tankers

Pontiac 1: C-130 Compass Call

 

TACAN Nellis 12X

 

Schedule:

Startup: 00:25:00Z

Taxi: 00:38:00Z

Takeoff: 00:42:00Z

Strike marshal at Waypoint 4

Push: 01:04:00Z at .75M

 

A/A Waypoint - Bullseye: Waypoint 7

 

Targets:

WPDSG: Waypoint 7 SA-6 South

37-28-49N / 116-27-32E/5105 FT

 

WPDSG: Waypoint 8 SA-6 North

37-37-15N / 116-28-00E/5328 FT

Edited January 21, 2019 by Wags

[Wags]

A little Hornet update:

 

Much of what follows should be old news to earlier relayed plans to include:

 

1- TOO and PB HARM modes are in work. Once he finishes those up, he’ll start work on moving the Litening II TGP to the Hornet. However, this is not a simple copy and paste, this is still a significant amount of work, but it will allow us to bring a Hornet TGP into the game faster than the ATFLIR.

 

2- Huge amount of work on the data link (D/L). This is probably the most complex system for the Hornet given the network sharing and new APIs that need to be created. We are making good progress and it will be a “game changer”. This will also address a new system of IFF.

 

3- In additional to cleaning up the DUD and fuze logic for HD bombs, progress has been quite rapid on JDAM and JSOW. Like D/L, this is also a rather complex task that will take time.

 

4- Work is ongoing on the LTWS/TWS A/A radar modes. This will in turn tie into the MIDS D/L.

 

Thanks,

Wags

[Wags]

Certainly much work to still do, but the data link, SA page is coming along well with F/F data integration. Next will be E-2/E-3 SURV data and then network correlation.

 

- Wags

[Wags]

In parallel with the D/L, works progresses on the GPS-guided weapons like JDAM and JSOW. For those that enjoy menus, pressing buttons, and setting up profiles... you'll be in Nervana!

 

- Wags

[Wags]

Hornet Mission of the Week

 

This mission takes place over the Normandy map and is designed to test your low altitude flying skills and SAM evasion tactics. Take off from the Stennis and navigate to EACH waypoint in the route. As you reach each waypoint, you’ll get a notification. The flight plan is peppered with SAMs, and hostile CAPs are overhead and will depart their CAPs and look for you if you fly higher than 1,000 feet barometric. Keep low!

 

You are loaded with two AGM-88C HARM if you need to remove a couple SAM threats.

 

As you’ll see, rolling hills with forests can make you near-immune from SAMs if you keep low and fast.

 

CVN 74 is on TCN 74X and ICLS channel 11

 

Good luck and have fun!

 

- Wags

Normandy FA-18C-Armed Recce.miz

[Wags]

With one of the recent Hornet updates, we added new and more realistic tones for the AIM-9X Sidewinder. This video is provided to help better understand them.

 

 

[Wags]

In today’s Hornet mini-date, I thought I’d start talking about some of the Data Link (D/L) and Situational Awareness (SA) page fundamentals prior to release. We hope to release into the Open Beta later this month. There is a lot to take in, so let’s get started early. Naturally, there will be introduction videos, academic videos, interactive training lessons, and a manual chapter on this. Let’s talk about some of the elements:

 

Much like the HSI, you have your TDC relation to bullseye (A/A Waypoint) in the top left corner. In the same manner, you have many of the same waypoint controls like display of the selected waypoint, bearing/distance/time to selected waypoint, and sequence options. If the selected waypoint is visible on the SA display, it appears as a circle with the waypoint number in the center, with north arrow.

 

In the bottom left corner are your chaff and flare counters. O1 and O2 will come later. Yes, we’ll have option for 120 flares.

 

When enabled from PB 7, yellow triangle symbols appear along the bearing to air-to-air radar emitters. These have options to be set to off, side, and ID or not.

 

Green contacts are identified as friendly, red as hostile, and yellow as unknown. This is done through a combination of IFF and NCTR prints.

 

There are three possible sources of data that can build the SA picture: ownship sensors, other fighters (F/F), and AWACS aircraft like E-2 and E-3 (SURV). These sources are then correlated or they can be toggled on and off from the SENSR sub-level page on PBs 13, 14, and 15. PPLI allows the location and data sharing of networked aircraft.

 

When only ownship sensors detect a target, only the top half of the HAFU (symbol) is displayed. When only from an F/F donor, only the bottom half is displayed. If both ownship and a donor detect the same contact, then both top and bottom halves of the HAFU are displayed. Contacts only detected by a SURV donor, are smaller in size circle or diamond generally.

 

When the TDC is assigned to the SA page (indicated as diamond in top right corner), the TDC can be slewed. When placed over a contact, its Mach and altitude in thousands of feet is displayed on either side of the TDC cursor. While hovering over a contact, additional information is displayed in the bottom right corner of the display and this can vary based on its identification. Such data can include: NCTR print, bearing and range from ownship, bearing and range from bullseye, fuel level, callsign, etc.

A small dot on the left side of a green circle indicates it is a donor to the Link-16 network and is sharing data with you. A dot in the center of the circle indicates it is a command and control (C2) asset.

 

B, C, or D inside a contact indicates it is one of your flight wingmen.

 

The number shown for red contacts indicates its threat ranking.

 

A star indicates the track is your L&S target.

 

More functions will be coming soon, which I’ll talk about at a later point.

 

Please remember that this is very much work in progress and very much subject to change.

 

Thanks,

Wags

[Wags]

Hornet Mission of the Week

Magnum Force

 

The Black Sea

24 June 1992, Morning

Fictional

 

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 led to a renewed conflict in the Caucasus region. The initial attempts by Russian forces to seize Georgian territory were driven back, but that has only strengthened Moscow’s resolve. The Russians continue to build a sizable ground force near Maykop. A fully equipped Motor Rifle Brigade has been identified with additional forces continuing to flow in.

 

The deployment of additional Russian ground forces to the theater prompted a response by NATO. Cruise missile attacks on Russian airbases and infrastructure bought NATO enough time to deploy air and ground forces to the region. Squadrons of F-15C, F-16C, F/A-18C, A-10A, and Tornado fighter and attack aircraft are now operating from Georgia and the Black Sea. These are augmented by a small number of Georgian assets, mostly L-39 light attack aircraft.

 

Small detachments of Russian Su-27 and MiG-29 front-line fighters remain active from Krymsk and Krasnodar under the protection of SA-10 SAM systems, but the threat of an air attack on Georgian targets is minimal.

 

Your mission:

 

We will provide SEAD support for a small interdiction package aimed at disrupting enemy road activity and damaging the Maykop railyard. Most enemy supplies, equipment and other materiel enters the area through this single location. Disrupting the flow of enemy supplies will interfere with the enemy troop buildup south of Maykop.

 

Two flights of two L-39s armed with bombs, callsign Pontiac 1 and Pontiac 5, will depart from Gudauta AB and proceed north to the Maykop railyard target. Additional flights of A-10s, callsign Tusk 1 and Tusk 5, will patrol south of Maykop and destroy enemy ground forces operating in the open. They will be supported by a SEAD flight of four F/A-18C Hornets, callsign Springfield 1 (player), who will orbit southeast of the targets and engage any radar equipped air defense units that become active. A CAP flight of F-15Cs will also be on station to deal with any airborne threats.

 

The primary target is a railyard consisting of fuel processing facilities to the northeast and warehouses to the southwest. The Pontiac 1 and 2 L-39 flights will ingress separately and attack the target from different headings. Pontiac 1 will bomb the fuel related facilities to the northeast while Pontiac 2 bombs the warehouses.

 

See the mission planner for a look at the package ingress and egress routes and for detailed navigation planning.

 

Your F/A-18C SEAD flight, Springfield 1, will be on station to suppress any radar guided air defense threats in the area. An SA-6 SAM site has been identified at Maykop AB and may become active at any time. This site is known to operate very conservatively and to cease transmitting for a short time if an anti-radiation missile launch is suspected. Adjust your tactics to ensure this threat is suppressed while the Pontiac L-39 flights are in the area.

 

Additional mobile threats may be present in support of ground forces. Radar guided systems may include SA-8 SAMs or ZSU-23-4 AAA. Monitor the radio for the status of radar threats in the area and engage any threats to allied aircraft if able.

 

Pontiac and Tusk flights will announce when they have left the target area. Springfield 1 may leave the area and return to base after all flights have safely egressed.

 

An AWACS controller, callsign Focus, will provide early warning of approaching aircraft. Requests for the current situation can be made at any time in your radio AWACS menu by choosing PICTURE or BOGEY DOPE.

 

Carrier Admin:

TACAN: 74X

ICLS: 11

 

 

Success criteria:

- Reach the target area, protect the other flights and return safely to the carrier.

 

 

Design notes:

 

- Enable 'allied flight reports' in your gameplay options. Calls are filtered so only relevant information comes through.

 

- Open the mission planner for detailed navigation planning. The enemies present on the map represent current intel and is information you are intended to have.

 

- Different enemy air defense plans are built into the mission. It will play out differently each time.

Caucasus FA-18C Magnum Force.miz

[Wags]

Hey everyone,

 

As always, we are reading everything being said and we understand that some of you are having difficulty with weapons delivery accuracy and the pullup cue/break X. Based on the next planned Open Beta update, I made this video to help show correct fuze settings and delivery that provides accuracy and staying above the pullup cue.

 

 

This should be available in the 13 February 2019 Open Beta update.

 

- Wags

[Wags]

In the next F/A-18 Open Beta update for 13 February 2019 we plan several improvements that include weapon accuracy and pullup cue / Break X logic. This video demonstrates some of these upcoming changes over the Nevada map. This video is also meant to demonstrate accuracy regardless of target MSL elevation or mission temperature / barometric pressure.

 

 

[Wags]

Hornet Alternate AGM-65F Maverick Slew OPTION

 

In the next Open Beta we plan to release a new option for the AGM-65F Maverick slew that does not require realistically pressing down on the TDC switch while slewing. This video is to help set it up and understand the logic. This is added to address issues with the Warthog throttle mini-hat.