JSTARS?

[statrekmike]

Now that we are getting some more sophisticated multi-role platforms like the F/A-18, the F-14 (to a different degree), and even the upcoming F-16, I can't help but notice that while DCS World does have the infrastructure to deal with air to air engagements (via AWACS and GCI), it doesn't really have a air to ground infrastructure that can facilitate a realistic range of air to ground scenarios. When you read pilot memoirs (at least those that focus on more modern 90's+ conflicts), the JSTARS is a recurring element that often helps said pilots know where to go to start looking for targets.

 

This kinda gets into a big issue we have with DCS right now. When dealing with air to air missions, you have a AWACS to tell you where to point your radar. You can go "on station" and fly realistic patrols since the AWACS or GCI can always tell you where to look when something enters its (large) detection radius. For air to ground, we can't really do "on station" style missions without carefully handcrafting triggers, scripts, and the like and while that can achieve good results, it can also mean stepping outside the sim's built-in structure to make things work.

 

My suggestion. Take the basic idea of the current AI AWACS and put it in a air to ground context. It doesn't need to be super-detailed and doesn't need to be highly interactive. We just need something that can tell us where a enemy group is and perhaps datalink with appropriate playable aircraft (like the Harrier, A-10C, and F/A-18) in the way that JTAC units can (or will be able to do in the future).

 

There is one issue that I can see. a JSTARS can see all vehicles but may not know if they are enemy or ally. This is probably just something that will need to be abstracted for the sake of functionality. Perhaps you could have it where the system runs a check to see if there are nearby allied units that can reasonably "see" if a unit is friendly or not. Perhaps you could simply assume that Bluefor is networked in such a way that the JSTARS can sort enemy from ally before making a call to the player or vectoring said player to ground units.

 

Building air to air patrol missions is pretty convenient right now because the AWACS is a pretty simple, pretty effective, and generally realistic tool that can get players where they need to be without convoluted design. We need that kind of functionality for ground operations as well and having a simple JSTARS would be the solution that could work well inside DCS's existing structure and without intense levels of simulation required.

[Avenger31]

+1

 

Really would like to se one in the future.

[Cobb]

As a retired JSTARs ABM, I’d love to get that. I’d be very willing to help someone develop it too.

 

Cobb

[falcon_120]

+1

 

Enviado desde mi ELE-L29 mediante Tapatalk

[FlankerKiller]

I want it, but because I want to kill it, every day, as soon as I get home. You can kinda do what your talking about with the drones that are currently in game. But yes JTURDS would be very very useful.

Edited August 29, 2020 by FlankerKiller

[jojyrocks]

Reminds me of the OLD Jane's F-15E series where you could contact JSTARS for Ground contact or target info.

 

 

I think it'll take a LOOOOONG while to get that implemented.

[stormrider]

+1

[notproplayer3]

Awesome thought, would love to have this