Most modern reconnaissance aircraft possible?

[Tom Kazansky]

Dear ED,

 

 

It seems obvious that military reconnaissance aircraft modules are very problematic in terms of getting a licence for.

 

 

That's why I wonder which is the most modern (newest) reconnaissance aircraft we could hope to get in DCS World?

 

 

(I'm not asking whether it is planned or not.)

[Bimbac]

Technically speaking, any aircraft equipped with TGP, Air-to-ground radar and ELINT capable EWS should be able to perform the reconnaissance duties. There are some dedicated platforms, but having a player-controlled multi-role or swing-role aircraft would be much more interesting. The fundamental parts for it are already present in DCS, so just a proper information transfer and processing should do.

 

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[Harlikwin]

The main thing would be having a propper intel elint mechanic for it. I think the viggen has something like that but im not clear on how it works in game.

[norbot]

Don't think there are too many options, if you want a pure reconnaissance aircraft. U-2, SR-71, M-55 and maybe Tornado ECR. Maybe the U-2 could be old enough to have most systems unclassified?

[Emmy]

F-8 is in the pipeline.

 

RF-8s did a lot of the leg work during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

[Tom Kazansky]

Sounds interesting. I think the upcomming dynamic campaign could profit from air reconnaissance too. It could be very handy to mark enemy units temporarily on the F10 map for ground strikes by taking pictures. Certainly that's not planned though caus we don't have any modules for that, yet.

 

 

Could be a rewarding task to provide own side with information about enemy units. In DC, MP and maybe SP too imho.

[WHOGX5]

The RA-5C! It's been out of service for about 40 years, has photo recon, SLAR, ELINT; It even has flash pods for night photo missions. It was one of, if not the main reconnaissance platform of the vietnam war. Also I think it's the biggest/heaviest aircraft to ever operate from a carrier deck.

 

It also retains all the bombing avionics from it's previous variants so it won't be a pacifist only module. And it's able to buddy-refuel other aircraft. So basically it's a carrier capable supersonic strategic/nuclear bomber/Recce/ELINT/Tanker aircraft in one single variant.

 

I advise you to read about the A-5/RA-5C. Such a groundbreaking aircraft with so many interesting little quirks and lots of stories from pilots who flew her in vietnam.

[Harlikwin]

Don't think there are too many options, if you want a pure reconnaissance aircraft. U-2, SR-71, M-55 and maybe Tornado ECR. Maybe the U-2 could be old enough to have most systems unclassified?

 

You mean the U2 that is still flying? Or was until very recently?

[Emmy]

Sounds interesting. I think the upcomming dynamic campaign could profit from air reconnaissance too. It could be very handy to mark enemy units temporarily on the F10 map for ground strikes by taking pictures. Certainly that's not planned though caus we don't have any modules for that, yet.

 

 

Could be a rewarding task to provide own side with information about enemy units. In DC, MP and maybe SP too imho.

 

We regularly do this in the A-10C. We have a long-term mission running right now where we’ve had to fly several Armed Recon missions to ferret out Red Force locations and disposition. Obviously you won’t fly 600kts at 100’ with cameras rolling, but a TGP and a pen/paper is a fun way to go out looking for bad guys. Just need to keep one eye on the RWR and one ear on AWACS lest Red Air ruin your day.

[norbot]

You mean the U2 that is still flying? Or was until very recently?

 

I meant something like a U2-R from the 1980's. We also have the F/A-18 in DCS and it is still flying. Also the F-16 coming. Would be from the same era.

[Tom Kazansky]

We regularly do this in the A-10C. We have a long-term mission running right now where we’ve had to fly several Armed Recon missions to ferret out Red Force locations and disposition. Obviously you won’t fly 600kts at 100’ with cameras rolling, but a TGP and a pen/paper is a fun way to go out looking for bad guys. Just need to keep one eye on the RWR and one ear on AWACS lest Red Air ruin your day.

 

 

That sounds great already. So it's not wrong to hope for a lot of fun with a reconnaissance aircraft.

 

 

@WHOGX5: RA-5C looks nice

[Xilon_x]

here is a complete list of reconnaissance and observation aircraft. Choose one.

 

 

Edited August 12, 2019 by Xilon_x

[Knock-Knock]

RF-5E Tiger eye. Its a interchangeable nose, so we almost have it.

[Bones1775]

F/A-18D ATARS

[Knock-Knock]

Oh right, F-14 with the TARPS pod.

[Tom Kazansky]

@Xylon_x

 

 

Wow.... :huh: Thank you.

 

 

 

@Bones

 

 

Would be verry cool but certainly won't be ED's answer to my initial question.

 

 

 

I'm still quite a bit away from a wishlist of planes.

 

My wish was to kindly ask for an ED statement which reconnaissance aircraft would be doable. If any.

 

I'm pretty sure about the fun and challenge it would bring to DCS to fly those very different kind of missions.

[Knock-Knock]

and a great video on the TARPS pod

 

[Harlikwin]

I meant something like a U2-R from the 1980's. We also have the F/A-18 in DCS and it is still flying. Also the F-16 coming. Would be from the same era.

 

No I literally mean its still flying today

 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-u-2-spy-plane-still-flying-combat-missions-60-years-after-debut-1528382700

[Emmy]

That sounds great already. So it's not wrong to hope for a lot of fun with a reconnaissance aircraft.

 

 

@WHOGX5: RA-5C looks nice

 

Provided you’re in a group or on a server where only one or two people know the “big picture” then yeah, having to do some work to find meaningful targets and work up plans to attack them on later flights is a lot of fun. Map sizes kind of dictate that “Recon” flights are of a tactical nature and not strategic, but it still can be a meaningful activity.

[Tom Kazansky]

Provided you’re in a group or on a server where only one or two people know the “big picture” then yeah, having to do some work to find meaningful targets and work up plans to attack them on later flights is a lot of fun. Map sizes kind of dictate that “Recon” flights are of a tactical nature and not strategic, but it still can be a meaningful activity.

 

 

Yes. I dream of a F-10 map showing red(blue) clouds where enemies are suspected. I go in with a recce mission. Not knowing exactly the SAM positions and other units'. Reveal enemy units for the F-10 map by taking pictures (IR, radar or cam). Just for a period of time depending on how mobile they are. Enough to plan A/G sorties. And all this in a dynamic campaign.

[Squiffy]

This would be the TR-1 no? And F10 map? I just want one that holds the same zoom as the last time I looked.

[EDolosa4]

On 8/11/2019 at 8:09 AM, WHOGX5 said:

The RA-5C! It's been out of service for about 40 years, has photo recon, SLAR, ELINT; It even has flash pods for night photo missions. It was one of, if not the main reconnaissance platform of the vietnam war. Also I think it's the biggest/heaviest aircraft to ever operate from a carrier deck.

 

It also retains all the bombing avionics from it's previous variants so it won't be a pacifist only module. And it's able to buddy-refuel other aircraft. So basically it's a carrier capable supersonic strategic/nuclear bomber/Recce/ELINT/Tanker aircraft in one single variant.

 

I advise you to read about the A-5/RA-5C. Such a groundbreaking aircraft with so many interesting little quirks and lots of stories from pilots who flew her in vietnam.

I love the RA-5C. I had a model of it, once upon a time in my youth. I do have an MSFS X variant but it sure would make flying around DCS interesting if not fun for reconnaisance missions. It had a bomber version of it also, but that variant wasn't as popular as the recon one. The bomber was sort of unique, at the time, that it had a rear firing bomb bay to drop ordinance from a narrow space between the engines.