Advanced Radar cross section/IR exhaust modelling

[Default774]

(This is based on my current, possibly incorrect, understanding on how these features work in DCS)

The current implementation of radar cross sections(RCS for short) in DCS is a single static value for each aircraft. For example, the RCS of the in-game F-16 is 4.0, Su-27 is 5.5, and an A-10 is 10.0. This current system has its drawbacks, namely that this value is completely static and doesnt change based on aircraft aspect or external stores.

For example, the F-16 and MiG21 have a fairly small frontal profile, resulting in a lower frontal RCS, but this is not the case for side/top/bottom aspect angles, where the RCS would obviously be different to frontal aspect. The current system in DCS does not reflect this at all. The current system doesnt express all the nuance there is in terms of how visible your aircraft will be on radar depending on your aspect.

More importantly, the current RCS implementation also doesnt take into account external stores on your aircraft. This means that (for example) a clean F-16 will have exactly the same RCS as one loaded up with six mk82s, two wing tanks and four amraams. This obviously doesnt make any sense, and it results in far lower radar detection ranges than you should really be getting in reality. 

The IR signature implementation is also relatively simple. Planes have two values for IR signature, one for military power, and one for reheat. This in practise means theres actually no difference in IR signature between being at MIL power and idle power, remember this next time you slam your throttle to idle when defending an IR missile!

In short

• Make the Radar cross section of a target change depending on target aspect and external stores.
• Make the IR signature values change depending on throttle setting and stages of reheat, replacing the current two-value system.

[okopanja]

I agree this would be great, but I tested performance against head on F-16 with another person and I recall that lowering below mil had distinct effect. Again this was a side note since we primarily flare tolerance, but made few runs on different thtotyle settings for crosscheck.

Also: at high supersonic speeds the surface of airplane can take easily 300 degree, in which case you will have a rather high thermal contrast even in front aspect.

[gmangnall]

where is the RCS located...do you know the filename/location

[Northstar98]

On 7/18/2023 at 9:38 AM, gmangnall said:

where is the RCS located...do you know the filename/location

You can find the values in each aircraft's .lua file, found here.

Simply click on the file of the aircraft you're interested in, press Ctrl+F and search for RCS.

Edited July 20, 2023 by Northstar98

[Pavlin_33]

On 5/4/2022 at 12:52 AM, okopanja said:

I agree this would be great, but I tested performance against head on F-16 with another person and I recall that lowering below mil had distinct effect. Again this was a side note since we primarily flare tolerance, but made few runs on different thtotyle settings for crosscheck.

Unless something changed in the meanwhile there are only 3 states in DCS:

- engine off

- engine on

- A/B on

[okopanja]

38 minutes ago, Pavlin_33 said:

Unless something changed in the meanwhile there are only 3 states in DCS:

- engine off

- engine on

- A/B on

Nothing changed, but at some point developers promised to take a look a the skin heating effect.