B-1B Lancer

[FlankerKiller]

We are getting the F-15E. That is a "light" bomber with vary complex systems. It did replace the F-111 after all. The main issue I see with heavy bombers is the game play. Now I know there are civilian flight sim enthusiasts who simulate flights across the Pacific for fun. But in a modern contested conflict a Buff mission would consist of taking off. Flying through uncontested air space. Then launching a volley of cruise missiles and flying home. Yes they were used for close air support in GWOT. But again that was completely uncontested air space. And there is another issue. They are not going to be flying into any form of contested airspace. Ether a massive escort and SEAD package is going in with them to brute force the way clear. And if that fails all the bombers can do is abort or die. There just isn't really much to be offered by simulating the heavies. Lots of hours of basically commercial flying, release weapons at pre planned targets from a safe distance, return to base. Even low altitude penitration strikes with the Bone aren't really a thing in contested airspace. Even a single AWACS will see them, and ones they are intercepted it's all over. All of the above is basically the reasoning behind the F-15E. It can carry alot of bombs a good distance. And if it has to it can defend itself if intercepted. Especially once the AMRAAM was in service. 

[Silver_Dragon]

24 minutes ago, FlankerKiller said:

We are getting the F-15E. That is a "light" bomber with vary complex systems. It did replace the F-111 after all. The main issue I see with heavy bombers is the game play. Now I know there are civilian flight sim enthusiasts who simulate flights across the Pacific for fun. But in a modern contested conflict a Buff mission would consist of taking off. Flying through uncontested air space. Then launching a volley of cruise missiles and flying home. Yes they were used for close air support in GWOT. But again that was completely uncontested air space. And there is another issue. They are not going to be flying into any form of contested airspace. Ether a massive escort and SEAD package is going in with them to brute force the way clear. And if that fails all the bombers can do is abort or die. There just isn't really much to be offered by simulating the heavies. Lots of hours of basically commercial flying, release weapons at pre planned targets from a safe distance, return to base. Even low altitude penitration strikes with the Bone aren't really a thing in contested airspace. Even a single AWACS will see them, and ones they are intercepted it's all over. All of the above is basically the reasoning behind the F-15E. It can carry alot of bombs a good distance. And if it has to it can defend itself if intercepted. Especially once the AMRAAM was in service. 

That will be the same situation with any real bomber from WW2 to today, you need fly into contested airspace, and surely will be into contested airspace to bomb a tactical, operational or strategy bomber on a future campaign builded, Server or dinamic campaig.

The real bombers comming to DCS (no the "fake" tacticals) as the Heatblur A-6 or any future project as a F-111, B-17, A-20, B-66, il-28, Tu-16, etc by someone. We need start to think no on "I´m a sitting duck" by long range SAM / AAMs actually, That require some "plans" to open safe corridors, by tactical aircrafts or use long range cruise missiles to whip out enemy defenses and clear airspace from enemy fighters. 

The main problem I see, is building bombers with multiple crews and creating artificial intelligence to control the pilot's post without jumping from pilot site to other post. A similar situation will be on other aircrafts as ASW / Patrol / AEW / Tankers.

[FlankerKiller]

WWII is not quite the same thing as flying into over lapping SA-10 supported by SU-27, or whatever, and AWACS. Also I don't think you can really call the F-15E, A-6E, F-111 fake bombers. History certainly dose not. WWII bombers would alow you to jump into a gunner seat and try to defend the bomber. I even suspect with a proper pilot AI most people would take off, then just let the Ai fly it. Especially once you are in contested air space. Preferring to operate the bomb sight or a gunner station. Those bombers did penitrate enemy airspace and did tangle with fighters, and did have means to protect themselves in a way that would be vary enjoyable for the player. In a real near pear fight in 2005ish the strategic bomber role would have been to launch waves of ALCMs from a safe distance. Non stelth penitration missions into defended airspace hasn't really been a thing in a long time. Even the stelth bombers are not likely to survive actually flying deep into well defended airspace. I'm not saying no one would buy it. But I wouldn't. Like I said there are civilian simmers that would maybe love it. But how many of them are there, and how many would come over to a combat simulator. And other then ridiculous amounts of endurance and bomb load what does it bring to DCS that isn't already covered by something we already have. Also is there even enough information to consider it. And again is there enough players that would buy it to be worth the massive amount of work it would take to create. It's a wish list, wish away. But I highly suspect that this is something most of us would fly once or twice, and be done with it.