Cold War Interceptors and Bombers Mode?

[Kalasnkova74]

I’m floating this idea after some careful thought. 

After seeing an F-101B at a museum, my mental gears started turning. There’s an entire generation of Cold War era interceptors -such as the Voodoo, Su-15, MiG-25, early MiG-23, F-102, F-104A,  F-106 ,etc - whose major mission was to intercept enemy bomber formations. These jets are good aircraft but don’t fit the tactical model DCS currently employs. 

Perhaps it’s time to consider a new game mode involving bombers, interceptors and even jammers. This is a chance for strike bombers like the Su-24, F-111 , Buccaneers, Tupolev Badgers and Tornado IDS to do their stuff and for interceptors like F-106s (just one example) to do theirs. One side defends, the other bombs/strikes. No A2A free for alls here. 

Bigger bombers like the B-52 and Tu-95 might even work, although probably limited to earlier variants for security reasons. Incidentally that is another benefit of this game mode: most of the aircraft involved are retired (admittedly the Chemodan/Fencer is not) and thus can be modeled realistically without running afoul of classification . 
 

what say the DCS cadre?

Edited January 13, 2023 by Kalasnkova74

[Exorcet]

DCS doesn't have or need modes. You can do what you're asking for already with the mission editor. Hopefully down the line the dynamic campaign would be able to come up with a similar scenario.

[bies]

In Dynamic Campaign it will surely be expanded and one of the main task of the fighters. Before DC it's more like guys say, you have specific missions and mission editor.

I.e. in Enigma's Cold War server intercepting and escorting bombers already is a thing, for fighters like MiG-19, MiG-21, F-14 or Mirage F.1 intercepting bombers, attack and reconissance aircrafts was one of the main designed role. MiG-19P, first variant we received, is typical PVO interceptor with radar for night operations.

Maybe some day we will see some pure interceptor like Soviet PVO Strany Su-9, Su-11, Su-15, Tu-128, Yak-28, MiG-25 or US Air Defense Command F-101, F-102, F-106. At least as AI assets. Some of them like Yak-28, F-101 Voodo or MiG-25 had multiple variants performing multiple roles of interceptors, reconissance aircrafts, bombers.

Some campaigns like i.e. "Fear the Bones" for the F-14 Tomcat include such missions.

 

[upyr1]

6 hours ago, Kalasnkova74 said:

After seeing an F-101B at a museum, my mental gears started turning. There’s an entire generation of Cold War era interceptors -such as the Voodoo, Su-15, MiG-25, early MiG-23, F-102, F-104A,  F-106 ,etc - whose major mission was to intercept enemy bomber formations. These jets are good aircraft but don’t fit the tactical model DCS currently employs. 

Perhaps it’s time to consider a new game mode involving bombers, interceptors and even jammers. This is a chance for strike bombers like the Su-24, F-111 , Buccaneers, Tupolev Badgers and Tornado IDS to do their stuff and for interceptors like F-106s (just one example) to do theirs. One side defends, the other bombs/strikes. No A2A free for alls here. 

Are you talking about an intercept mission where you pull up along side a bomber and escort them out of your airspace and don't have permission to fire on them- like we see in this photo of a Phantom and a Bear?

 I think that would be awesome idea for a mission or campaign even. As your goal is to figure out if the bear is there to do recon or fire off a bunch of missiles. 

[WinterH]

6 hours ago, Kalasnkova74 said:

These jets are good aircraft but don’t fit the tactical model DCS currently employs. 

Perhaps it’s time to consider a new game mode involving bombers, interceptors and even jammers.

No such concept exists within DCS, nor needed.

We have things like I-16, Yak-52, Christen Eagle II, and upcoming others like Chinook, C-130J etc, how do they fit then?

We just need interceptors as modules, and hopefully appropriate aircraft to intercept. Hopefully jammers are improved along with such a module too. But this ain't no mode. DCS is whatever you, or campaign maker, or mission designer for the server etc put into the mission editor.

[Kang]

It's mostly a manner of having missions to reflect this, I guess. But yes, valid wish for having more of this kind of mission in campaigns or multiplayer servers. It can definitely be interesting. I guess in MP at least the focus is usually put with more fighter-fighter combat as bomber intercepts usually mean AI only flights which some people do not enjoy so much.

[Kalasnkova74]

Apologies for the “mode” reference. I’m very new to DCS and ask your collective pardon for any FNG flubs. 
 

While off the beaten path, I think  interceptor missions/servers would be a fun challenge for DCS players. Let’s start with the backstory; for those unaware we used to hold William Tell competitions in the US. Back in the 1970 the US Air Defense Command invited North American interceptor squadrons to compete for who’d be the best at air to air interception and gunnery. These challenges were stuff that’d make even Hangman feel the pressure. Intercepting a B-52 under a time clock, shooting down drones, engaging bombers using ECM, intercepting and shooting down high speed BOMARC rocket targets, etc. Frequently the Canadian F-101s took home the prize. 

Point : I think jumping into a MiG-23, F-101B, Su-15, MiG-25 and catching up a Tu-95/ SR-71 /B-52/ ELINT aircraft etc would be a fun experience, and would be a good home for a generation of amazing Cold War aircraft which wouldn’t really fit in other engagement scenarios. 

[draconus]

On 1/13/2023 at 10:56 PM, upyr1 said:

I think that would be awesome idea for a mission or campaign even. As your goal is to figure out if the bear is there to do recon or fire off a bunch of missiles. 

Intercepting a Bear is one of the first missions done for the Tomcat and it has 2 or 3 possible endings.

First mission of Cage the Bear Tomcat campaign is also about intercepting multiple Tu-22Ms.

There are a lot of intecept missions both SP and in Tomcat campaigns.

Also F-15C The Georgian War campaign has a lot of intercept orders.

Other modules also apply here. It's nothing new in DCS.