F/A-18C Modern MPD v 2.1.53 - Updated 21/4/2025

[CapnCoke]

Overview

The F-18C MPD Modernization Mod brings a fresh and contemporary feel to the cockpit for the classic F-18C Hornet. By updating the displays and symbology, this mod enhances situational awareness, readability, and overall usability. Basically - Mom: "We have a SuperHornet at home!"

Modern MPD  - demonstrating color separation to process information easily.

Features

• White Symbology
  • The monochromatic green symbology of the original F-18C MPD has been replaced with clean and crisp white symbology. This change improves contrast and readability
• Colored SA/Radar
  • Situational awareness is paramount in combat scenarios. With this mod, the situational awareness pages (such as the SA page) now feature color-coded elements:
    • Friendly units: Members display in blue. Surveillance donated friendlies appear in green.
    • Hostile units: Red.
    • Neutral or unknown units: Shown in yellow.
    • The radar display also benefits from color enhancements, making it easier to differentiate between contacts.
• Colored HSI (Horizontal Situation Indicator)
  • The HSI, a critical navigation instrument, now boasts a colorful presentation. Your aircraft is shown in distinct blue and waypoints are in white/purple sequences to help contrast with the digital map. Now customizable in V2.0
• Miscellaneous
  • NVGs can be used with JHMCS II
  • Customizable
  • Yellow SAM site circles
  • Green TACAN markers
  • Colored ADI
  • Yellow Caution/Advisory Warnings
  • Grayscale FLIR
  • Updated MPD textures
  • And many more!

 

*NEW IN V 2.0* ADDONS - CHECK SPOILER BELOW

Spoiler

Overview

V2 introduced some extra addons for those who wants it. All addons (including the main mod) can be seamlessly activated and deactivated in the mod manager without having to restart DCS, or even ingame (need to respawn or use alt+j to exit and reenter your Hornet).

Realistic HUD

Forked from jcabeleira Realistic HUD for VR. Edited to increase constraints and compatibility with Modern MPD mod.

Features

• Realistic Constraints
  • The HUD now has constraints at certain viewing angles/distance.
• Glow projections is now visible under certain light conditions. The HUD brightness knob is no longer useless.

FAQ

Can I use this with VR?

Yes

Can I use this without headtracking?

Yes, the constraints are wide enough for default camera view. However, it is recommended to use with trackIR.

 

JHMCS II - W.I.P

 

Features

• Introducing colored datalink
  • JHMCS II introduces color for different HAFU types. Cyan for members, Green for friendlies, Yellow for unknown, and Red for hostiles (Including air, and preplanned SAM sites).
• Added NVG support to HMD

FAQ

Can you increase datalink tracks instead of the default 7?

I am attempting that but it might be hardcoded. It's better to adjust your MID system.

How can I see color through my hud?

Disable HMD blanking in SUPT>HMD and unbox BLNK. You should also bind "RECCE Event Mark Switch" in F18C bindings to enable/disable HMD.

 

 

Link to Download:

CLICK HERE

Installation

The mod zip file includes the "Main Mod" (F18C Modern MPD), Addons Folder, and the MPD texture file which is optional but highly recommended. The Main Mod F18C Modern MPD uses colors by my design of what a modern MPD should be. You can also customize the colors in the lua file I created dedicated for easy customization.

As always, I recommend using a mod manager. As of V2.1, there is a F18C folder and a F18EF folder for CJS SuperHornet Community Mod.  (ModernMPD implemented with CJS Superhornet as of V2.1.4)

As for textures, open MPD Textures folder you've downloaded and drag "Cockpit_F-18C" folder to your "C:\Users\YourUsername\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Liveries"

Detailed Instructions for Dummies:

1. Create a new folder in your main DCS World folder and rename it to "OVGME Mods".
2. Install OVGME - https://wiki.hoggitworld.com/view/OVGME
3. Launch OVGME, it will prompt you to create a new configuration.
   1. Configuration Title: DCS Mods
   2. Configuration Root Folder: Select your main DCS World folder
   3. Configuration Mods Folder:null Select your OVGME Mods folder in your DCS World folder that you've created.
4. Download this mod and open the zip folder. Open the folder "Main Mod" and drag F18C Modern MPD folder into "OVGME Mods" folder.
5. In OVGME, right click the installed mod and click toggle to enable the mod.
6. OPTIONAL: For addons, open the Addons folder and drag desired addons to "OVGME Mods" folder.
7. Activate them AFTER activating the main mod.
8. For LCD Textures (OPTIONAL but RECOMMENDED), Open MPD Textures folder and drag "Cockpit_F-18C" folder to C:\Users\YourUserName\Saved Games\dcs or dcs.openbeta\Liveries

Customizing colors:

If there is any symbologies you want to customize but it's not an option, then leave a comment and I'll add it in the next update.

Before activating the main mod. Open FA-18C ModernMPD and navigate to FA-18C Modern MPD 2.0\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts and open modernmpd.lua with notepad or your favorite editor and adjust from there. Don't forget to save your changes, then activate FA-18C Modern MPD 2.0.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

*To enable MPD textures, head to Ingame Settings>Special Options>F/A-18C and select Modern MPD in Customized Cockpit. (Does not break IC).

**I made the choice not to adjust the default GAIN level for the AMPCD as certain weather/time require certain brightness. Be sure to adjust the GAIN first before suggesting changes to the AMPCD visibility.

****Please be aware this is an early version of the mod. I did as much testing as I could but due to the nature of this mod there could be an oversight that I've missed something. Report anything you feel that is missing, or feel that a certain symbology should be a certain color. Try to do some ILS landing, ACLS, open obscure pages, etc. Also, suggestions are welcome :).

FAQ

Q. Does this mod pass IC?

A. It passes pure/model/texture integrity check. It does not pass scripts integrity check.

Q. Your SuperHornet page doesn't have or includes this color, can I send you my source?

A. Only if its unclassified and public, then I'll accept it and make the required changes.

Q. I still can't see the HSI clearly!

A. Reduce the GAIN using the rocker switch located bottom left of the MPD. I've allowed the Gain controls to ignore font and symbology. If you need to dim the map more, set to night (top left rocker), then use the contrast rocker bottom right of the ampcd.

Q. Will you make a VR version like you did in your F/A-18C Colored MPD: White Font and Green Symbology mod?

A. No, unfortunately I've given away my VR to someone who needs it. I still believe the clarity and readability is pretty good with VR in this mod. If you have trouble, check here https://forum.dcs.world/topic/347416-fa-18c-modern-mpd-v-21-updated-152024-now-with-realistic-hudjhmcs-ii-optional-addons/?do=findComment&comment=5425823

Q. I see green and blue on my SA/RDR/AZEL page and they are friendly. What do they mean?

A. This is just a placeholder for the incoming IFF system. Currently its modded where friendlies from surveillance donors (AWACS, Ground Radar) are blue, while fighter to fighter data link shows up as green. Since the game automatically links everyone together, you'll see mostly green. In the end, anything that's not red is fwend.

Q. Were those really your frequently asked questions?

A. No, I pretended to be an average DCS forum user and made those questions up. Feel free to ask questions down below!

 

TODO

• Tweak HUD symbology/font thickness using available sources - F18C Modern MPD.
• Option to customize HSI Compass color. - F18C Modern MPD.

 

Known Bugs

• JHMCS II:
  • There is a bug that causes blur to elements that are behind your cockpit frame. This is a known bug that affects the A10C II Scorpion HMD and was reported a while ago but still no fix.
    • You can use TAZ NVG mod to counteract this issue. However, it will break Pure Client Integrity check. -Fixed in V2.1.37

Changelog

v2.1.53

• Changed ownship color to white.
• Added 1/4 and 1/2 scale to SA decentered modes
• Some minor bug fixes
• New addon: Modern ownship symbol taken from superhornet block 3 and upgraded block 2s. Kept it as an addon for multiplayer compatibility since its IC incompatible with servers that check for custom textures.

v.2.1.5 Test version Quick fix for crashes when using SA page. Realistic HUD should be working fine. JHMCS still has issues related to keybindings so preferably keep that addon off.

v2.1.43 Implemented ED fix for AGM65 seeker diamond.

v2.1.42 Fixed JHMCS NVG not working when asking ground crew to install HMD in missions with NVG installed by default

v2.1.41 Fixed Mach/Alt not showing in SA page when hovering cursor over contact

V2.1.4, 12/7/2024

• Updated to match the current version of the official F18C. ED did some minor additions and removed some lines to fix some bugs. This mod patch should match the changes they added. Make sure to delete old versions of the mod instead of replacing it in your mod folder (Including yesterday's hotfix).

V2.1.37, 11/7/2024

• Fixed JHMCS to work with latest patch
• JHMCS II colors now works with NVG
• Fixed blurring of JHMCS elements when behind certain cockpit frame/wings.

V2.1.35, 16/6/2024

• Added NVG support to HMD. -JHMCS II
• Modified certain element properties to support NVG. -JHMCS II
• Reverted dot from yellow back to green due to weird behavior with NVG. Also doesn't make sense for Friendly/Hostile to have a yellow dot.
• Modified certain element properties to support NVG and night time such as brightness adjustment. -ModernMPD

V2.1.3 hotfix, 7/6/2024

• Incorporated official DCS fix for SA TDC cursor behavior to the mod. -ModernMPD

V2.1.25 hotfix, 3/5/2024

• Fixed JHMCS II being too thick and faded for certain elements. -JHMCS II

V2.1.2, 3/5/2024

• HMD/MFD symbology and font thickness back to default with slight change in ampcd outline. However changes in HUD will stay, as well as changes to JHMCS II -ModernMPD
• Further improvements to JHMCS II hostile diamond box properties to stay consistent with other HMD elements. -JHMCS II
• Added SA page FCR cone used in Super Hornets to show radar gimbal limits. Currently static at 140 degrees radar azimuth settings. -ModernMPD
• Added SA page half ring. Used to determine half of scale distance. -ModernMPD

V2.1.1, 2/5/2024

• Further adjustment to hud/font thickness and fuzziness.

V2.1, 1/5/2024

• Changes to folder structure; Two different folders F18C and F18EF. This way you won't get a warning for overwriting folders in OVGME. Also to avoid some confusion.
• Now passes texture integrity check.
• Reverted white font to offwhite color, and increased brightness of the fonts. -ModernMPD
• Adjusted thickness and outline to accommodate new changes. -ModernMPD
• Added yellow diamond symbol color for weapondsg and red for manual designating. -JHMCS II.
• Adjusted HUD thickness for certain elements that are too thin, and for certain elements to match reference sources. -ModernMPD
• Adjusted JHMCS MIDS color properties to give it a hud feel to it. Will now be affected by sky brightness. -JHMCS II
• Adjusted JHMCS hostile diamond box properties as above. -JHMCS II
• Some minor polishing.

V2.01, 30/4/2024

• Hotfix - Friendly PPLI/FF in SA page set to default MDI green instead of full green.

V2.0, 29/4/2024 

• Combined all versions to one version "FA-18C Modern MPD"
• Fixed EWR symbols brightness during night operations
• Added Addons (Realistic HUD and JHMCS II)
• Added method to customize certain colors.

V1.1, 23/4/2024 - Fixed HSI missing purple color sequence line in decenter mode.
V1.0, 21/4/2024 - Release

F18C Superhornet/CJS:
V0.2, 23/4/2024 - Fixed HSI missing purple color sequence line in decenter mode.
V0.1, 21/4/2024 - Release

Acknowledgements

Folks at CJS for their hard work creating the amazing CJS Super Hornet Community Mod.

Ala12Rv-watermanpc for the fingerprints samples taken from his fantastic FA-18C Cockpit Cosmetic Pack.

jcabeleira for his work on his immersive Realistic HUD mod.

Screenshots (Some might be outdated)

Spoiler

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Edited Monday at 09:16 PM by CapnCoke

[KCOOL]

Looking forward to downloading this! Looks really good!

[Cougar133]

Very Nice job ! 

[Mnemonic]

Looks great! Have to try it!

[Rob Mason]

Beautiful job, love the more modern symbology.

[CapnCoke]

Download link up. Have fun. Report any bugs or comment for suggestions :D. Currently the Superhornet style just uses a white HSI but will be updated while im researching.

[CapnCoke]

Hotfix - fixed HSI sequence not being purple when using Decentered mode.

[EA-18G_BlockII]

@CapnCoke it seems the map function on HSI page wont display? i set the scale to 10 and pressed MAP but nothing happened (i used CJS Rhino version)

Edited April 23, 2024 by EA-18G_BlockII

[CapnCoke]

21 minutes ago, EA-18G_BlockII said:

@CapnCoke it seems the map function on HSI page wont display? i set the scale to 10 and pressed MAP but nothing happened (i used CJS Rhino version)

 

I just tested and it seems to be fine on the AMPCD. Tested the SA map too and seems to work. Did you get the latest update and it stopped working?

Edited April 23, 2024 by CapnCoke

[EA-18G_BlockII]

9 minutes ago, CapnCoke said:

I just tested and it seems to be fine on the AMPCD. Tested the SA map too and seems to work. Did you get the latest update and it stopped working?

 

yup, i just got the latest build

[CapnCoke]

4 minutes ago, EA-18G_BlockII said:

yup, i just got the latest build

Messaged you on discord.

[CapnCoke]

I'll be releasing an update soon. I was reached out to regarding different game resolutions/zoom levels affecting readability slightly. Although this issue is also present in the base game, I managed to make some slight improvements. Also, I was testing some night missions and might need to adjust the alpha to maintain consistent brightness for most fonts/symbology throughout different modes. Additionally, I did some extra polishing and minor bug fixes (they're not noticeable but keeps the backend clean). As a bonus, I'm going to include an optional mod called Realistic HUD for VR by jcabeleira with some modifications to make it viable for 2D/TrackIR users. It's a mod that improves the simulation of the radar by projecting it. It introduces HUD constraints which, at certain head levels/angles, might cause the HUD to get cut out, thereby increasing difficulty and immersion. However, I've increased the constraints to match what I believe are the real-life limitations of the F18 HUD.

Expect the update in a few days :). Also, please post some feedback suggestions and I'll try my best to incorporate them in the next update.

Edited April 25, 2024 by CapnCoke

[CapnCoke]

Here's a sneak peek of the optional mod. It can be activated and deactivated in the mod manager separately from the MPD mod. The release will have a much fainter glow than the screenshots. It's just bright at the moment for debugging. During low-light conditions, it will be more visible, and your HUD brightness knob has a purpose now! I would like to thank jcabeleira for creating this, especially finding out what's possible and working with what we have.

Edited April 25, 2024 by CapnCoke

[CapnCoke]

Updated to V2. Merged all mod versions and added an easy way to customize to your liking. Also, added some optional addons (realistic hud by jcabeleira and JHMCS II which is currently WIP but functional for airborne targets/SAM sites).

[Chicki]

Hmmmm...can't seem to get this to work.  Installed with OvGME.  Are there supposed to be both Cockpit and Cockpit 1 folders installed if I don't have the Super Hornet mod?  Thanks.

 

Disregard.  Think I figured it out.  Pretty neat mod.  Thanks.

Edited May 1, 2024 by Chicki
Retard factor

[CapnCoke]

6 hours ago, Chicki said:

Hmmmm...can't seem to get this to work.  Installed with OvGME.  Are there supposed to be both Cockpit and Cockpit 1 folders installed if I don't have the Super Hornet mod?  Thanks.

 

Disregard.  Think I figured it out.  Pretty neat mod.  Thanks.

 

Glad you figured it out. And yeah Cockpit1 is there just incase you have SuperHornet installed. Much easier for me to keep working and updating this mod, and to keep installation simple. 

[CapnCoke]

Updated to add ground designation to jhmcs, and some polishing. Apology for changing the folder structure again. It bothered me that I need to overwrite folders in the mod manager when developing this mod. So I've seperated the F18C and Superhornet again but structured it better than v1. Just open the folder of your aircraft and continue installation from there.

Some changes were done with the font thickness/fuzziness since v2.0 had low fuzziness which I liked but for some reason it affects the font brightness. Therefore I had to do some balancing again between thickness and fuzziness. Hopefully I don't need to touch it again.

For VR users, if you have trouble with the ampcd readability, I suggest going in to f18c modernmpd\Mods\aircraft\FA-18C\Cockpit\Scripts\Multipurpose_Display_Group\Common\indicator\

and open MDG_strokesdef.lua with any text editor and adjust on line 15 and 16 to this

	DMC_outline_thickness = 3.15
	DMC_outline_fuzziness = 6

This was taken from my old white font green symbology mod VR version. I don't think I'll include a VR version to reduce the amount of folders.

Edited May 1, 2024 by CapnCoke

[EA-18G_BlockII]

related to rl regarding the JHMCS II, i dont think real Rhino driver use it no? they're still using JHMCS I but idk if the Navy has updated that helmet with newer tech

[CapnCoke]

8 hours ago, EA-18G_BlockII said:

related to rl regarding the JHMCS II, i dont think real Rhino driver use it no? they're still using JHMCS I but idk if the Navy has updated that helmet with newer tech

There isn't any public info about that except for IJHMCS that will be fielded around 2025 and will support color. That's why I've kept it as optional.

[EA-18G_BlockII]

18 minutes ago, CapnCoke said:

There isn't any public info about that except for IJHMCS that will be fielded around 2025 and will support color. That's why I've kept it as optional.

Which source that states Rhino will field the JHMCS 2?

[Scal]

Hello ! Very nice mod !!!
Just a small detail, the HUD horizontal dash lines are not well visible (see red circle). Could you decrease a bit the line size/thickness ?

Edited May 2, 2024 by Scal

[CapnCoke]

31 minutes ago, Scal said:

Hello ! Very nice mod !!!
Just a small detail, the HUD horizontal dash lines are not well visible (see red circle). Could you decrease a bit the line size/thickness ?

 

Hi thanks for the feedback. Further changes in the HUD is coming soon for 2.1.1 as im finding extra sources so far. Either today or tomorrow. The issue im having is that the thickness/fuzziness seems to change whenever we increase/decrease fov. Also, seems like MSAA/DLAA affects the clarity of the fonts. Thats why throughout v1 to v2.1, i've been separating thickness for each font/symbology/hud and have their own variable. Hopefully I figure out a good balance for players with high and low fov while maintaining realistic thickness.

Edit: uploaded 2.1.1

Edited May 2, 2024 by CapnCoke

[Scal]

1 hour ago, CapnCoke said:

Hi thanks for the feedback. Further changes in the HUD is coming soon for 2.1.1 as im finding extra sources so far. Either today or tomorrow. The issue im having is that the thickness/fuzziness seems to change whenever we increase/decrease fov. Also, seems like MSAA/DLAA affects the clarity of the fonts. Thats why throughout v1 to v2.1, i've been separating thickness for each font/symbology/hud and have their own variable. Hopefully I figure out a good balance for players with high and low fov while maintaining realistic thickness.

Edit: uploaded 2.1.1

 

I have tried in your materials.lua line 23 : MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {2, 255, 30, 140} 
A slightly different green and less intense.

 

Finally, with your 2.1.1 version I changed it to MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {2, 255, 25, 150}
Looks perfect for me...

 

Edited May 2, 2024 by Scal

[CapnCoke]

40 minutes ago, Scal said:

I have tried in your materials.lua line 23 : MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {2, 255, 30, 140} 
A slightly different green and less intense.

 

Finally, with your 2.1.1 version I changed it to MDG_materials[MDG_SELF_IDS.HUD]     = {2, 255, 25, 150}
Looks perfect for me...

 

 

The reason for the intensity was to compliment with realistic hud glow addon. If you see the glow during normal flight, it means the hud brightess knob was set too high. During sunny no cloud weather, a full knob looks good and clear. Setting the alpha too low in materials.lua might make the hud difficult to see in those sunny days. Especially desert maps in the afternoon.

 

see how intense those hud is when knob is set too bright

Edited May 2, 2024 by CapnCoke

[Scal]

1 hour ago, CapnCoke said:

The reason for the intensity was to compliment with realistic hud glow addon. If you see the glow during normal flight, it means the hud brightess knob was set too high. During sunny no cloud weather, a full knob looks good and clear. Setting the alpha too low in materials.lua might make the hud difficult to see in those sunny days. Especially desert maps in the afternoon.

 

see how intense those hud is when knob is set too bright

 

I understand your point.
But today I do not want to use the realistic hud addon because it crops the view which I don't like (too realistic today for me)
Could you have 2 versions of the alpha value ? with or without the the realistic hud addon.

BTW, do you know if in VR we can increase the brightness (and perhaps also the thickness) of the HMD ? It is sometime difficult to see with my Quest3...

Edited May 2, 2024 by Scal