Feedback Thread - Viggen Update July 11th 2024

[IronMike]

Dear all,

After the past months have seen us focus primarily on the F-4E Phantom II and post release hotfixes, we are thrilled to return to more substantial updates extensively focusing on the Viggen and Tomcat, ensuring that these beloved aircraft continue to meet our high standards and improve and we can expand their features.

With this Viggen update, we are focusing on both avionics and visual enhancements. The manual has been updated to reflect these changes accurately.

In terms of avionics, we’ve made significant improvements to the radar and HUD elements. The radar color and HUD element positions have been corrected, and the CI indicators have been adjusted. The math for the Lysbomb pull-up command has been corrected, and a backup mode for Lysbomb has been added.

One of the prominent updates includes the improved nav system initialization on rotations, which now will require pilots to have LS and runway setup correctly, or suffer poor navigation. We have also added all real "NAV" reference points and airfield codes for Kola, providing authentic navigation data for the Viggen’s natural habitat.

The avionics changes also include various adjustments to the CI symbols, the timeline's rotation command in takeoff mode, and the introduction of low/med/large safety altitudes when using high drags. The annunciation panel fields have been updated to blink for various alerts, and two missing fields have been added to the panel test.

Visually, we’ve corrected UVs for the ATT button light, changed the light bulb for the CI heading bug, and added reflected light from ALLMÄN-BEL lights. The lights shining through the glareshield onto the windshield have been corrected, and several aesthetic adjustments have been made to the EP13 and FLI37 instruments. Additionally, ambient occlusion has been added to the FLI37 director arms, and the taxi light brightness has been increased for better visibility.

Weapon systems have seen numerous updates. The chaff and flare programs have been corrected, and the ability to change countermeasure count has been removed, fixing it to specific values. Various weapons, including the SB 71 HD/LD, Lysbomb, ARAK AP/HE, BK90, and AKAN have undergone adjustments to their dynamics, weights, and functionalities to better match real-world performance.

Significant updates have been made to the Rb15 missile. These include increased drag, functional adjustments to its address settings, and enhancements to its guidance logic. The missile now climbs to its search altitude and scans for targets more accurately, with improved turn performance and better adherence to search area settings. The BK-90's approach altitude and submunition release timers have also been fine-tuned for more realistic behavior.

The Rb04 missile has also received important updates. The drag has been increased, and its descent program has been made more realistic, with a new yaw command added to provide better separation. The guidance logic has been overhauled to allow for target re-acquisition if the initial target is missed or sunk. The GRUPP mode now functions with two detected ships, and the missile model has been updated for improved accuracy. NOTE: These updates will break old weapon presets and missions that use them.

With this patch we are starting the process to officially release the Viggen and have it no longer bear the Early Access status. Rest assured that this will in no way deter us from delivering on some remaining promises and more exciting updates and improvements, as well as additions, to not only keep the Viggen up to date, but to also keep expanding its functionality and environment in both a foreseeable and distant future.

We want to say thank you to all the loyal tree-top level pilots, who showed us so much support, excellent feedback and patience during its Early Access phase. May you all have many successful landings on makeshift road bases, for a long long time to come!

Thank you from all of us at Heatblur!
 

DCS AJS-37 Viggen by Heatblur Simulations

• Updated the Manual
• Inputs: Fixed non-bindable mouse buttons
   
• Avionics: Changed “radio names” - compatibility with VaicomPro
• Avionics: Moved HUD elements around to their correct positions
  • +-5  markers have their signs
  • General placement
  • Compass, distance/timeline and marker move with the outer 3 degree poles
     
• Avionics: Corrected radar colour
• Avionics: Corrected CI commanded height and reference line positions slightly
• Avionics: Increased X-axis resolution of A2 picture a bit
• Avionics: Added accurate low alt. warnings for “low/med/large” safety altitudes when using high drags
• Avionics: Added comma to HUD (digital altitude’s km indication)
• Avionics: Fade in for CI after 30s in NAV (anything but FK/BER really)
• Avionics: Corrected math for Lysbomb pull up command - now shows 4g correctly
• Avionics: Added the backup mode for Lysbomb
• Avionics: Removed CI “Symbol” elements to not change brightness with the LJUS SI knob
• Avionics: Matched the color of CI symbols to one another
• Avionics: Made the Circle marker move with Video marker with A1/T1
• Avionics: Fixed Video marker starting at the left edge of the screen
  • Known issue: Only fixed within 0-180 & 270-360 deg
     
• Avionics: Fixed Datapanel display not showing correct data in SPA/A1/T1
• Avionics: If < 25% of current leg, make fix on previous WP
• Avionics: Placed the event markers at +- 2 deg in the “take off” mode
• Avionics: Made timeline’s rotate command in “take off” mode functional
• Avionics: Made circle marker render “outside” the radar image on the CI. To an extent..
• Avionics: Removed automatic waypoint switching in ANF and SPA
• Avionics: Changed following annunciation panel fields to blink:
  • Known issue: Blinking does not stop after pressing master caution button
  • CK
  • BRÄ<24
  • TANKPUMP
  • RESERV EFF
  • TIPPVÄXEL
  • HYRD-TR1
  • HYRD-TR2
  • SYRGAS
  • KABINHÖJD
  • HUV o STOL
  • HÅLLFUNK
  • RHM
  • OLJETRYCK
  • BRÄ UPPF
  • TÄNDSYST
     
• Avionics: Added the two missing annunciation panel fields to panel test
  • “Blank”
  • OLJETEMP
     
• Avionics: Made it possible to use one more LYSBOMB “loadout”: 
  • All pylons (S7 & V7)
  • S7 pylons - Center of group will be about 0.4 km long of the target
  • V7 pylons - Center of group will be about 1 km short of the target
     
• Avionics: Made TERNAV status value be “1” with weight on nose wheel
  • Also sets confidence to 0
     
• Avionics: Disabled master caution during engine start up sequence
• Avionics: RAT deploys and retracts in 4 seconds instead of 7
• Avionics: Added all real “NAV” reference points for Kola (91xx - 94xx)
• Avionics: Added all real airfield codes for Kola (9001 - 9069)
• Avionics: Added multi-runway airfield support
  • TILS on main runway only (one direction)
     
• Avionics: Made data display show airfield coords on startup, not the aircraft’s
• Avionics: Nav system initialization on rotation - Make sure to have LS and runway set correctly
• Avionics: Fixed “Beredskaps varning”
  • Known issue: Flashes at 5 Hz, instead of 2.5
     
• Avionics: Fixed altitude warning light to flash at the correct 5 Hz
• Avionics: Added “runway search” if A/C heading is > 15 deg from the stored runway
• Avionics: Added a filter to not add FARPs that are within a certain distance from an airfield to the “airfield codes”
• Avionics: FARPs and manually entered runways will have an assumed runway length of 800m (±400m from the FARP/coords)
• Avionics: P4 (steak mode) for KB pod is started with only the rotary switches on the panel, the “KB switch” is not needed
• Avionics: Set default frequency on the manual FR22 freq selector to 251.000 MHz, instead of the illegal 123.456 MHz
   
• Art: Corrected UVs for ATT button light - Should look like the SPAK and HÖJD lights
• Art: Changed light bulb for the CI heading bug - should be brighter at low settings
• Art: Added “reflected” light from ALLMÄN-BEL lights
• Art: Greatly reduced lights shining through the glareshield onto the windshield
• Art: Fixed ugly UV error on a panel
• Art: Changed color on front part of EP13
• Art: Normal fixes for EP13
• Art: Brought back FLI ball ambient occlusion
  • Rebaked the ambient occlusion for better seam
     
• Art: Added ambient occlusion to FLI37 director arms
• Art: Removed rotation of FLI “illumination”
• Art: Corrected spelling of “HYDR-TR1/2”
• Art: Made a new model of the FLI37 aircraft reference
• Art: Added a simple mesh around canopy frame so correct shadows are cast
• Art: Brightened up the taxi light 
• Art: Angled the landing light slightly differently
   
• Weapons: Removed ability to change CM count: Fixed to 1080 C. and 72 F. (540 and 36 per pod)
• Weapons: Chaff and flare programs corrected, and chaff amount changed
  • P1: Release chaff every 0.166 sec
  • P2: Release chaff every 0.166 sec for 2 sec, then pause for 2.5 sec, then repeat
  • P3: Release chaff every 0.833 sec
  • P4: Release chaff every 0.833 sec from left pod until empty, then the same for the right one
  • Flares: Release every 3 sec
     
• Weapons: SB 71 HD
  • Added fuze arm delay - 4.6s
  • Increased weight slightly
     
• Weapons: SB 71 LD
  • Added fuze arm delay - 3.8s
  • Increased weight slightly
     
• Weapons: Lysbomb
  • Increased bomb rack weight
  • Fixed fall pattern, to a large extent (DCS limited)
  • Increased “weapon” drag
  • Decreased “total” drag
     
• Weapons: ARAK - AP/HE
  • Increased weight slightly
  • Increased ISP of motor - now reaches ~600 m/s + aircraft speed
     
• Weapons: Added proxy fused AP ARAK
• Weapons: BK90
  • Changed flightmodel to better match CFD
  • Autopilot start delay decreased from 2.0s to 0.5s
  • Decreased drag on aircraft
  • Changed battery time from 1000s to 70s
  • Tuned PID for yaw axis and reduced max deflection of fins - matches real turn performance more closely
  • Decreased approach altitude from 120m to 60m (as mentioned in the manuals)
  • Submunition release timers changed for accurate pattern size with new FM
     
• Weapons: AKAN
  • Increased total shell weight - 0.242 to 0,44 kg
  • Increased casing weight - 0.04 to 0.174 kg
  • Added back recoil
     
• Weapons: RB-15
  • NOTE: Will break old weapon presets. Will break old mission that use them
  • Increased drag
  • First digit of address 83 functional
  • Address 85 now functional
  • First digit of address 86 functional (the other two are not applicable in DCS)
  • Bearing search now respects adddress 84 setting
  • They now fly more accurate height profiles
  • They now climb to their “search altitude” and scan for targets.
    • They popup for the search at the correct distances from Bx8. The distances depend on the selected search area size
  • Fix for hitting the water during large turns
  • Place Bx points in a straight line when first placing Bx8 - Avoids them being placed such that launch is inhibited
    • Bx6 dist = Bx8 / 4
    • Bx7 dist = Bx8 / 2
    • Bx9 dist = Bx8 + 10 km
       
• Weapons: RB-04
  • NOTE: Will break old weapon presets. Will break old mission that use them
  • Increased drag
  • Changed the descent program be be more realistic:
    • -7.1 deg pitch  - ~8 s faster to cruise alt. from max alt
    • Added yaw command to cause separation
  • New guidance logic
  • Will now search for new target if they miss the initial one, or if their initial target is sunk
  • GRUPP now works with two ships detected
  • Changed model used to “RB04AI” for correct RoughMet

 

Edited July 12, 2024 by IronMike

[richskinns]

Heat Blur, many thanks for your commitment and professionalism. Out of the top draw. 

[Machalot]

Lots of great stuff in there! Thanks and keep up the good work @MYSE1234! 

Edited July 12, 2024 by Machalot

[Mr_sukebe]

Awesome!

The Viggen was my first DCS jet and I still love flying it

[Spirale]

Amazing work for this amazing bird = thank you

[MAXsenna]

That was one massive update! Thank you!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[VikingSail]

The changes look good so far. I love the improvements to the radar screen with its color changed back to its original one and with tons of new improvements. 

I haven't tested all the weapons yet. But overall I'd say this is a great patch for the Viggen.

My only problem is that the dynamic slots feature has been preventing me from joining any medium+ sized MP servers lol.... But that's not a HB issue. xDD

I have saved up two screenshots after loading in to the Viggen post-patch just to say thank you:

Look how clean and high definition this radar picture is now!

Oh and that comma on the altitude index! Muuua!

Great job HB and especially lots of thanks to @MYSE1234!

[TOViper]

14 hours ago, Mr_sukebe said:

Awesome!

The Viggen was my first DCS jet and I still love flying it

THIS 100%

I love you all guys!

[VikingSail]

I have one question about something in the changelog:

It says "Avionics: Added “runway search” if A/C heading is > 15 deg from the stored runway".

What is this and how exactly could we use it? Thank you.

[Machalot]

8 hours ago, VikingSail said:

It says "Avionics: Added “runway search” if A/C heading is > 15 deg from the stored runway".

What is this and how exactly could we use it? Thank you.

TL; DR: If you initialize your navigation system outside a 15 deg heading window around the selected runway heading (BANA), it will automatically search through all the other runway headings at the selected airfield to find a heading match withing 15 deg and use that for gyro alignment.

Full story:

When you takeoff, there are a couple ways the CK37 computer can initialize your navigation heading (analogous to INS alignment in other jets).  This is covered on manual p. 132.

1.(a) Normally it calculates the jet's average heading during the takeoff roll and assumes that is equal to the stored heading of the primary runway (BANA-GRÄNS on the CK37), then adjusts the gyro alignment accordingly.

1.(b) You can optionally force gyro alignment to the currently selected runway heading by pressing the REFERENCE button, which bypasses the heading-averaging method described above.

2. If the gyro's measured heading is more than 15 deg off the stored runway heading, the CK37 checks the reciprocal heading and aligns to that.  (Best practice is to cycle to the reciprocal runway heading yourself using UT, BANA-GRÄNS + LS.)  If the reciprocal is also more than 15 deg off, it activates the NAV SYST warning lamp and your navigation state will be highly degraded or flat out wrong.

What changed: Before the current patch, the CK37 only stored the primary and reciprocal runway headings for each airfield.  Now after the recent patch, it knows and can search all runways and reciprocal runways for the selected airfield.   You can cycle through them using UT, BANA-GRÄNS + LS.

 

@TOViper I don't know if the manual adequately covers this. I'm looking at p. 253 which covers the BANA-GRÄNS features and it only talks about cycling to alternate runway headings for landing waypoints, not for takeoff.  It also is completely unmentioned on p. 132 which is about setting the initial course.

Edited July 15, 2024 by Machalot
ping TOViper

[VikingSail]

Thank you @Machalot for the detailed explanation. That was very informative! Thank you!

[TOViper]

14 hours ago, Machalot said:

@TOViper I don't know if the manual adequately covers this. I'm looking at p. 253 which covers the BANA-GRÄNS features and it only talks about cycling to alternate runway headings for landing waypoints, not for takeoff.  It also is completely unmentioned on p. 132 which is about setting the initial course.

Hello Machalot!
I think the information in the manual page 132 is in AND still correct:
null

[Machalot]

7 hours ago, TOViper said:

Hello Machalot!
I think the information in the manual page 132 is in AND still correct:
null

Hm, I wonder if I missed that or looked at an old version. I'm traveling at the moment so I'll have to check when I get home. 

Does it say anything about manually cycling through the runways in BANA-GRÄNS?

[TOViper]

Hm, not on that page; it is not even described on page 253, where it should IMHO.
I'll add this for the next update, thanks for the heads-up guys.
This is what I've prepared within the last 20 minutes:
null

Edited July 16, 2024 by TOViper

[Ramius007]

radio in cold star not working after update or I missing something?

[MYSE1234]

14 minutes ago, Ramius007 said:

radio in cold star not working after update or I missing something?

Try disabling "Easy Communication" in the gameplay settings. 

[Holbeach]

Bought the Viggen today and I'm pleased to say it's the perfect compliment to Kola and ice, so this is where I'll be using it in its natural environment.

On the deck it's very smooth in Kola, but how will it perform on the notoriously frame sucking, low level Falklands.

I'm pleased to say it's super smooth, down amongst the Penguins.

Looking forward to working up the mighty Viggen.

..

[TOViper]

12 hours ago, Holbeach said:

Bought the Viggen today ..

Best idea one can have ...
Return of invest rate: 100 %
 

[Rudel_chw]

13 hours ago, Holbeach said:

Bought the Viggen today ...

 

I purchased mine on January 2017 and used it a lot over these 7 years, its probably the only DCS aircraft for which I would purchase a variant (the JA37) if its ever released, for all other DCS aircraft I'd rather have a new plane than a new variant.

I have all of Heatblur's aircraft, but the Viggen is still my favorite .. the F-14 and the F-4 are really nice too, but I personally am not a fan of two seaters and having to use an AI as crew companion ... having a friend would be ideal, but none of my friends play DCS, and flying with Internet strangers does not appeal to me.

[Holbeach]

The Viggen is one of the smoothest regarding frame rate down at sheep level in the Falkands, that I have in my arsenal, with the F1 and F4, not so good.

Looking at the manual today, it has a lot of unique features, which should make it interesting to learn.

Until then, it's ridge riding to get the hang.

 

 

 

 

..