Weapons Development Report | Marianas WWII | Q&A Part 2

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28th February 2025

Dear Fighter Pilots, Partners and Friends, 

In this newsletter we highlight several new weapons features that will noticeably improve gameplay. These have been developed over the past several months and focus both on air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. Please read the details below. 

For those looking forward to experiencing the Mariana Islands during the pivotal battles in the summer of 1944, please check out the Marianas 1944 development screenshots below. These images highlight some of the key differences between the modern and World War II versions of the terrain. We kindly remind you that the modern day DCS: Marianas is free, as will be the upcoming World War II version. 

The DCS Q&A Part 2 video is now available on Matt Wagner’s channel. Please watch it for some insight into our development priorities and answers to many of your most pressing questions. Many thanks to all of you who sent in questions! Watch now.

Thank you for your passion and support.

Yours sincerely, 

Eagle Dynamics

 

Weapons 

Development Progress

Appearance of Missile Contrails at Low Temperatures
Modern missiles use reduced-smoke solid-fuel rocket motors, as well as liquid-fuel motors. However, these cease to be “low-smoke” at altitude due to the drop in air temperature. The exhaust of solid-fuel missiles, such as the AMRAAM’s HTPB/AP fuel, contains Hydrogen Chloride HCl, which at low temperatures forms crystal hydrates that generate a dense contrail. The exhaust of liquid-fuel missiles contains water vapor, which also generates a dense contrail in cold air.

In winter, a contrail can appear even at low altitudes. At Arctic temperatures, the contrail may appear even at ground level.

In the screenshot, an F-15C aircraft launches a missile at a target high above it. As illustrated in the image, the first part of the missile's flight has a “low-smoke” trail where the air temperature is above -25°C. As the missile climbs, a dense contrail appears as the air temperature falls below -25°C.

On the Kola map, you can set the air temperature down to -30°C, and this results in “low-smoke” missiles having trails at surface level. This is an important tactical point, as the smoke trail reveals not only the missile launch but also its trajectory. 

Trajectory Fluctuations of Older Generation Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Systems

We recently added authentic guidance algorithms for the older Soviet SA-2 and SA-3 SAM systems. Due to the low angular accuracy of first generation radars, and the design features of the radio command control system, noticeable fluctuations are observed in the flight path of SAM missiles. These limitations lead to increased errors in the targeting, which was compensated for by large warheads.

We have implemented two new modes of guiding SAM missiles. By default, the improved lead command to line-of-signt (CLOS) mode is used, but if the target use jammer or has a speed of less than 100 meters per second, the conventional CLOS (three-point guidance) mode is used.

Realistic Pattern of Proximity Fuze
We recently added new and more realistic SAM missile proximity blast patterns for fuzes. The proximity blast pattern is now a more realistic, “wagon wheel” shape rather than spherical. 

This allows the missile warhead to more effectively fuze when the target is in the lethal area of the expanding rod zone or fragmentation field. This increases the warhead lethality. This new mechanism allows us to set unique shapes and sizes of patterns based on fuze and warhead types. It is an important step in the development of munitions for DCS. You can expect the first implementation of this feature for the AIM-120 air-to-air missile in the next update.

 

Marianas 1944

Development Progress

The free Marianas 1944 map currently in development will focus on the brutal battles between the United States and Japan for the islands of Saipan, Guam, and Tinian in the summer of 1944. This coincided with the Battle of the Philippine Sea that saw large-scale naval warfare between aircraft carrier task forces. 

World War II History and Key Battles
The Mariana Islands became a flashpoint in 1944, and it shaped the outcome of the Pacific Theatre of Operations (PTO). Three major operations stand out:

• Battle of Saipan (15 June – 9 July 1944)
• Battle of Guam (21 July – 10 August 1944)
• Battle of Tinian (24 July – 1 August 1944)

Each of these iconic battles, fought across rugged terrain in sweltering summer heat, showcased the evolving tactics of amphibious warfare combined with naval close air support. These battles changed the course of the war in the Pacific by establishing air bases within striking distance of Japan.

Modern vs. 1944 – Island by Island
While the modern Mariana Islands map features contemporary infrastructure, airfields, and urban centers, the DCS: Marianas 1944 map will present a significantly different depiction of these islands.

Guam

• Today: It is one of the largest U.S. military bases in the Pacific, and it includes expansive naval and air force installations that cover much of the island.
• WWII Era: Small towns, villages, and relatively little infrastructure.

Tinian

• Today: Sparsely populated and far removed from its former prominence in global history.
• WWII Era: An agricultural hub in the summer of 1944, it was later transformed into a crucial military staging area during the final stages of the war, including B-29 bombing missions over Japan.

Saipan

• Today: A popular destination with golf courses, resort areas, and recreational facilities, it reflects a strong tourism industry.
• WWII Era: Dominated by plantations and small-scale settlements.

Rota

• WWII Era & Today: Rota remains one of the lesser-developed islands in the chain, with minimal changes over the decades. Rota offers a quieter pace of life in the Marianas.

Pagan

• Today: Largely uninhabited since a volcanic eruption in the 1980s, it is mostly untouched by modern development.
• WWII Era: Home to a local population and Japanese military presence.

The goal of DCS: Marianas 1944 is to faithfully recreate the conditions that defined the battles of 1944. You can look forward to authentic period-based airfields, buildings, vegetation and agriculture, roads and rail lines. The 1944 version poses the unique challenges of older navigation technology, limited logistical support, and high-stakes amphibious operations. This WWII-era environment will offer an immersive glimpse into the intensity of the Pacific War.

We look forward to sharing more details on DCS: Marianas 1944 as development continues. In the meantime, make sure you explore the free DCS: Marianas map, and stay tuned for future updates on this thrilling journey back in time. 

 

Q&A

by Matt Wagner

Your overwhelmingly positive response to Matt Wagner's January Q&A has not gone unnoticed! Many new and interesting questions came from the previous video, so this one will seek to provide some answers, such as the status of the dynamic campaign and future aircraft development. Watch the February 2025 Q&A video.

Thank you again for your passion and support, 

Yours sincerely,

[YoYo]

Great news! Thanks!

[MAXsenna]

Nice newsletter, and an informative video. Thanks! I do wonder about upcoming AI behaviour for the individual assets, and their interactions regarding the player(s), and how we can eventually command them.  

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

[hannibal]

im here, just enjoying what we have and always grateful for what DCS offers, upcoming updates much welcomed..

been learning F14 & 18 with a bunch guys.. enjoying every moment of it 

[BIGNEWY]

thank you for flying in DCS we appreciate the kind words and support. 

Have a great weekend all. 

[fredm2002]

Every DCS update be it a software update or news,  is like a present, providing new information that, speaking for myself, is very much appreciated.   I have been flying since the original Flanker series, and every sim since. 

Thanks again, Eagle Dynamics!!!

Fredm2002

[CommandT]

Great to finally hear something about the development of the Dynamic Campaign in the Q&A. I'm sure the community will be delighted to know that work is ongoing and that we are getting closer and closer finally. Exactly the sort of transparency that I think everyone was wanting on the topic, even if we still have another year to wait. 

Could I ask, following up on Matt's explanation as to why more RedFor full fidelity aircraft have not been done due to a lack of reference material,  have ED ever considered adding some more RedFor aircraft to DCS in the form of "Flaming Cliffs" modules? We obviously have the Su-27 and Su-25 already, so what would be the issue adding MiG-23/27, Su-24 and perhaps even something more modern like Su-27SM, MiG-29SMT, Su-35S ect? Would there not be enough reference data to add them to the list of Flaming Cliffs aircraft with reduced complexity in terms of systems modelling?

[Qcumber]

Thanks for the WW2 Marianas update. I am very much looking forward to this. Any "hint" about when we might see it? I am patiently inpatient. 

[Trooper117]

As usual, good stuff!

[T.Power]

Warnings for humor, a new low on the forum, Happy Friday everyone, geez.

[Avimimus]

Thanks for trying to answer the questions. Two more:

- Shouldn't the Su-17 and Mig-23ML have enough references?

- When will we get fuse options for Soviet bombs/cluster bombs (to allow different/lower attack profiles)? Similarly, when will improved fragmentation simulation be added (important for older Soviet helicopters/aircraft which often rely heavily on the use of unguided rockets).

[sirrah]

Great to hear more on the DC from Wags!! 

What struck me in Wags video though;

He says: The two helicopter teams are working on the AH-64, the Chinook and "there is another helicopter we're working on" 

Assuming he's teasing a new helicopter, where does that leave the Early Access Mi-24 Hind?

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/shop/modules/hind/

 

[Cab]

7 hours ago, sirrah said:

Great to hear more on the DC from Wags!! 

What struck me in Wags video though;

He says: The two helicopter teams are working on the AH-64, the Chinook and "there is another helicopter we're working on" 

Assuming he's teasing a new helicopter, where does that leave the Early Access Mi-24 Hind?

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/shop/modules/hind/

 

I'll bet he just misspoke and forgot to include the Hind.

[Roy35150]

Great news,

You guys rock..

[sirrah]

56 minutes ago, Cab said:

I'll bet he just misspoke and forgot to include the Hind.

Perhaps, but he also specifically mentioned 2 teams.

But, yeah, you might be right.

[Bucic]

Is the new smoke modeling coming in the next week's update or is it already in the current build?

[MAXsenna]

I'll bet he just misspoke and forgot to include the Hind.

The reason he didn't mention the Ka-50 and the Hind, might be because the helicopter they're working on is western.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

CH-53K?

[Raffi75]

On 3/1/2025 at 7:05 AM, sirrah said:

Great to hear more on the DC from Wags!! 

What struck me in Wags video though;

He says: The two helicopter teams are working on the AH-64, the Chinook and "there is another helicopter we're working on" 

Assuming he's teasing a new helicopter, where does that leave the Early Access Mi-24 Hind?

https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/shop/modules/hind/

 

How is Hind supposed to leave early access when there isn't even an official manual yet?