RSBN for Germany Cold war (Phase 1)

[skywalker22]

For the last two days I was working hard to gerther and put all the data on the paper of the RSBN navigational system for Germany Cold war map. I was really surprised how many air bases Russians have made (or adjusted to their needs) after the WWII in the span of 20-30 years on such small erea as is East Germany. There are over 60 air bases, which is incredible number, I doubt that the dencity is bigger any where else in the world.

In the rsbn file for Mig-21 there are all the air bases included which were/are there in real life on the East Germany in Phase 1. I also added few more air bases which in real life didn't have the RSBN beacon, these are all the rest of air bases which have tarmac runways. I didn't work anything on the ARK yet, just so you know.

So, which channels are included for the phase 1 (note: there are few airports on the far east which are already on the list, but not yet implemented into DCS, will come later in phase 2 or 3):

- from channels 4 to 40: air bases with RSBN real life beacon

- from 41 to 62: air bases without RSBN becon in real life 

Here is the Kneeboard which you will also see in the cockpit:

--

How to install it:

Simply unzip the content of the file into main folder DCS World OpenBeta.

There is one file you guys have to edit, because I don't know how many maps do you guys have, so you have to do it by your self:

Inside the folder: ...\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World OpenBeta\Mods\aircraft\MIG-21bis\Cockpit\Systems

edit the R_NAV_data.lua by adding this line of text: "GermanyCW" some where inside the brackets, I added it at the bottom. Just don't forget to add the comma after the penultimate map name and no comma after the last map name! This is my example:

Maps_Table = {
    "Caucasus",
    "Nevada",
    "Normandy",
    "PersianGulf",    
    "TheChannel",
    "SinaiMap",
    "Syria",
    "Kola",
    "GermanyCW"
}

 

ATTENTION: with editing this file, you will break the Integrity Check (IC) in the multiplayer, offline will work normally. If you want to use multiplayer, you will have to remove the map's name from the R_NAV_data.lua file. I hope the devs include these 2 things in the near future to be part of the DCS game so we can use RSBN navigation online as well.

--

NOTE for all: if you find any issue please let me know here, so I can fix it.

 

 

 

RSBN Germany CW.zip

Edited Tuesday at 05:21 PM by skywalker22
updated RSBN file (v0.11)

[gulredrel]

Looking awesome, thank you.

As I understand the MiG-21 system is independent of the map's beacons.lua and changes there will not interfere?!

Tarres and me edited the original beacons.lua in CW map to have at least RSBNs for L-39 usage, see here for the folks interested:

 

 

[Tarres]

@gulredrel there is no problem.

The nav system in the 21 is purely fictional and completely independent from DCS core.

It is a leftover from Lomac 1.0. The 21 was designed as a stand-alone product.

 

Edited April 20 by Tarres

[Rudel_chw]

2 hours ago, skywalker22 said:

For the last two days I was working hard to gerther and put all the data on the paper of the RSBN navigational system for Germany Cold war map.

Big thank you, I was thinking on doing this too … but glad to use your work instead 

 

[skywalker22]

I just updated/fixed some of the data in the rsbn navigation for DDR. I would still need some help from you guys, with location indicators or ICAO code (its a four-letter word) of some airports, I was just unable to find. These are the airports (No of the rsbn channel) I would need codes:

- Mahlwinkel (6)

- Altes-Lager (24)

- Sperenberg (28)

- Damgarten (32)

- Gross Mohrdorf 

--

Example: ETSH is for Holzdorf airport

 

I am not sure how Russians had that salved back then, but as far as I know, they also had ICAO codes for all the airports or air bases.

Oh, and btw, the updated file is in the 1st post.

[Volator]

I'm not sure if the Soviets or the LSK (the East German AF) ever used ICAO codes for their airfields.

I don't speak Russian, but these charts don't look like there is any ICAO code mentioned there:

https://www.mil-airfields.de/de/preschen.htm

ETSH for Holzdorf AB for example is a post-reunification code from the mid-1990s. The GDR certainly never used that one.

[skywalker22]

4 hours ago, Volator said:

I'm not sure if the Soviets or the LSK (the East German AF) ever used ICAO codes for their airfields.

I don't speak Russian, but these charts don't look like there is any ICAO code mentioned there:

https://www.mil-airfields.de/de/preschen.htm

ETSH for Holzdorf AB for example is a post-reunification code from the mid-1990s. The GDR certainly never used that one.

So all these airport codes having been given after the colapse of soviet union, you're saying?! It makes sence, since even if Russians would have have them, they would be different, different type of names, like for example Severomorsk 3, which has ICAO of XLMV. Way different then we know these days German airports/air bases. 

Anyway, they do not matter that much (who knows morse code, right ), but still, would be cool to have them. thx for the info @Volator.

[portman]

vor 21 Stunden schrieb Volator:

I'm not sure if the Soviets or the LSK (the East German AF) ever used ICAO codes for their airfields.

All military airbases in East Germany had codenames (like "FIGARO" for Dresden), and the morse code of the radio beacons (inner/outer NDB and RSBN) always consisted of the first and the last letter of the respective codename (so FIGARO -> morse code FO). So, no ICAO codes or other four-letter codes.

More info here:

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/370626-rsbn-ddr-and-more/#findComment-5628192

and here:

https://www.mil-airfields.de/de-rpt/ddr-funkfeuer-rsbn-de.htm

There were ICAO codes for civilian airfields though, beginning with ET... (for example ETBS for Berlin-Schoenefeld airport).

[skywalker22]

6 hours ago, portman said:

All military airbases in East Germany had codenames (like "FIGARO" for Dresden), and the morse code of the radio beacons (inner/outer NDB and RSBN) always consisted of the first and the last letter of the respective codename (so FIGARO -> morse code FO). So, no ICAO codes or other four-letter codes.

More info here:

https://forum.dcs.world/topic/370626-rsbn-ddr-and-more/#findComment-5628192

and here:

https://www.mil-airfields.de/de-rpt/ddr-funkfeuer-rsbn-de.htm

There were ICAO codes for civilian airfields though, beginning with ET... (for example ETBS for Berlin-Schoenefeld airport).

Is this list of identification codes not complete, or no all air based had the codes?

And bellow that it indeed says how id codes were made:

The identification of the radio beacons was normally formed from the first and last letters of the call sign of the airfield, e.g. Peenemünde " NARKOSE ".

--

One question, where did you get these callsigns? Is it possible to get list callsigns for all russian airbases? If is it possible at all, of course. Would be good to include to Kola map as well.

Edited May 30 by skywalker22

[iron_fruitman]

@skywalker22 Hello !

Big thanks for your work !

I point I noted : I have downloaded your latest release of the "R_NAV_data_GermanyCW.lua" and I cannot make it work (it crashes myu DCS). Going back to the previous one solves the issue.

It may be linked to the name of the file : the new one is "R_NAV_data_GermanyColdWar.lua" instead of "R_NAV_data_GermanyCW.lua".

Game is pretty unmodded (A-4E only).

 

DCS discord log analyzer points towards a cockpit issue.

 

Thanks.

[LeoS.72]

I had the same problem, and then I noticed : Just don't forget to add the comma after the penultimate map name and no comma after the last map name! And everything's back to normal.

[skywalker22]

18 hours ago, iron_fruitman said:

@skywalker22 Hello !

Big thanks for your work !

I point I noted : I have downloaded your latest release of the "R_NAV_data_GermanyCW.lua" and I cannot make it work (it crashes myu DCS). Going back to the previous one solves the issue.

It may be linked to the name of the file : the new one is "R_NAV_data_GermanyColdWar.lua" instead of "R_NAV_data_GermanyCW.lua".

Game is pretty unmodded (A-4E only).

 

DCS discord log analyzer points towards a cockpit issue.

 

Thanks.

Thx, fixed (went back to original naming).

[portman]

Am 30.5.2025 um 22:07 schrieb skywalker22:

Is this list of identification codes not complete, or no all air based had the codes?

One qestion, where did you get these callsigns? Is it possible to get list callsigns for all russian airbases? If is it possible at all, of course. Would be good to include to Kola map as well.

I guess it's not complete. The list originates from one of the six fighter wings of the LSK/LV and likely includes only the airfields that the wing was involved with.

[Volator]

On 4/20/2025 at 9:31 AM, skywalker22 said:

ATTENTION: with editing this file, you will break the Integrity Check (IC) in the multiplayer, offline will work normally. If you want to use multiplayer, you will have to remove the map's name from the R_NAV_data.lua file. I hope the devs include these 2 things in the near future to be part of the DCS game so we can use RSBN navigation online as well.

Or, maybe even better, M3 could integrate the native DCS RSBN/PRMG system into the MiG-21 in their overhaul they announced ages ago.

[skywalker22]

22 hours ago, Volator said:

Or, maybe even better, M3 could integrate the native DCS RSBN/PRMG system into the MiG-21 in their overhaul they announced ages ago.

1st, how could they do that and make it work on maps which come after Mig's update?

2ndly, I would rather say that navigation systems like RSBN and ARC should be part of the map, since its always there, and should also be destructable.

Aircraft should then only recognize the map and its navigational code.

This way, no updates are required on aircraft's side, only maps should be made or updated appropriately. 

[Volator]

7 minutes ago, skywalker22 said:

I would rather say that navigation systems like RSBN and ARC should be part of the map, since its always there, and should also be destructable.

Aircraft should then only recognize the map and its navigational code.

Isn't that the current situation with the maps and RSBN/PRMG? The L-39 works just like that, doesn't it? 

[skywalker22]

50 minutes ago, Volator said:

Isn't that the current situation with the maps and RSBN/PRMG? The L-39 works just like that, doesn't it? 

As far as I know, it's a no, RSBN and ARC are exclusevly depended on the files which is inside MIG-21bis folder (the ones that I did for Germany and Afghanistan for example). Not sure how it works for L-39, don't own it. I don't know if there is any code embedded into the maps, but as far as it works, it is only about those files mentioned.

Here is some more (old) info about RSBN/PRMG for both aircrafts, which clearly use separated type of "in game code".  

So I guess the L-39 uses the "Beacons.lua" file which is in each map, I think so. Because this is the only file in a map's folder regarding radio comms. And it reads the types of "BEACON_TYPE_RSBN".

So based on that, this is the right way of using navigation, from the map's folder (which works for L-39), but in every map except Caucaus that's missing, or is made partially.

Edited Thursday at 06:01 PM by skywalker22

[Volator]

I think we're misunderstanding each other. I know that the MiG-21 has its own system that uses "fake" RSBN data and has to be added to the MiG-21 for every new map.

But the L-39 uses the beacon data that comes with every map. That's the native DCS RSBN/PRMG system I am talking about. That's what M3 should implement in their MiG-21 too.

[skywalker22]

Read my upper post again, I updated it.