Request: Implement Zahedan Airport as a Shared Location for Afghanistan map

[celestHawk]

Dear Eagle Dynamics Team,

While exploring the Afghanistan map, I noticed that Zahedan Airport (OIZH) is already partially represented with a functioning TACAN beacon. What immediately stood out is that this beacon perfectly aligns with the Persian Gulf map, meaning Zahedan sits in a unique geographic position that could serve as a bridge between the two maps.

Currently, players who own both maps face a limitation: each map is vast, but they exist in isolation. Adding Zahedan as a fully modeled airfield would allow us to land and take off from the same location when transitioning between maps — a feature that would dramatically enhance immersion and realism.

We already have precedent for this kind of implementation. For example, when the Syria map was released, H3 Air Base was later recreated for the Iraq map after players requests. This demonstrated how shared airfields can increase value across multiple maps, especially when they touch or overlap geographically.

Right now, older maps such as NTTR and Persian Gulf are often described by the community as “complete,” which sometimes translates into “no longer updated.” This has created a perception that ED isn’t investing in improving legacy maps, despite continued demand from players. Addressing requests like this one would be an excellent way to show that older maps can still evolve in ways that benefit both new and existing products.

---

Why Zahedan Matters:

• Strategic Location: Connects Persian Gulf and Afghanistan maps.
• Immersion & Continuity: Enables realistic long-haul flights and operations spanning both maps.
• Precedent: H3 AB demonstrates feasibility and value of shared airfields.
• Community Benefit: Owners of both maps gain an additional layer of realism and utility.
• Soviet Tech Relevance: The region is historically tied to Soviet-built aircraft. Many of the flyable Soviet airframes in DCS (Su-25, Su-27, MiG-29A, etc.) lack aerial refueling capability, making local forward bases like Zahedan critical for realistic missions.
• Module Synergy: With the released the MiG-29A Fulcrum as a full-fidelity module — a platform strongly associated with this region. Zahedan would give it a natural and historically plausible operating hub, tying new content directly into the map ecosystem.

---

Visuals & References

Coordinates (Google Earth):

• Zahedan International Airport (OIZH): 29°28′00″N 60°54′00″E
• Runway: 13/31 (4260m x 45m, concrete)

Map Overlap:

• 1: Location of Zahedan on the Afghanistan map with TACAN visible.
• 2: Same TACAN on the Persian Gulf map, confirming geographic overlap.
• 3: Google Earth overlay showing Zahedan’s position between Afghanistan and the Persian Gulf theater.

Immersion Example:

• Image: Route example from Al Dhafra AB (PG) to Kandahar AB (Afghanistan) with Zahedan as a midpoint.
• This demonstrates how it could serve as a natural operational hub for aircraft with limited range e.g., MiG-29A, Su-25 or F-16C even the possibility for deploying helicopters exploiting FARPs positions.

---

In short, implementing Zahedan Airport would not only increase the longevity and value of the Persian Gulf map but also strengthen the Afghanistan map by giving it a natural gateway to the west. This single addition would create a much more seamless and immersive experience for the community, while also directly supporting the use of newly released modules like the MiG-29A.

Thank you for considering this request, and I hope you’ll take this opportunity to show the longevity of your existing maps.