DCS WORLD: Moduli Eagle Dynamics

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DCS World in terms of production. Honest and transparent

Dear Community,

We read you, we hear you, we listen to you and we are working for you! Thank you for being with us and for your help to improve DCS World.

You feel that modules get more attention because there is something new with every update for the modules. DCS World is a different beast. It takes time, a lot of time to research and develop. Sometimes we have no idea if we can do it but we try. Sometimes we want to deliver and fail. That’s life. Sometimes core team needs more love from you to be encouraged in their long-term projects.

I read that ED promise and doesn’t deliver. You wait for some core features for ages… so do we! It’s already a third time we want to deliver clouds and the first two attempts were not successful for us. But we keep trying. It’s easy to say that you can do it because others can… Well, it works in a different way because we have a lot of legacy code, a lot of spaghetti code and want to improve it with a new generation of DCS World. How ambitious you are when you start doing some new task? Well, we love new tasks but if the code has thousands of related pieces it becomes a nightmare. Sometimes it’s better to leave it as is. We had many talented developers in the past who wrote the code and left the project and now we see that we need to refactor it or rewrite completely. It’s the challenge that all long-term projects faced. Do you know how many our former developers are working in other well-known by community projects? Well, we still have their code and treat it with respect even think it could be better.

Today I would like to publish the information to stop all speculations about ED working on modules instead of core features and all the comments on how many of us are working on what.

The lists below show the current situation. Each point (project) has its own team and ALL of them go in parallel.

Current projects in active development phase:

• DCS Core
  Ka-50 cockpit update bug fix - [This week]
  2.5.6 preparation for the stable release - [Near Term]
  Damage Modeling for WWII Aircraft - [Near Term (some unknown issue may appear)]
  Weapon improvement (missile dynamics, new AI units, etc.) - [Long Term, to be delivered in iterations]
  Voice chat - [Long Term, to be delivered in iterations]
  Dynamic Campaign - [Long Term]

• DCS Graphic Engine
  Special effects update - [Near Term]
  Lightning - [Near Term]
  Terrain improvement - [Middle Term]
  Multi-threading - [Long Term]
  Vulkan API integration - [Long Term]

• Modules
  Fw 190 A-8 Release - [Near Term]
  Huey Multi-crew - [Near Term]
  Supercarrier EA - [Near Term]
  P-47D Thunderbolt EA - [Near Term]
  The Channel EA - [Near Term]
  WWII Asset Pack update - [Near Term]
  Mariana Islands - [Mid Term]
  F-16C Viper, F/A-18C Hornet - [Mid Term]
  Modern Air Combat - [Hope - Mid Term, but still can be Long Term]

It’s 20 small and large projects in my pipeline. However, it doesn’t mean that we have too much in the basket. It means that we have different competencies in the team and the plan to grow.

Projects that are in the passive development phase (waiting for a 3D model delivery, developers allocation, reference gathering stage or one of the current active project to be finished first):

• DCS Core
  Damage Modeling for modern aircraft
  Aircraft AI
  Airfield ATC

• DCS Graphic Engine
  Clouds
  Weather update
  FLIR
  Air-to-Ground Radar

• Modules
  Mi-24P Hind
  A-10C Warthog II
  Yak-52 Release
  Ka-50 Black Shark 3
  Mosquito FB MK.VI

• ED has 5 aircraft and 0 terrains in Early Access
  F-16C Viper
  F/A-18C Hornet
  Fw 190 A-8
  Yak-52
  WWII Asset Pack

We plan to deliver all of EA products in Release this year.

However, Hornet and Viper are pretty complex and have many features to add. We analyzed the list from Unofficial Road to Release https://www.reddit.com/r/hoggit/comment ... ease_2020/ and took some points into account.

Yes, the F18 team is working on F16 as well - 50/50. It’s the most efficient way because the projects are similar for us from a development point of view. We want to have consistent and close aircraft. So, yes, it’s one team.

I hope this list will make you feel more informed and comfortable. We will not be able to deliver everything from those 2 lists this year but we will try to reach as much as it will be possible.

Thank you for your time, passion and support.

Hornet - Unofficial Road to Release 2020

With ED announcing they plan to finish the Hornet 2020, here is a list of features not implemented. Not official and not complete, I picked the things that I think will interest DCS players the most.

• General
  "USN Ordnance" - thermally coated ("grey") and associated fuzes (and settings )
  MUMI page and data card: HARM, RADAR, TACAN, WYPT/OAP, sequential steering, data link/ID, overlay controlled stores (stores), bomb wind data, global positioning system waypoint (GPS WYPT), global positioning system almanac (GPS ALM), and Fighter Link Reference Point (FLRP)
  IFF UFC options
  ROE Prog page
  missing HOTAS functions in general
  ATC in landing configuration
  JHMCS - add Night Display Unit with 40° FOV NVG (current day version incompatible with NVGs)
  JHMCS - missing sensor slewing options
  JHMCS - alignment using HUD and TDC (aka the mini game)

• Navigation
  coupled steering (WPT/SEQ/TCN)
  ACL - Mode 1 and 2, associated SA page, guidance to marshal/touchdown
  HSI - Slew mode
  HSI - DTED (terrain plot), CIB (image derived from mission planning, command, control, communications, and intelligence systems)
  OAP (offset aimpoint)
  GPS waypoints (up to 200), GPS page and GPS point transfer
  Markpoints
  UTM format and associated pages
  INS - drift* (not tested)
  INS - post flight page
  INS - manual CV alignment*
  INS - in flight alignment using GPS or Radar (with precision velocity update)
  Map slew and Waypoint creation with map slew (Edit: Just saw that you have "slew mode" listed)
  Some wierdnesses with the INS+GPS systems this hornet version has, eg. iirc (should be in the natops) if you want an egi style system you need to put the ins knob to IFA after succesfull alignment.

• Sensors
  A/A Radar - RAID mode and "merged" targets in other modes
  A/A Radar - AZ/EL page
  A/A Radar - VS
  A/G Radar - Mapping Modes (MAP, EXP1,2,3)
  A/G Radar - Search Modes (GMT, SEA)
  A/G Radar - Tracking Modes
  A/G Radar - Special Modes (AG Ranging, Terrain Avoidance)
  ATFLIR - A/G Pointed Modes (slaved pointing, etc)
  ATFLIR - LTD/R automatic and manual lasing
  ATFLIR - LST modes (Wide, HUD, Slave, Track)
  ATFLIR - A/A Modes (Boresight, LOS, L&S, trackfile)
  TGP - mainly slave modes incomplete

• Defensive System
  Decoys
  Flare variants
  Jammer

• Munitions
  JDAM - terminal options
  JDAM - loft mode
  HARM - PB mode
  AIM-120 - improved guidance/flight model
  SLAM-ER and control through DL13

• Flightmodel (last I checked these were still issues):
  Inverted ground effect
  stores drag (things like MERs have none/very little)

• Other
  Data cart, early version was shown alread, no news since
  GBU-24 and remaining variants of JDAMS (mk83 based).
  JHMCS - A/G mode
  TGP overlay data (coordinates and such)
  TGP symbology
  NAVFLIR and HUD raster
  TXDSG
  JHMCS RWR strobes
  JHMCS A/G desig diamond
  a bunch of other A/A SA-related JHMCS features such as flight members, nearest friendly, tuc'd track, etc.
  Lots of A/A radar bugfixes
  semiautomatic and automatic countermeassure dispensing
  Link 16 beyond current "arcade" symbols

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Ka-50 cockpit released

The updated cockpit is available in the current DCS World Open Beta. This new cockpit has been rebuilt from scratch and consists of a new, high-resolution 3D mesh and textures that take advantage of advanced rendering and lighting technologies.

Over the past decade, we’ve been working hard on our fixed-wing aircraft. Thousands of features take thousands of man-hours. However, with our core principles in mind, we feel an important duty to take care of our older modules built on previous versions. That’s why to celebrate the improvements we’re offering you the chance to complete your helo hangar with a limited time offer on all our helicopters.

Helicopter bundles



Starting Friday, 21 February, value-packed bundle deals are available for all DCS World helicopters. Lasting until 9 March, get up to 65% savings on the most authentic military helicopters ever created for the PC. Get the bundles at:

• All DCS helicopters: $69.99
• DCS: Black Shark 2 + DCS: Combined Arms: $49.99
• DCS: Black Shark 2 + DCS: Mi-8MTV2: $54.99

These same bundles are also available on Steam.

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DCS: F-16C Viper - Viper Mini-Updates

In a recent DCS: F-16C Viper update, we updated how the alignment of the INS NORM (normal) system works to be more realistic. When performing a cold start, you must either enter or confirm the latitude and longitude coordinates of your aircraft on the INS DED page within two minutes after starting a NORM alignment.

This is required for not only for correct navigation data, but also correct display of information on the HUD.

This video is provided to better help understand this.

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DCS: F-16C Viper - Viper Mini-Updates

In a previous video we discussed the normal (NORM) Inertial Navigation System (INS) alignment in the Viper. I also mentioned a Stored alignment but misspoke regarding the need to update/confirm the LAT and LONG. This video is provided to help better understand starting the F-16C using a stored heading alignment.

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A-7E Corsair II - A Supercarrier compatible module

We welcome FlyingIron Simulations aboard and are excited to announce that the A-7E Corsair II by FlyingIron Simulations is coming to DCS World. FlyingIron is an experienced and very talented Australian developer that has an impressive pedigree of quality flight simulations.

The A-7E will add a new carrier-aviation fighter to DCS world that includes impressive ground-attack capabilities, advanced sensors and weapons, and will take advantage of DCS: Supercarrier features.



Quality Assurance Update

Dear Community,

We read you, we hear you, we listen to you and we are working for you! Thank you for being with us and for your help to improve DCS World.

We delivered DCS World 2.5.6 Open Beta on February, 14.
Every version increase of 2.5.X is a cumulative update of the core environment. The feedback that we received from our community, especially with regards to multiplayer, is helping us to improve the delivery process.

The release of an unstable Open Beta to our clients has taught us an important lesson, and we are committed to improving the QA before an Open Beta delivery.

Our updated process includes:

• Longer internal QA testing and debugging.
• Earlier external Beta Tester access to Release Candidates. How to become a Beta Tester. English & Russian links.
• A new closed Eagle Dynamics dedicated multiplayer testing server. The invitations will be announced soon.
• DCS Open Beta delivery.
• Hotfix process (if required).
• DCS Stable delivery.

We will try to keep a schedule of 2-week iterations once the DCS World 2.5.6 Stable is released.

I have started posting development milestones on Reddit in the Hoggit community which you can read here. These will also be posted to our official forums.

I will continue to inform you about the progress of each project on our official ED forum.

Kate Perederko
Chief Operating Officer Eagle Dynamics

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DCS: F-16C Viper - Viper Mini-Updates

It's a small thing, but something many of you have asked for: we have added an option in the Options / Special Tab of the F-16C to select between the gold tint and transparent canopy. Based on talks with SMEs, around 2007 the USAF/ANG started using the transparent canopies and phasing out the gold tint. Both have the same RCS reduction properties. We hope you enjoy the option to have both!

Also on the Viper front the next update:

1- Continued work on the Dogfight switch functions
2- Addition of the DLZ to the radar page, Dogfight HUD, and HMCS
3- Fix incorrect IFF ID in network play
4- Adding new interactive training missions
5- Adjusted horizon line when on the Persian Gulf map
6- Adding flight to refuel commands

We also hope to provide

1- Many new skins that will first focus on actual USAF/ANG Blk 50 operators
2- Steering cue adjustments
3- Next phase in damage modeling
4- Better accounting for wind in the flight dynamics

Please note that these are not promises, they are simply to let you understand that these are the items that we are working on.

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Phant

[Phant]

3D Scanning - Development Report

We have started the improvement of all our human models in DCS World. The first step is to create a reference database containing different parts of the human body and prepare prototypes that will be used for all models. The video shows how we started observing the differences in our current models and note areas of improvements. The upgrades will be visible both in geometry and skinning throughout DCS World.




The picture with one hand is received from the scanner and drastically improves lead time for model creation. The other pictures compare new and old models.

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Guns, Guns, Guns - Development Report

With all the work going on with the new damage model, and following a recent post by one of our dedicated community members pertaining to ballistics and round drag we decided to check most of the guns and ammo in the sim.

We detected an excessive amount of round dispersion due to improper gun installation characteristics which impacted dispersion values in most of our WWII aircraft. We have corrected the rigidity of these installation values and as a result, have seen a drop in dispersion values on all WWII aircraft of approximately 1.5 times.

The P-51D and upcoming P-47 are also receiving some extra TLC. We will be using a combat mix of M8 API and M20 API/T belts. This will better match historical data and our upcoming visual effects upgrade.

The Spitfire as well will benefit from improved ballistics for a more accurate match to historical documents such as type designation and firing tables.

The GAU-8 isn't getting left out either. We updated our information from General Electric which diminishes round dispersion by approximately 1.5 times. We know that many in the community have been complaining about this for some time and with this latest data backed correction the Hog will deliver even more tank-busting fun to our faithful users. Thank you again for persisting.

While no dispersion issues were found with the M61 we will be updating the PGU type shells with improved ballistics. This should affect any aircraft using these types of shells, including the F-16C.

Last, but not least, the F-86F is also currently under review, so far we have found possible issues with barrel heating and cooling. We will continue to make changes as needed.

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[Phant]

Hornet Mini-Updates

In the next DCS World Open Beta, we will be introducing two new pointing modes for the Hornet Litening targeting pod.

The Velocity Vector Slave (VVSL) mode aligns the TGP line of sight with the Velocity Velocity symbol on the HUD. To use, ensure that the TDC is assigned to the FLIR page, select VVLS on the FLIR page, and depress the TDC switch when the Velocity Vector is over the desired location. Once designed, you can continue to slew the TDC on the FLIR page and designate a new location.

Waypoint Slave mode aligns the TGP line of sight with a selected waypoint. To use, select WYPT on the HSI, select the desired waypoint, and then press the WPDSG option select button.

Also, when in bombing CCIP mode, the TGP will be slaved to the pipper of the CCIP bombing reticle.

When not designated, the TGP will be in Snowplow mode.

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Stay at Home Sale




DCS: Focke-Wulf 190A-8 - The Shrike leaves Early Access

We are proud to announce the backbone of the Luftwaffe is moving out of Early Access. Over the past year, we’ve been working closely with the community to iron out bugs and create a list of sought after features.

Engine
The start-up procedure steps have been precisely tuned to take into account hot and cold weather conditions that require different priming techniques.

Weapons
Over 10 different World War II bombs including SD 500s and 3 types of cluster bombs with different submunitions, which have been modelled to accurately represent attack capabilities. Additionally, W.Gr.21 rockets add the possibility for proper B-17 Flying fortress hunting.

Sound
The entire soundscape has been improved. Our sound engineers recorded real aircraft throughout the year to bring you the most accurate representation of fly-by, in cockpit, and engine start-up sounds available in any aircraft simulator.

Liveries
A number of new skins have been added. This gives more flexibility when operating under different coalitions and inspiration for you to create your own.

A lot of bugs were fixed and new features added to the aircraft module; Major updates for cooling and oil systems. A jettisoned canopy can be repaired on the ground. The cockpit has proper lighting now. The circuit breakers and electricity consuming devices were improved for realistic behaviour. The repeater compass was fixed. The armored glass colour was changed according to real glass from the museum and the information from Erich Brunotte. The training missions were completely overhauled into more digestible chunks. See the full changelog.

With the Wulf finally out of early access, we look forward to further improvements. Making the aircraft even more complex with the F-8 attack and G-8 light bomber variations.




AIM-120 development - Development Report

Last month we spent a lot of time on AIM-120 missile CFD research, in addition to our previous computation (which was primarily aimed at deriving accurate zero-lift drag).

We have obtained many other aerodynamic parameters such as pitching moment and normal force coefficients, damping moments etc. To ensure realistic maneuverability, plausible control and stability characteristics we performed more than 200 virtual wind tunnel tests at different control fin deflections and various Mach numbers and angles of attack. Below you can see screenshots from our software with computation result visualization.

Flight dynamics for AMRAAM are almost done and we will move on to autopilot development.

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Phant

[Phant]

NEW SCREENSHOTS AND SOME INFO ON THE DCS MI-24P

Eagle Dynamics (through the Belsimtek team) is working hard on the Hind and the team was kind enough to provide us with some great images of this beast.

The images show the cockpit of the Mi-24P which is looking fantastic, as well as three new external images.

The team also indicating that they are still “actively developing a 3D model of the cockpit and we carry out its ‘connection’ to the systems” As for the next steps, they are planning to start “test of flight dynamics and power plant”.

As the team continues development, there is still no prediction for a release date.

Bye
Phant

[Phant]

Eurofighter on the horizon - Introducing TrueGrit Virtual Technologies

We are thrilled to announce that the Eurofighter Typhoon is on its way to DCS World!

To bring this advanced fighter to DCS, a brand new company, TrueGrit Virtual Technologies has been founded specifically for the challenge. The TrueGrit development team is led by Gero Finke, a highly experienced former Typhoon Instructor Pilot with 15 years experience on type and an additional 10 years as a weapons instructor on the mighty F-4 Phantom – a total of 3’000 hours of military jet flying. Gero was station commander at one of the world’s most famous fighter bases of all time, the 71st Tactical Fighter Wing at Wittmundhaven, Germany, formally known as the Red Baron´s legendary “Jagdgeschwader Richthofen” and Squadron Commander at Jagdgeschwader 73, Steinhoff. Today, Gero’s dev team has substantial programming and design experience. This professionalism combined with Gero’s exceptional active-duty and operational knowledge is very promising for DCS and the future of this exciting new module.

Their 3D designer has a background working with Airbus, Grob, Eurocopter, Luftwaffe and also with Heatblur on their DCS: F-14 project.

The lead coder has had substantial experience with various simulator projects, both in the air and ground combat realm. Two other coders with Ph.D.’s in physics and mathematics will lead the programming of the Typhoon’s extremely complex flight model.

In addition to Gero’s personal input and contribution to this highly detailed simulation, the team has excellent access to a number of Subject Matter Experts such as former instructor pilots, weapon instructors and maintenance personnel.

Their team size stands at 15 today but they are always on the lookout for experienced coders to continue to grow. See more development screenshots below.



“Stay At Home” - The sale continues. Save and fly free

Our Stay At Home Sale continues. While current events are still filled with uncertainty, we hope the free product trials and big savings will help and give you a bit of a break from it all.

See the free trial schedule below and visit our E-shop or Steam.

March 28-29: AV-8B
March 30-31: M-2000C
April 1-2: Spitfire
April 3-4: Mustang
April 5-6: Fw 190 A8
April 7-8: Bf 109 K4
April 9-10: Persian Gulf Map
April 11-12: Nevada Map
April 13-14: F-86
April 15-16: MiG-15
April 17-18: Black Shark Ka-50

DCS: Mil Mi-24P Hind - Development Report

The DCS: Mil Mi-24P Hind continues to make steady progress. The cockpit is currently in development and being added to the airframe with basic functionality implementation to follow. We expect to see the start of the integration of flight dynamics and power plant from mid-April.

Bye
Phant