F-104 Announcement

We are excited to announce the DCS: F-104 now under development with our third-party partners, Aerges! More than 2’500 of these fabulous interceptors were flown by 15 nations from the 1950s until 2004. The Lockheed F-104 was a lightweight, Mach 2 interceptor with phenomenal rate of climb and excellent roll rate thanks to its unique, high wing loading design. During its service, it set multiple performance records including airspeed, altitude, and time-to-climb. A hallmark of the “Century Series” of USAF aircraft, the F-104 will be a must have for DCS Cold War pilots.

The Aerges Team is excited to present their upcoming DCS: F-104 module. Using the experience gained developing the DCS: C-101 Aviojet and the DCS: Mirage F1 modules, they will certainly deliver the most accurate simulation of this exceptional and iconic machine.

Designed by the legendary Kelly Johnson, of P-38, U-2 and SR-71, the F-104 was initially designed to counter the threat posed by the MiG-15 over Korea, and later the MiG-17. Equipped with a single J79-GE-19 turbo jet installed in a very small and lightweight aircraft, the F-104 had excellent airspeed and acceleration qualities that outmatched aircraft of the same era.

Armed with a 725-round M61A1 20mm autocannon and up to two AIM-9 Sidewinders, the F-104 was a within visual range fighter that relied on high-speed slashing attacks rather than turning dogfights due to its poor turn rates. Although optimized for the interceptor role, it could also be armed with unguided rockets and bombs for ground attack.

An AN/ASG-14T1 ranging radar and fire control computer enabled the F-104 to search for aerial targets out to 40 nm and track them within 10 nm.

The F-104 took part in the 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis and played a deterrent force during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. Between 1965 and 1967, it flew 5,206 sorties during the Vietnam War. In 1971, Pakistani F-104s took part in the Indo-Pakistan War.



Mirage F1BE Development Progress

Aerges is happy to announce that the Mirage F1BE (two-seater) is now entering the final testing phase before public release. This version will be ideal for conversion training, and it will provide the opportunity to fly with friends in multiplayer using DCS multicrew.

The second seat adds an additional 30 cm to the length of the aircraft, which results in reduced internal fuel and the removal of the twin 30mm cannons. All other combat capabilities are retained from the single-seat version, with the loss of the internal cannons and internal fuel being compensated for with the addition of cannon pods and external fuel tanks. The back seat also includes a heads-up sight repeater which is unique in DCS.

The addition of the Mirage F1BE adds an interesting role playing option for the Mirage F1 pilot journey. Starting with the C-101 to learn basic airmanship, then transitioning to the Mirage F1BE, a part of the Mirage F1 Basic Course (B-Course), and then concluding with a Mirage F1 tactical unit. Aerges provides this unique experience, available nowhere else in DCS World.

  

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