DCS 2.5 Update Thread (2020)

[Phantom88]

31 July 2020

Dear Fighter Pilot, Partners and Friends,

This week we leaked the features set and announced DCS: A-10C II Warthog.
We would like to take this opportunity to discuss some of the features that will
be available. These include the Laser-Maverick, Scorpion Helmet Mounted Cueing
System, AGR-20 APKWS, GBU-54 JDAM, and more.

We continue to improve the Mission Editor (ME) and enhance the Historical Mode filter.
If you want to use equipment from a given era, simply click the clock icon. This will show
aircraft and equipment that were in service within the selected country and year. This mode
can be turned on and off during mission creation if you need to select objects outside of the
chosen year. We hope this will help facilitate the creation of mission scenarios.

Our bug fixing exercise continues at full strength and we trust that the next OB release will be of interest.

Thank you for your passion and support.

Yours sincerely,

The Eagle Dynamics Team

A-10C II Warthog
New Features

With the release of DCS: A-10C II Warthog, an important update will be the
changes to the HOTAS. This was requested by our professional clients and
now represents the true USAF configuration in particular when considering
the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog™ throttle and stick. Here is an overview
of the new feature set that will be available upon release:

Updated External Model

• Improved 3D mesh and textures
• Removal of TISL pod

Updated Cockpit

• Weathered (dirty bird) textures option
• Addition of the ARC-210 radio head
• Removal of the TISL control panel
• Addition of the Scorpion HMCS control head

AGM-65E2/L Laser-Guided Maverick

• DSMS Status and Inventory Pages
• HUD and Weapon Video Symbology
• READY, ACTIVATE, SCAN, TRACK, and SLAVE Modes
• Updated Maverick HOTAS Commands
• PRF Code Input (DSMS)

Missiles and Guided-Bombs

• AGR-20 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Laser-Guided Rockets
• GBU-54 Laser-JDAM

ARC-210 VHF/UHF Satellite Radio

• Radio Start
• Menu Pages
• Manual Frequency Selection
• Preset Channel Selection
• Guard Channels Selection
• Setting Preset Channels 1–25
• Setting Preset Channels 26–30

Scorpion Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (HMCS)

• Control Head
• HMCS Display
• HMCS HOTAS Commands
• HMCS Setting STAT Page
• Targeting Pod projection window
• Data Link PPLI, Mini-SPI, EPLRS, and Designated Target Symbols
• Waypoints/Steerpoint Symbols
• SPI and Hookship Symbols
• TDC and TGP Symbols

Hands on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS)

• Updated HOTAS Commands

A-10C II
Development Report

We have now completed the flight dynamics research needed for the new
weapons and we are close to completing the cockpit weathered textures.

We are also completing work on the Helmet Mounted Cueing System (HMCS)
and the integration of the Targeting Pod projection window over landmasses
and buildings.

GBU-54
Laser-Guided JDAM

A low-cost guidance kit that combines combat-proven JDAM (Joint Direct
Attack Munition) GPS/INS-based (Global Positioning System/Inertial
Navigation System) navigation with a laser seeker achieving outstanding
accuracy. Unlike the GBU-31 and GBU-38, the GBU-54 can engage moving targets.

AGR-20
APKWS

The 2.75 diameter, 35-pound, laser-guided rocket is known as the fixed-wing
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II. The rocket has proven effective in
combat operations over Afghanistan.

We look forward to your feedback on these new weapon systems.

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Kind regards,

Attached Thumbnails

[Wes]

The rockets are the top interest to me, over the L-JDAM. HMD on it’s own I like, don’t think the FLIR mode will see much use as it doesn’t seem many enjoy night flying.

[JediMaster]

That filter is something Strike Fighters had from day 1 and I always thought was great as even the QMB had it.

Pick 1967 and only planes and weapons in service in 1967 would appear. They may not have been in that theater necessarily, but they could have been had things been different. Yet you wouldn’t see an F-14 or MiG-23 because that could not have happened.

[BeachAV8R]

The HMCS with TGP data at night is one of my favorite features of VTOL VR. It is easy to get distracted and fly into a mountain though…

[Wes]

Well that’s just a different way to get to “not much use”, albeit a bit more explosive.

[SkateZilla]

APKWS will change anything, imagine, 20+ laser guided rockets to use…

Oh me oh my…

[JediMaster]

Finally rockets will do more than just look cool to fire…

[Franze]

@SkateZilla

APKWS will change anything, imagine, 20+ laser guided rockets to use…

Don’t need to imagine, we have JF-17 with laser guided rockets.

[Gunnyhighway]

LET THE TRUCK PLINKERS REJOICE!!! Do you realize how many 1 shot passes you can make on the truck park now? Like 38. I’m imagining the burning Gaz’s and BTR’s now. I think I’d rather make a supersonic pass with cbu-97’s and call it a day.

[Anklebiter]

How do the rockets work on that one? Do you need to maintain lase until impact, or can you paint/fire, paint/fire, paint/fire and have them remember where to go?

Secondary to that, does the APKWS work the same?

[weaponz248]

I dont know much about the APKWS but I believe its a semi active laser seeker. Which means it needs a laser to find the target, probably in the same way that an AIm-7 needs radar lock to find the target.

Anything dealing with lasers(as far as munitions go) normally requires laser lock until impact.

[Franze]

Right now, the JF-17’s laser rockets utilize the same system as the Vikhr, so they’re treated as beam riding. In the future, they’ll function the same as other SAL weapons.

[SkateZilla]

JTAC Lase, and just shoot laser guided rockets, pick off one helpless truck at a time.

[Phantom88]

The Future of DCS GR Interview

Interview: Eagle Dynamics On "The Future Of DCS WORLD"

[schurem]

Suffer through the first few minutes as Cap finds his feet. He gets significantly less annoying a few minutes in.

Apache! Fulcrum! yay!

Syria and Marianas late september, boo!

[Victork2]

I like cap. I don’t find him half as annoying as most of the rest of the world. Quite often listen to his vids when I’m driving. He’s been invaluable with the hornet and tomcat for me.
Apache…yummy…

[anon51893362]

I’m listening to it and some of their comments are …way off.
Question - When will performance get better? They spend 15 minutes talking about upgrades and MS2020 and haven’t answered anything. And then…“well, we’ve answered that question. Let’s move to the next one” …WHAT?

[schurem]

Oh he’s allright, it’s just… the ego on that guy. It rankles sometimes. Well it does to me.

[schurem]

I think for substantial performance improvements we’re looking at the introduction of Vulkan. Until that time, it’s going to be piecemeal at best. In fact, looking at the latest flight wags did over Syria, it’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better

[Victork2]

Fair enough, I’ve never noticed really. I only tend to skip through to the important bits anyway most of the time