The highly-anticipated early access release of the F-15E Strike Eagle module for the military flight simulator DCS World is coming close, and Razban Simulations, its developer, has been revealing more details.
Shared on Twitter by Razban’s Ron Zambrano, we get to take a look at a long list of features that will be included in the early access release from day one. Of course, more will be added until the full release.
Navigation:
•Fully modeled Laser Gyros assembly with drift error.
•Integrated GPS assembly with its own independent gyro system.
•Inertial Navigation, with selectable gyro system for position keeping.
•TACAN Navigation
•ILS Navigation
•Waypoint Navigation, fully editable with in cockpit ADD, EDIT and DELETE functions.
Sensor Suite:
•Tactical Situation Display: Currently, it is working only as a moving map. It will be constantly updated to become a fully operable system capable of selecting targets.
•AN/APG-70 Radar:
oA/A: RWS, STT, TWS and HOJ.
oA/G: Radar Map, High Resolution Map, Ground Moving Target.
oThe radar is fully integrated with the loaded TGP (LANTIRN, LITENING or SNIPER).
oThe radar is synchronized for Multi Crew cockpit.
•Navigation Pods (NVP):
oAN/AAQ-13: Navigation Pod:
FLIR is available.
•Targeting Pods (TGP):
oAN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN: FLIR + Laser Designation are available. After EA the newer Litening pod will be available fully functional as well as part of our CTU update program, this also includes the Sniper pod in a future
Weapons Management
The aircraft has a learning curve regarding weapons management. The crew is required to do certain procedures before the loaded weapons can be used.
•Programmable Armament Control Set (PACS):
oA/A Display (A/A): Monitors and configure all A/A weapons on the aircraft. Currently it is in its basic form.
oA/G Display (A/G): Monitors and configure all A/G weapons. In this option the release program (up to four) is entered. A/G weapons cannot be released without a program.
oA/A LOAD: Used to configure the aircraft’s A/A loadout. This does not mean that the selected weapon is physically loaded. Only used for A/A training, since all A/A missiles self-identify. Not operational.
oA/G LOAD: Used to configure the aircraft’s A/G loadout. This does not mean that the selected weapon is physically loaded. It is a required step because the aircraft cannot identify the ordnance loaded in a specific pylon. It can only determine if something is loaded or not. Fully operational.
oCBT JETT: Used to pre-program weapons jettison for quick release under combat conditions. Two jettison programs can be entered. Fully operational.
•A/G Delivery: Configures the delivery parameters for each weapons release program.
•Selective Jettison: Used to select the removal of aircraft load. Unlike the CBT JETT, the pilot is required to select the pylons before jettisoning them.
Weapons Suite
The following are the weapons that will be available on EA release:
Air to Air
AIM-9 family: L/M/P/P5
AIM-7 family: M/MH
AIM-120 family: B/C
Air to Ground
Mk-82 family: LD and HD (Snake eyes and AIR).
Mk-84 family: LD and HD (AIR)
CBUs: -87, -97
GBUs (Laser Guided Weapons): -10, -12, -24, -27, -28
Training versions of Mk-82, Mk-84, GBU-12
Gun
M61-A 20mm Vulcan with 500 rounds of either PGU-28/B SAPHEI or M56HEI
Other stores
External Fuel Tanks.
MXU-648 Travel Pod
Cockpit
Both front and rear cockpits are fully clickable, including some items like mirrors, which can be rotated.
The digital displays (MPDs and MPCDs) are functional but not all the menu options are available.
HUD
The HUD is fully implemented, including the HUD repeaters in both cockpits. The main HUD in the front cockpit can also display FLIR video, when the NAV POD is loaded.
All aircraft master modes are enabled: A/A (default), A/G, NAV and INST (a special NAV mode with hardcoded displays).
•A/A: All Air-to-Air weapons are enabled: Medium Range Missiles (MRM), Short Range Missiles (SRM) and gun (GUN). For SRM and gun, can be used with or without radar guidance.
•A/G: CDIP (CCIP) and AUTO (CCRP) release modes for both are available. DIRECT (hot pickle) release is not enabled since this is a Smart Weapons mode.
Zambrano explained that for early access, the developer decided to focus on single-pilot use, but some multi-crew features are still coming for early access and more will be added with each following update.
Current Multi Crew synchronization available for EA:
•Flight Controls, Autopilot , CAS, and Trim system
•Landing Gear and Brake system
•Speed brake and Flap system
•Engine and Engine Control system
•Electrical system
•Aircraft External Lights
•Cockpit Internal Lights
•ECS system
•Fuel system
•Ejection system
•A/A Radar
•A/G Radar
•Navigation (Waypoint)
While the early access release date has not been announced yet, it has already been set internally, and will be revealed “in the near future.”
On top of the features, Zambrano also revealed a look at more liveries that will be included in the early access release. You can check them out below.
DCS World is currently available only for PC and the base simulator can be downloaded for free either via the developer’s own site or Steam. If you’d like to see more, you can also enjoy the trailer teasing what Eagle Dynamics has in store for 2023 and beyond on top of the recent news about multi-threading implementation. Speaking of third-party developers, Heatblur is also coming close to the early access release of the F-4 Phantom.
If you prefer more peaceful flying, you can check out our daily Microsoft Flight Simulator coverage. We’re hosting daily articles recapping all the news about the many add-ons coming to the simulator.
