02 June 2023

Dear Fighter Pilots, Partners and Friends,

We are excited to announce the newest addition to the DCS family - the legendary MiG-17F by Red Star Simulations! Check out the details below and get ready to take control of an aviation history icon. Development Screenshots.

We would like to update you on the improvements coming soon to the F-16C and F/A-18C radars, notably realistic target detection and tracking in various operation modes. Phase 1 of this update incorporates more detailed and realistic modeling of the radar waveform that better accounts for reasonable detection range ratios between HPRF and MPRF modes. The model also has an adjustable speedgate option to select the width of the main-beam clutter notch filter, helping to reject or show unwanted targets. Please, note that this will be the initial release of the new radar model, and development will continue in future phases. 

SorelRo is launching their latest campaign, DCS: UH-1H The Last Show that promises an adventurous helicopter storyline. Stay tuned for the next Open Beta update!

Thank you for your passion and support.

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics

MiG-17F

Announcement

The MiG-17 is a subsonic fighter plane developed by the Soviet Union to improve the high-speed issues the MiG-15 encountered. It became the first Soviet fighter jet to feature an afterburner which greatly improved its performance. The result was one of the most successful transonic fighters ever developed. Ultimately, the MiG-17 was flown by over 30 countries over a timespan of three decades; it was also built under license outside of the USSR in Poland and China.

The MiG-17 is most famous for its role in the Vietnam War where it was pressed into dogfights against 3rd generation U.S. fighter planes. Its ambush and tight quarter dogfight tactics were so successful that the U.S., Soviet Union, and European countries were forced to re-evaluate their own aerial combat tactics and rethink future plane developments.

By the 1970’s, the U.S. Navy’s Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) and U.S. Air Forces Weapons School were established to teach pilots new air-to-air combat tactics from lessons learned. The F-16 Viper was a direct result of the lessons learned in Vietnam while fighting the maneuverable MiG-17; it's no coincidence that the F-16 was also the first fighter jet that was able to out-rate the MiG-17.

Headed by two pilots, the Red Star Simulations' primary focus from the start was on accurate flight dynamics. Using Soviet wind test tunnel data, performance manuals, U.S. testing results from a captured MiG-17F, and with the aid of several current MiG-17 pilots, the MiG-17F Lim5 module for DCS has been developed with the most realistic simulated flight dynamics ever produced on a MiG-17 plane.

Flight dynamics key features

• Turn and climb performance, 0 to 40,000+ feet
• Dynamic stall and flap performance
• Slow-speed/high-AOA drag
• High-G drag
• Dynamic engine (speed/altitude/thrust) performance

Plane key features

• ASP-4N gunsight with SRD-1M gun radar
• SPO-2 Sirena RWR
• SRO-2 Khrom IFF
• ARK-5 ADF radio and navigation
• Standard and Egyptian upgrade weapons

Please follow the news for more information about this fascinating addition to DCS.

Radar

Development Report

Phase 1 of our new radar model for the F-16C and F/A-18C provides more realistic radar target detection and tracking in different modes of operation. It incorporates many new features like signal-to-noise ratio calculations that determine a target’s detection range, signal-to-clutter ratio, and receiver dynamic range calculations. The latter may limit detection of small targets in the presence of strong ground clutter. The new modeling also better accounts for the unique aspects of different waveforms.

For example: Velocity Search (VS) and Range While Search (RWS) both include High Pulse Repetition Frequency (HPRF) waveforms; however, RWS provides range measurement because it uses Frequency Modulation (FM) ranging, that also results in a loss of sensitivity. Our model accounts for such losses, and detection range depends on the type of FM-waveform. Also, HPRF modes can only detect closing targets; detection of low aspect targets are generally limited by strong side-lobe clutter. The Medium Pulse Repetition Frequency (MPRF) mode has eight distinct waveforms. Whereas the use of so many waveforms cause a proportional reduction in the signal-to-noise ratio (thus a reduction in detection range relative to HPRF), it does provide all-aspect target detection aside from beaming targets that may be obscured by main lobe clutter.

Phase 1 of our new model accounts for these effects, and faithfully models the detection range ratio between HPRF and MPRF modes.

Another new feature is an adjustable speed gate option. This provides the ability to select the width of the main-beam clutter notch filter that adjusts the threshold of minimal radial velocity that can be detected. This may assist in filtering unwanted, slow targets.

Upon Phase 1 release and tuning, we will implement Phase 2 that will include the effect of radar azimuth and bar settings on detection ranges and the inclusion of more accurate look down radar performance.

UH-1H

Last Show Campaign

The Huey Last Show is a fictional story-based campaign that will test your skills as a helicopter pilot, in 15 missions you will be facing various challenges and various missions while confronting the forces of the Soviet Union. The campaign features 15 story-driven missions, over 2000 voiceovers and late 1970’s units. A full-scale conflict will progress throughout the campaign and you will be required to complete various missions: SAR, RESCAP, Gunship, Transport, SOC Ops. Also included are detailed briefings, kneeboard files, and supporting documentation for each mission.

Stay tuned for the upgraded airborne radar and the new DCS: UH-1H Huey campaign in the upcoming DCS Open Beta update.

Thank you again for your passion and support,

Yours sincerely,

Eagle Dynamics