Digital Combat Simulator

Digital Combat Simulator World (DCS World) is a free-to-play combat flight simulator developed by Eagle Dynamics and published by The Fighter Collection. It was released in October 2008 and has since been through several versions, the current being version 2.5.

Digital Combat Simulator
Developer(s)Eagle Dynamics
Publisher(s)The Fighter Collection
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows
Release
  • RU: 17 October 2008
  • EN: 10 December 2008
  • GER: 7 March 2009
  • NA: 2 April 2009
Genre(s)Combat flight simulator
Mode(s)Singleplayer, multiplayer

DCS World is a sandbox simulation offering aircraft and locations ranging from early World War II through the Cold War all the way up to modern conflicts such as the Russo-Georgian War. Current regions modeled include the Caucasus and Black Sea, the Nevada Test and Training Range, the Persian Gulf, the Levant, Normandy 1944, the Channel 1940-1945 and Syria. It aims to offer the most authentic and realistic simulation of military aircraft, tanks, ground vehicles, and ships possible in a commercial simulation.

DCS World includes a free simulation of the Sukhoi Su-25T Frogfoot attack aircraft and TF-51D Mustang along with the Caucasus theater. DCS World is extensible through modules (essentially DLC) as well as user-made add-ons and mods. It is available in a standalone edition and in a Steam edition.

As of August 2020, 39 aircraft or aircraft variants are flyable over six theaters, and a further 23 aircraft are being developed or have been announced. Three new theaters are also being developed. The simulation also comes with a mission editor, full network play, more than 156 AI weapons systems, 105 ground vehicles and trains, 50 air defense systems, 19 ships and 84 AI aircraft.

DCS World has received very positive reviews from users and professional reviewers.[1]

Overview

DCS World includes a mission generator, dynamic weather and seasons, training missions, mission and campaign editors, online multiplayer, AI opponents, a large inventory of air, land and sea combat units, static structures and civil units, a replay system and a pilot log book.

Users of DCS World can host their own servers with user-made missions for co-operative and/or adversarial multiplayer missions with or against AI units. Since April 3, 2019, DCS World Open Beta Dedicated Server has been released to work as a dedicated multiplayer server without loading textures and sounds.[2]

The mission editor utilizes Lua support and a campaign editor for user created tasks. This allows users to extend provided missions with content created independently from module publishers, or create their own unique scenarios.

Development

Precusor to DCS

The first module (though not until later referred to as a module) added to DCS was DCS: Black Shark (released in October 2008) as a stand-alone simulation of the Russian Kamov Ka-50.[3] It was originally an add-on for the previous Lock On: Modern Air Combat series, but it was deemed necessary to use a different engine instead.[4]

Modular concept

In 2011, DCS World was launched with the concept of plug-in "modules". This allowed using previously stand-alone simulations in same scenario while sharing assets. DCS: A-10C Warthog was made available as a plug-in module, while DCS: Black Shark became DCS: Black Shark 2 as part of an upgrade to the simulation.[5][6] The Black Shark 2 module incorporates Eagle Dynamics' Professional Flight Model, the Advanced Systems Model, and presents the pilot with full six degrees of freedom style cockpit.[7] As the second module of the DCS simulation, DCS: A-10C Warthog provides a simulation of a modern fixed wing combat aircraft in regards to flight dynamics, avionics, sensors, and weapon systems. The player also has the option to play Warthog in "Game" mode for a casual game experience or in simulation mode for a comprehensive experience.

Players can fly missions against a wide array of air, land and sea forces under AI control or in some cases other players. Users can create and share their own missions and campaigns, with the included mission and campaign editors and fly with and against other people online.[8] User made single and multiplayer missions and campaigns can be downloaded online along several other types of user generated files such as mods, liveries and utilities.

Further development

In October 2015, DCS World was relaunched under the guise of DCS World 1.5 through a free update.[9] 'DCS World 1.5' brought all the current aircraft, ground units and terrain into the new Eagle Dynamics Graphics Engine (EDGE) featuring DirectX 11.

In November 2015, DCS World 2.0 was released in open alpha format through a free update. 'DCS World 2.0' gained the ability to add new theaters of war, such as the new Nevada Test & Training Range. The Caucasus map was in the process of being updated, and was not yet compatible with DCS 2.0.[9][10]

In May 2017, DCS World 2.1 was released in early access which includes support for Nevada and Normandy maps and new rendering (deferred shading and physically based rendering, PBR).[11][12]

In January 2018, DCS World 2.5 was released into open beta testing, which allowed for migration to 2.5 on Steam and from 2.2 Open Alpha. It included an updated, more detailed map of the Caucasus region along with a plethora of other changes and additions.[13][14] The release version of 2.5 was published in April 2018.[15]

Starting August 1, 2019, digitalcombatsimulator.com started offering discounts with each DCS product purchased in the guise of ED Miles. Miles earned represent 10% of the purchase price of modules and can be used for partial or full payment for products at the rate of 1000 ED Miles = 1 US dollar.[16]

Since July 15, 2020, a historical mode filter has been introducted to the open beta version, in the mission editor, to facilitate the creation of historical mission scenarios. All lists of equipment and aircraft can be filtered out for a given year.[17]

Future of DCS

In the future, DCS World will undergo a graphics engine overhaul, integrate Vulkan API, support multi-threading and feature a dynamic campaign engine, voice chat and enhanced aircraft artificial intelligence.[18][19]

List of modules

Aircraft modules summary

Generation Released or in early access In development or announced Total
World war II 7 3 10
1st gen jets 2 0 2
2nd gen jets 3 3 6
3rd gen jets 3 8 11
4th gen jets 14 3 17
Trainers 5 1 6
Helicopters 4 3 7
Community modules 1 2 3
Total 39 23 62

World War II aircraft

Name Module type Role Prototype first flight Introduction year for simulated variant Developer Release date Status Flight model Systems model
North American P-51D Mustang Aircraft Fighter 1940 1945 Eagle Dynamics 12 September 2012 Released Professional Advanced
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-9 Dora Aircraft Fighter-bomber 1939 1944 Eagle Dynamics 14 August 2014 Released Professional Advanced
Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4 Kurfürst Aircraft Fighter 1935 1944 Eagle Dynamics 12 December 2014 Released Professional Advanced
Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IX Aircraft Fighter 1936 1943 Eagle Dynamics 16 December 2016 Released Professional Advanced
Polikarpov I-16 Aircraft Fighter 1933 1939 OctopusG 10 May 2019 Early access[20] External Advanced
Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-8 Anton Aircraft Fighter 1939 1944 Eagle Dynamics 7 June 2019 Released[21][22] Professional Advanced
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Aircraft Fighter-bomber 1941 1944 Eagle Dynamics 5 June 2020 Early Access[23] Professional Advanced
Vought F4U-1D Corsair Aircraft Fighter-bomber 1940 1945 Leatherneck Simulations (also known as Magnitude 3 LLC) Unreleased In development External Advanced
De Havilland Mosquito FB MK.VI Aircraft Fighter-bomber 1940 1942 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased In development Professional Advanced
Messerschmitt Me 262 Aircraft Fighter 1941 1944 Eagle dynamics Unreleased Announced[24] Professional

1st generation jets

Name Module type Role Prototype first flight Introduction year for simulated variant Developer Release date Status Flight model Systems model
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis Aircraft Light fighter 1947 1950 Belsimtek 11 March 2016 Released[25] Professional Advanced
North American F-86F Sabre Aircraft Light fighter 1947 1953 Belsimtek 1 April 2016 Released[26] Professional Advanced

2nd generation jets

Name Module type Role Prototype first flight Introduction year for simulated variant Developer Release date Status Flight model Systems model
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bis Aircraft Light fighter
Interceptor
1955 1972 Leatherneck Simulations (also known as Magnitude 3 LLC) 19 September 2014 Released External Advanced
Northrop F-5E Tiger II Aircraft Light fighter 1959 1972 Belsimtek 11 November 2016 Released[27] Professional Advanced
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19P Farmer Aircraft Light fighter 1952 1955 RAZBAM 1 March 2019 Early access[28] External Advanced
Vought F-8J Crusader Aircraft Fighter 1955 1969 Leatherneck Simulations (also known as Magnitude 3 LLC) Unreleased In development[29] External Advanced
Dassault Mirage IIIE Aircraft Strike fighter

Multirole

1956 1961 RAZBAM Unreleased In development[30][31][32][33] External
English Electric Lightning Aircraft Interceptor 1957 RAZBAM Unreleased Announced[34][35][36][37][38] External

3rd generation jets

Name Module type Role Prototype first flight Introduction year for simulated variant Developer Release date Status Flight model Systems model
Fairchild Republic A-10C Warthog Aircraft Close air support
Ground attack
1972 2005 Eagle Dynamics 22 April 2011 Released Professional Advanced
Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II Aircraft Close air support
Ground attack
1972 1977 Eagle Dynamics 26 July 2013 Released Advanced +[39] Standard
Saab AJS 37 Viggen Aircraft Interdictor
Strike fighter
1967 1993 Heatblur Simulations
(previously Leatherneck Simulations)
27 January 2017 Early access[40] External Advanced
Fairchild Republic A-10C Warthog 2 Aircraft Close air support
Ground attack
1972 2005 Eagle Dynamics 2 October 2020 Released Professional Advanced
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 MLA Flogger Aircraft Fighter 1967 1985 RAZBAM Unreleased In development External Advanced
FMA IA-58 Pucará Aircraft Ground attack 1969 1969 RAZBAM Unreleased In development[41][42][32] External
Dassault Super Étendard Aircraft Strike fighter

Carrier-based

1974 RAZBAM Unreleased In development[33] External
British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS1 Aircraft V/STOL

Multrirole

Carrier-based

1967 1978 RAZBAM Unreleased In development[34][33] External
LTV A-7E Corsair II Aircraft Light ground attack
Carrier-based
1965 1967 FlyingIron Simulations Unreleased In development[43] External
McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II Aircraft Interceptor
Fighter-bomber
Carrier-based
1958 1970 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased In development Professional
Dassault Mirage F1EE, BE, CE and M Aircraft Fighter

Ground attack

1966 1975 Aviodev Unreleased In development[44][45][46] External Advanced
North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco Aircraft Light attack 1969 RAZBAM Unreleased In development[47] External

4th generation jets

Name Module type Role Prototype first flight Introduction year for simulated variant Developer Release date Status Flight model Systems model
Sukhoi Su-25 Aircraft Close air support
Ground attack
1975 1981 Eagle Dynamics 26 July 2013 Released Advanced +[39] Standard
McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle Aircraft Air superiority 1972 1976 Eagle Dynamics 26 July 2013 Released Professional Standard
Sukhoi Su-27 Aircraft Air superiority 1977 1985 Eagle Dynamics 11 November 2014 Released[48] Professional Standard
Dassault Mirage 2000C RDI Aircraft Multirole 1978 1987 RAZBAM 25 December 2015 Released External Advanced
Sukhoi Su-33 Aircraft Air superiority
Carrier-based
1987 1998 Eagle Dynamics 22 September 2017 Released Professional Standard
McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Night Attack Harrier II Aircraft V/STOL
Ground attack
Carrier-based
1978 1991 RAZBAM 29 November 2017 Early access[49] External Advanced
Shenyang J-11A Aircraft Air superiority 1998 1998 Deka Ironwork Simulations 27 April 2018 Released as part of the China Asset Pack (Flaming Cliffs 3 or DCS: Su-27 required)[50][51] Professional Standard
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet (Lot 20) Aircraft Multirole
Carrier-based
1978 2005 Eagle Dynamics 1 June 2018 Early access[52][53] Professional Advanced
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29A Aircraft Air superiority
Multirole
1977 1982 Eagle Dynamics 10 October 2018 Released[54] Professional Standard
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-29S Aircraft Air superiority
Multirole
1977 1990 Eagle Dynamics 10 October 2018 Released[54] Professional Standard
Grumman F-14B Tomcat Aircraft Interceptor
Air superiority
Carrier-based
1970 1987 Heatblur Simulations 15 March 2019 Early access[55] External Advanced
Grumman F-14A Tomcat Aircraft Interceptor
Air superiority
Carrier-based
1970 1974 Heatblur Simulations Scheduled for the end of summer 2020[56] In development[57] External Advanced
General Dynamics F-16CM Fighting Falcon/Viper (Blk.50) Aircraft Multirole 1974 2007 Eagle Dynamics 3 October 2019 Early access[58] Professional Advanced
CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder Aircraft Multirole 2003 2007 Deka Ironwork Simulations 3 December 2019 Early access External Advanced
McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle Aircraft Multirole
Strike fighter
1972 1985 RAZBAM Unreleased In development External Advanced
Eurofighter Typhoon Aircraft Multirole 1994 2006 TrueGrit Virtual Technologies Unreleased In development[59] External Advanced
AMX International AMX Aircraft Ground attack 1984 1989 RAZBAM Unreleased In development[34] External

Trainer aircraft and light ground attack

Name Module type Role Prototype first flight Introduction year for simulated variant Developer Release date Status Flight model Systems model
CASA C-101 Aviojet Aircraft Trainer
Light ground attack
1977 1980 AvioDev 21 January 2015 Released External Advanced
BAE Systems Hawk T.1A Aircraft Trainer
Light fighter
1974 1976 VEAO Simulations 16 March 2015 No Longer Available[60] External Advanced
Aero L-39C Albatros Aircraft Trainer
Light ground attack
1968 1971 Eagle Dynamics 19 February 2016 Released Professional Advanced
Aero L-39ZA Albatros Aircraft Trainer
Light ground attack
1968 1976 Eagle Dynamics 19 February 2016 Released Professional Advanced
Yakovlev Yak-52 Aircraft Two-seat trainer 1976 1979 Eagle Dynamics 3 August 2018 Early access[61] Professional Advanced
Aviat Christen Eagle II Aircraft Aerobatic 1977 Leatherneck Simulations (also known as Magnitude 3 LLC) 18 January 2019 Early access[62] External Advanced
Embraer EMB 314/A-29 Supertucano Aircraft Trainer aircraft

Light ground attack

1999 2003 RAZBAM Unreleased In development[63][34][64][65][66] External Advanced ?

Helicopters

Name Module type Role Prototype first flight Introduction year for simulated variant Developer Release date Status Flight model Systems model
Kamov Ka-50 Black Shark 2 Aircraft Attack helicopter 1982 1987 Eagle Dynamics 2 November 2008 Released Professional Advanced
Bell UH-1H Huey Aircraft Utility helicopter 1956 1967 Belsimtek 19 April 2013 Released Professional Advanced
Mil Mi-8MTV2 "Magnificent Eight" Aircraft Utility helicopter 1961 1990 Belsimtek 5 September 2013 Released[67] Professional Advanced
Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle Aircraft Utility helicopter 1967 1973 Polychop-Simulations 29 April 2016 Released[68] External Advanced
Kamov Ka-50 Black Shark 3 Aircraft Attack helicopter 1982 1987 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased, scheduled 2020, to replace Black Shark 2[69] In development, to replace Black Shark 2 Professional Advanced
Mil Mi-24P Hind Aircraft Attack helicopter 1969 1981 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased, scheduled 2020[69] In development Professional Advanced
Bell OH-58 Kiowa Aircraft Scout Helicopter 1969 1983 Polychop-Simulations Unreleased In development[70] External Advanced ?
Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm Bo 105 PAH1-A1 Aircraft Military helicopter 1967 1991 RAZBAM & Miltech-5 Unreleased In development[71] External Advanced ?

Community modules

Modules made by developers who do not have an third party licence with Eagle Dynamics.

Name Module type Role Prototype first flight Introduction year for simulated variant Developer Release date Status Flight model Systems model
Douglas A-4E-C Skyhawk Aircraft Ground attack 1954 1962 Gospadin, gyrovague, kryb / Archimaede, plusnine, Merker, Jones, Farlander, Heclak, Nero, Dr. Manius 18 November 2018[72] Released External
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25 RBT Aircraft Ground attack

Reconnaissance

1964 Vapour Labs Scheduled 2021 In development[73] External
Hawker Hunter Mk. 58 Aircraft Fighter

Ground attack

1951 1963 Foxtrot Oscar Simulation Designs Unreleased In development[74] External

Aircraft carriers

Name Module type Role Lead ship launch year Introduction year for simulated variant Developer Release date Status
USS John C. Stennis Aircraft carrier Carrier 1972 1995 Eagle Dynamics Released
Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft carrier Carrier 1985 1991 Eagle Dynamics Released
Superсarrier (comprises the USS Theodore Roosevelt, USS Abraham Lincoln, USS George Washington, USS John C Stennis and USS Harry S. Truman[75]) Aircraft carrier and crew Carrier 1972 Eagle Dynamics 22 May 2020 Early access[76]
USS Tarawa Aircraft carrier Amphibious assault ship 1973 1976 RAZBAM Released
USS Forrestal Aircraft carrier Carrier 1955 1955 Heatblur Simulations Scheduled for the end of summer 2020[56] In development[57]
USS Essex Aircraft carrier Carrier 1942 1942 Leatherneck Simulations (also known as Magnitude 3 LLC) To be released with the F4U-1D Corsair In development[29]
HMS Invincible (R05) Light aircraft carrier Carrier 1980 1980 RAZBAM To be released with the Falklands map In development[77]

Others

Name Module type Role App. historical year Developer Release date Status Flight model Systems model
Combined Arms Land combat 2005 Eagle Dynamics 25 December 2012 Released Professional Advanced
Flaming Cliffs 3 Aircraft Multiple aircraft 1995 Eagle Dynamics 30 April 2013 Released[78] Mixed Standard
DCS: World War II Assets Pack Air, ground and sea assets 1944 Eagle Dynamics 26 May 2017 Early access[79]
China Asset Pack Air, ground and sea assets Deka Ironwork Simulations 27 April 2018 Released

List of theaters

DCS World includes six theaters suited for military operations, most notably in the air-to-surface domain.

Terrains

Name App. historical year Area Size Coverage Number of airbases Number of civilian airports Developer Release date Status
Caucasus 1990 390 000 km Approx. 400 × 400 × 400 × 400 × 650 km

(irregular polygon)

Georgia, Northern Caucasus, most or parts of Krasnodar Krai, Crimea, Stavropol Krai, North Ossetia–Alania, Ingushetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay–Cherkessia. Sea of Azov and the Black sea 10 11 Eagle Dynamics 2 November 2008 Released
NEVADA Test and Training Range 2017 366 000 km2 Portions of Nevada, Utah, Arizona and California Eagle Dynamics 30 November 2015 Released
Normandy 1944 128 000 km2 267 × 348 km Normandy, part of The Channel and the South of England Ugra Media 26 May 2017 Released
Persian Gulf 2018 200 000 km2 Hormuz straight, the United Arab Emirates, the southwestern quarter of Iran, part of Oman 13 Eagle Dynamics 25 May 2018[80] Released
The Channel Map 1939-1945 40 000 km2 Southeast England and Northern France 9 Eagle Dynamics 5 June 2020 Early Access[23]
Syria 300 000 km2 500 × 600 km Most of Syria, Israel, and Lebanon and areas of Turkey and Jordan Ugra Media 19 August 2020 Early Access[81]
Falkland Islands 1982 360 000 km2 Approx. 1200 km × 300 km[82] All of the Falklands islands and parts of Southern Argentina RAZBAM Unreleased In development
Marianas Islands 2018 160 000 km2 400 km × 400 km[83] Most of the Marianas Islands (Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Rota, Farallon De Medinilla and Aguigan) and surrounding ocean[83] 1 4 Eagle Dynamics Unreleased In development[84]
Afghanistan Eagle Dynamics Unreleased In development

Campaigns

World War II

Name Aircraft Terrain Other requirements App. historical year Number of players Number of missions Scope of the missions Developer Release date
P-51D High Stakes Campaign P-51D Caucasus Single player 15 All weather, air-to-air, air-to-ground Layvinas 22 April 2016
The Big Show Campaign Spitfire LF Mk. IX Normandy DCS: WWII Assets Pack 1943-1944 Single player 12 Exprience French ace Pierre Closterman air war Reflected Simulations 26 October 2016
Operation Epsom Campaign Spitfire LF Mk. IX Normandy 1944 Single player 12 Air-to-air and air-to-ground historical missions during and following D Day Bunyap Campaigns 28 July 2017
Charnwood Campaign P-51D Normandy DCS: WWII Assets Pack 1944 Single player 12 Air-to-air and air-to-ground missions flown in support of the allied breakout of Normandy in July 1944 Bunyap Campaigns 8 December 2017
The Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney Campaign P-51D Normandy DCS: WWII Assets Pack Single player 14 Semi-historical missions focusing on the 352nd Fighter Group. Escort large bomber formations, support the ground troops after D-day or engage the Luftwaffe over the snowy hills of the Ardennes Reflected Simulations 19 December 2018
Jagdflieger Campaign Bf 109 K-4 Normandy DCS: WWII Assets Pack 1944 Single player 12 Participate in the air defence of the Reich against batches of Allied bombers and their figher escort Reflected Simulations 31 July 2019

Korean War

Name Aircraft Terrain Other requirements App. historical year Number of players Number of missions Scope of the missions Developer Release date
The Museum Relic Campaign F-86F

MiG-15Bis

Caucasus Single player 22 Aerial gunnery, ground attack, and navigation Apache600 5 August 2016
Hunters over the Yalu Campaign F-86F Caucasus DCS: WWII Assets Pack 1953 Single player 12 Attack enemy bridges, factories, strafe supply columns, support ground troops and carry out large fighter sweeps Reflected Simulations 18 December 2019

Caucasus theater

Name Aircraft Terrain Other requirements App. historical year Number of players Number of missions Scope of the missions Developer Release date
The Ultimate Argument Campaign Su-27 Caucasus Single player 20 All weather, air-to-air, air-to-ground, reconnaissance Eagle Dynamics 1 August 2015
Stone Shield Campaign A-10C Caucasus 2015 Single player Precision airstrikes, close air support. etc. Eagle Dynamics 10 February 2017
Operation Piercing Fury Campaign A-10C Caucasus Single player 15 On-Call Close Air Support (CAS), Combat Search and Rescue, assist in Capture-or-Kill missions, and provide CAS for Air-Assault raids by Special Forces Ranger79
The Georgian War Сampaign F-15C Caucasus 2008 Single player 16 Based on accurate historical events that tok place during the Russo-Georgian War of 2008 Baltic Dragon 23 August 2017
M-2000C Caucasus Campaign Mirage 2000C RDI Caucasus Single player 13 Baltic Dragon
Mjolnir Response AJS 37 Viggen (included with module) Caucasus 1994 Single player 5 Reconnaissance, ground attack, anti-ship strike Heatblur Simulations 2018
The Enemy Within 3.0 Campaign A-10C Caucasus Single player 21 Close air support, precision strikes, combat search and rescue, anti-ship strikes, and air to air combat Baltic Dragon 30 January 2019
The Enemy Within 3.0 Campaign A-10C Caucasus Multiplayer 21 Close air support, precision strikes, combat search and rescue, anti-ship strikes, and air to air combat Baltic Dragon
Wrath of Thunder AJS 37 Viggen (included with module) Caucasus Single player 10 Close air support, anti-ship strikes, long range ground strikes and air to air combat Heatblur Simulations 18 December 2019
The Serpent's Head 2 Campaign F-18C Caucasus Single player Story-based campaign Badger 633 22 July 2020
Crime and Punishment MiG-19P (included with the module) Caucasus 1963 Single player 10 Story driven missions covering air to air and air to ground engagements Baltic Dragon 6 June 2019
Operation Cage the Bear F-14B (included with the module) Caucasus 1992 Single player 8 Air to air and air to ground engagements Heatblur Simulations 2019
Ottoman courrier AV-8B Caucasus Single player 10 Baltic Dragon Scheduled for Q4 2020[85]
Crismon Dawn A-10C Caucasus Single player 15 Baltic Dragon Scheduled for 2021[85]

Persian Gulf theater

Name Aircraft Terrain Other requirements App. historical year Number of players Number of missions Scope of the missions Developer Release date
Raven One F/A-18C Persian Gulf DCS: Supecarrier Post Gulf War I 15 All major types of missions: CAP, CAS, SEAD, ground and surface strikes, Alert – 7 and Alert – 30 launches, Sea Surface Search Control, air interceptions and others, based on the Raven One novel Baltic Dragon 19 August 2020
Coup d'État Mirage 2000C RDI (included with the module) Persian Gulf Single player 3 Baltic Dragon Q4 2019
Coup d'État Mirage 2000C RDI (included with the module) Persian Gulf Multiplayer 3 Baltic Dragon 14 February 2020
AV-8B N/A Hormuz AV/8B Persian Gulf Baltic Dragon Planned[86]
F-16C Hormuz F-16C Persian Gulf Baltic Dragon Planned[86]

Flight training

Name Aircraft Terrain Other requirements App. historical year Number of players Number of missions Scope of the missions Developer Release date
A-10C Basic Flight Training Campaign A-10C Caucasus Single player 12 Basic flight training Maple Flag Missions 18 March 2016
A-10C Advanced Aircraft Training Qualification Campaign A-10C Caucasus Single player 10 Advanced flight training Eagle Dynamics 30 September 2016
A-10C Tactical Training Qualification Campaign A-10C Single player 15 Based on real world qualification requirements, interact with JTACs, Airborne FACs, AC-130 Gunships and manage Close Air Support (CAS) assets Maple Flag Missions
F-5E Aggressors Basic Fighter Maneuvers Campaign F-5E Nevada Single player Basic Fighter Maneuver against dissimilar aircraft Maple Flag Missions 25 November 2016
F-5E Aggressors Air Combat Maneuver Campaign F-5E Nevada Single player Air combat Maneuver against dissimilar aircraft Maple Flag Missions 17 Marc 2017
A-10C Tactical Training Qualification Campaign A-10C Caucasus Single player 15 FAC & JTAC Coordination, Stationary and Moving Target Tasking, Danger Close Tasking, SEAD Tasking, Deep Interdiction Tasking Day & Night, and Deep Interdiction Special Forces Coordination. Maple Flag Missions 12 July 2017
F-15C Aggressors BFM Campaign F-15C Nevada Single player 10 Basic Fighter Maneuver against similar and dissimilar aircraft Maple Flag Missions 25 April 2018
Kursant Campaign L-39C/ZA Caucasus 1998 Single player 11 Basic and advanced flight training Eagle Dynamics 11 May 2018
F/A-18C Aggressors BFM Campaign F-18C Nevada Single player 12 Basic Fighter Maneuver against similar and dissimilar aircraft Maple Flag Missions 17 July 2019
Iron flag Part 1 A-10C Nevada 10 Baltic Dragon Q3 2020[85]
Iron flag Part 2 A-10C Nevada 10 Baltic Dragon 2021[85]

Red Flag

Name Aircraft Terrain Other requirements App. historical year Number of players Number of missions Scope of the missions Developer Release date
F-15C 16-2 Red Flag Campaign F-15C Nevada Single player 10 Eagle Dynamics 15 January 2016
A-10C 16-2 Red Flag Campaign A-10C Nevada Single player 10 Eagle Dynamics 5 February 2019
AJS-37 Viggen: 16-2 Red Flag Campaign AJS 37 Viggen Nevada Single player 10 Strike missions Heatblur 5 January 2018
M-2000C Red Flag Campaign Mirage 2000C RDI Nevada 2012 Single player 16 Air-to-air, air-to-ground missions, air-to-air refueling, Baltic Dragon 20 June 2018

Helicopter campaigns

Name Aircraft Terrain Other requirements App. historical year Number of players Number of missions Scope of the missions Developer Release date
Black Shark 2 Republic Campaign Ka-50 Caucasus Single player 20 Air support, anti-armor, special operations Eagle Dynamics 23 October 2015
The Border Campaign Mi-8MTV2 Caucasus Single player 15 All wearther cargo delivery and military personnel transport to remote outposts, land and pick up ground forces by helicopter and participate in special-forces raids Armen Murazyan 9 December 2016
Argo Campaign UH-1H Caucasus Single player 15 all-weather conditions, search and rescue ops, cargo delivery, troops transport and antisubmarine warfare 373vFS Greg 21 April 2017
Oilfield Campaign Mi-8MTV2 Caucasus Single player 16 Civil cargo transport Layvinas 28 April 2017
Memory of a Hero Campaign Mi-8MTV2

Ka-50

Caucasus 1993 Single player Transport, search and rescue, anti-ship and counter-terrorism against the backdrop of the Abkhaz-Georgian war of 1993 Stone Sky 31 August 2018
Worlds Apart UH-1H Caucasus 2025 Single player 12 Story driven campaign with airport operations, close air support, hot landing zones, land and naval missions, cargo transport, Low Level Heaven 23 August 2019
Crew Part 1 Campaign Mi-8MTV2 Caucasus Single player 14 VIP transport, VFR and IFR tasks,air-to-ground[87] Stone Sky 19 August 2020

Combined arms campaigns

Name Aircraft Terrain Other requirements App. historical year Number of players Number of missions Scope of the missions Developer Release date
Frontlines Georgia Campaign Caucasus DCS: Combined arms Single player 11 Command a large number of units over a number of different objectives to sitting in a tank and commanding a platoon of tanks from the driver's seat 5 December 2018

Reception

Reviewing DCS: A-10C Warthog in April 2011, PC Gamer gave it a rating of 92/100 and commented that it is "[t]he most exhaustively detailed, realistic combat jet simulation you'll find outside of a classified U.S. military facility."[88]

Also reviewing DCS: A-10C Warthog in June 2011, IGN praised the care and attention to detail and reached the following verdict:

DCS: A10C Warthog is a tremendously – and at times obscenely – demanding game. You will experience cranial overload, and you will, unless you're a devout ED disciple, curse the developer for being so damned cryptic. But for those who favor stepping into the shoes of a real pilot who flies but a single plane, and for those who are willing to commit fully to a program that may well take months to evolve, this is the current peak of the genre.[89]

While reviewing DCS: Black Shark back in October 2007, SimHQ had also praised the fidelity of the simulation:

So, what was it like to fly a Ka-50? In a word, incredible. Another word that comes to mind is fidelity. Fidelity meaning it feels like the truth, the real deal. And that is something very good in a combat helicopter simulation. It’s there in the cockpit, the startup sequence, everything in that cockpit is touchable, clickable, and it works. I noticed the windshield wiper as Matt was flying and commented on it. And sure, it works. But not only does it work, it has 4 settings. Small detail? Maybe, but it’s high fidelity to the actual aircraft.[90]

Users reviews have also been overwhelmingly positive.

User reviews for DCS World
Source Rating Number of ratings
Steam[91] Very positive 12423
GameSpot[92] 9.6/10 55
Metacritic[93] 8.4/10 64
Google[94] 4.7/5 99

References

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  6. "DCS: Black Shark 2". Sim HQ. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
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  13. "1.5.8 and 2.2.0 to 2.5 transition discussion". Retrieved 2018-01-31.
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  15. "DCS World 2.5 "Release" Version Available Now". Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  16. "ED Miles terms and conditions". www.digitalcombatsimulator.com. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
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