Dear Fighter Pilots, Partners and Friends,
This week’s DCS update brings major improvements across the simulator, including AI, weapons, logistics, and overall stability. The DCS: F-16C, DCS: F/A-18C, DCS: AH-64D, DCS: JF-17, and more receive notable avionics and gameplay refinements, while many official campaigns have been updated alongside the arrival of three brand-new campaigns. Check out the highlights below or read the full changelog for all the details.
We are thrilled to share the results of the DCS: C-130J Livery Contest. With over 50 entries, choosing the winners was tough. Congratulations to Tactical Bear, ouky1991, and SkyDragon for earning the top three spots. Mike Busutil also deserves a special mention for completing the bonus challenge with his impressive Tiger livery. Plus, six more great entries will be added to DCS soon. Thanks to everyone who took part and made this contest a success.
Reflected Simulations returns with a new WWII experience in the latest update: the DCS: Spitfire Fight or Die Campaign for the DCS: Spitfire LF Mk. IX and DCS: Normandy 2. Step into the cockpit as a young Polish pilot joining No. 92 Squadron in 1941, as the RAF shifts from defence to offensive operations over occupied France. Featuring 12 historically researched missions, extensive voice acting, authentic procedures, and richly detailed briefings, this campaign delivers a gripping recreation of early Spitfire operations.
Thank you for your passion and support.
Yours sincerely,
Eagle Dynamics
New update and new campaigns!
This week, we released an update bringing a host of changes and fixes across DCS. Check out the full changelog here and the highlights of many of the changes below! DCS Core
The latest DCS Core update improves AI behaviour, resource management, and weapon systems. AI aircraft now feature smoother takeoffs, climbs, and landings, improved pursuit logic, and more reliable low-altitude wingman actions, with several aircraft-specific issues also resolved.
For logistics, warehouse management now ensures the availability of Igla missiles during rearming. Weapons updates revise SD-10 missile and adding more simulated blocks to it like INS and new seeker, reduce ballistic missile radar cross-sections for realistic detection, add new fuze options for the AN/M-64 bomb, and provide major fixes to the Kuznetsov and SHORAD SAM guidance, tracking, and ECM response logic.
DCS: F-16C Viper by Eagle Dynamics
In this update, you’ll notice enhanced avionics accuracy, more dependable weapons employment, and improved datalink functionality. This update also addresses SMS, FCR, TGP, and WPN page status indications, bomb profile retention, CCIP designation accuracy, HARM station settings, AA TACAN behaviour, and donor track reception over datalink.
On top of these improvements, we’ve fine-tuned HSD cursor logic, intercom behaviour, targeting pod damage states, and Emergency Power Unit operation. We’ve also expanded the Early Access guide with a completely revised FCR chapter and updated descriptions of HOTAS controls, Time-Over-Steerpoint (TOS) logic, new steerpoint types, datalink procedures, HTS functions such as TDOA, and updated Appendices to help you get the most out of your flying experience.
DCS: F/A-18C by Eagle Dynamics
This update brings improvements to avionics and sensors. Recent fixes address waypoint creation logic, TACAN unit conversions, and radio functionality. You will also see Improvements to ripple delivery accuracy with CCIP/AUTO.
Sensor updates include corrections for TPOD INR symbology and reduced ATFLIR cursor jitter. As well as fixes with the ATFLIR automatic level and gain behaviour. IR pointer tracking is smoother with NVGs. RWR contact identification fixes further improve situational awareness.
DCS: Mi-24P Hind by Eagle Dynamics
We are pleased to announce that several new features have been added to Petrovich AI to make him an even more effective gunner and improve the player's interface. Petrovich may be commanded to perform a continuous target search pattern in the forward sector, which can be very useful when moving across the battlefield if enemy positions are not well known. When enemy targets are located, Petrovich can be commanded to attack several targets in sequence, or he can be delegated authority to decide which targets he engages with anti-tank missiles. He may also be directed to manually adjust the aim of his sight to attack any point on the surface, and he can now fix the sight gyros if they become misaligned.
An interface wheel is now displayed to illustrate the available Petrovich AI commands in either seat, and we've also added several colorblind settings to the Special options for those players who wish to alter the color scheme of the AI interface itself, which mirror those for George AI in the AH-64D.
DCS: AH-64D by Eagle Dynamics
We’re also happy to announce improvements to the George AI CPG. George will now let you know when no targets are detected after performing a momentary search. He can be commanded to skip obscured targets during multi-target engagements and can be commanded to update the target range with the laser rangefinder by pressing the FIRE command if the target is out of range. These changes should make your time in the cockpit smoother and more intuitive.
This update also refines George’s missile logic, range checks, and target handoff, making your engagements more reliable than ever. As well as many smaller fixes, including subtitle IDs, tank rearming, and external APU audio,, these help ensure your Apache experience is as immersive and effective as possible, especially when flying with friends.
DCS: JF-17 by Deka Ironwork Simulations
This release improves BVR engagements, increases avionics flexibility, and strengthens overall stability. The SD-10 missile now features a guidance system similar to the AIM-120C's, providing greater confidence in long-range engagements. New radar attack options allow you to designate coordinates with the TDC. You can also now manage elevation bias directly from your controls for improved precision.
This update also brings new NORM and ECCM air-to-air attack programs. Expanded Lua API support for SRS voice communications over datalink channels. Also, several fixes, including, but not limited to, AG MAP symbology, DTC airfield filtering, force feedback behavior, and mission exit stability.
Campaigns
Official campaign creators have rolled out many tweaks and fixes in this update. You’ll find improvements to mission logic, AI behaviour, voiceover timing, briefing clarity, and scoring, all carefully integrated with the latest core updates. Several campaigns also benefit from balance adjustments, carrier- and datalink-frequency tweaks, and a host of quality-of-life fixes.
Updates are available for many of your favourite campaigns from creators like Baltic Dragon, Reflected Simulations, Ground Pounder Sims, Stone Sky, Sandman Simulations, and more. These changes help ensure that your favourite single-player experiences continue to run smoothly on the latest DCS build.
On top of these fixes, we’re excited to introduce three brand new campaigns: DCS: Spitfire Fight or Die Campaign by Reflected Simulations, DCS: A-10C II Outpost Part II Campaign by Stone Sky, and DCS: F-16C Fangs Out Campaign by Fight's On Simulation. Check out these new updates and campaigns now!
The results are in!
We are ready to announce the winners of the DCS: C-130J Livery Contest! It wasn't easy with over 50 entries all done incredibly well. We hope you will, if you haven't already, visit the entry thread and check out all the entries.
Here are all the winners:
1st Place goes to Tactical Bear - Fictional RCAF Arctic Camo
2nd Place goes to ouky1991 - RAF 47 Squadron, ZH867
3rd Place goes to SkyDragon - Republic of Korea Air Force MC-130J-30 255 SMW, Seoul AB
We also had a winner for the challenge portion of the competition with his epic effort for the Tiger Livery! Mike Busutil - Rossiya Airlines "Flying Tiger" Livery
We would also like to congratulate the following 6 liveries, which were very close to winning on their own, but will also be included in the core game!
ValerieOSD - Swedish Air Force F7 Skaraborg Wing
ViktorTheGamerDK - RDAF C-130J
II.JG1_Vonrd - Belgian Air Force
deadghostjt - IRIAF 11th Sqn
FlyNeX - 3 Russian-Soviet Variants
Merkin - Luftwaffe C-130
Once again, thank you to all of you who participated and made the decision so hard! We will be reaching out to each of the winners via the DCS Forums over the next week.
By Reflected Simulations
With the release of the latest patch, we welcome Reflected Simulations' newest campaign, Fight or Die, supporting the DCS: Spitfire LF Mk. IX and DCS: Normandy 2! January 1941. A young Polish pilot, having escaped his occupied homeland, arrives at Biggin Hill to join No. 92 Squadron. The Battle of Britain is over, and the new year is bringing a marked change into the air war: The Royal Air Force is switching from defence to offence, penetrating deeper and deeper into Northern France, stretching the range of their nimble Spitfires.
This campaign recreates the 12 most exciting and action-packed sorties flown by 92 Squadron in 1941. Each mission is crafted with meticulous historical accuracy, drawn directly from original combat reports and squadron records, just like they happened in real life. Climb into your DCS: Spitfire LF Mk. IX to relive the first Circus and Rodeo mission, taking the fight to the enemy, and tangle with the aces of the Luftwaffe in a life-or-death battle over the English Channel.
Key Features:
● 12 historical missions based on original combat reports, squadron records and extensive research
● Period correct tactics and procedures
● Nearly a thousand specially recorded voice-over messages
● Original radio broadcasts
● Historically accurate custom skins
● Detailed campaign documentation and history
● Period correct briefings and briefing images, including separate PDF mission files
● Unique kneeboard cards and checklists
● Maps, official forms and pilot notes
Thank you again for your passion and support.
Yours sincerely,
Eagle Dynamics
THIS WEEK’S PRIORITY TASKING
Continue the DCS: F-100D hype with the Introduction to the F-100D Super Sabre video by the High Alpha Hooligans! Watch here!