This update represents a significant overhaul of core systems since version 0.3.6.3. We have focused on deepening the simulation mechanics, refining the user interface, restructuring the Critical Tension gameplay, and improving overall stability.
A comprehensive UI update has been applied to improve readability, usability, and consistency across all resolutions from 1080p to 4K.Panel System Overhaul
Active Operations Panel: Now a dedicated standalone panel showing all active sorties with real-time status updates. Includes jump-to-aircraft buttons, sortie filtering, and integration with the COMMS system.
COMMS Panel: Radio channel buttons have moved to a dedicated right-side panel that shares space with ASMA. Click any sortie to focus on that channel's communications.
Panel Responsiveness: All panels now scale properly based on screen resolution. Text, buttons, and spacing adapt from 1080p to 4K without becoming too large or too small.
Panel Exclusivity: Opening certain panels now automatically closes overlapping panels for a cleaner view.
Consistent Styling: All panels share a unified design language with standardised typography, zebra striping for row readability, and consistent button sizes.
Scrollbar Redesign: Clean, flat scrollbar design with dark track and light thumb for better visibility.
Tab Styling: Removed distracting borders from info boxes and tabs, using subtle background highlighting instead.
Close Buttons: Added CLOSE buttons to all panel headers for quick dismissal.
Ident Bar Improvements: The Ident Bar and Track List remain legible and usable even when tracking 100+ contacts.
Ident Filtering: Track List and Active Ops now have clickable ident badges (I/K/E) to filter by identification status.
Emergency Highlighting: Emergency squawks (7500/7600/7700) and PAN/MAYDAY calls are now visually highlighted in red/amber in Track List and Active Operations.
Emergency Sorting: Emergency tracks automatically sort to the top of the Track List.
CALL ATC Buttons: Track List and Flight Plans panels now have CALL ATC buttons to quickly query the relevant controller via ASMA.
Squawk Ident Triangles: When jumping to a track, visual triangles highlight the target for easy identification.
Sortie Numbers on Datablocks: Track datablocks now show sortie numbers for friendly and tasked target tracks.
Ctrl+Ident Shortcuts: Use Ctrl+A/U/X/S/H to quickly set track identification.
Delete Declutter: Press Delete to hide all tracks (so it only shows RADAR contacts) except selected/hooked tracks.
Backspace Focus: Press Backspace to remove all trackblocks except the selected track.
ICAO Codes: Airfield panels now display ICAO codes (e.g., "EGXC (RAF CONINGSBY)").
Proper Scaling: Buttons and text properly scale on 4K displays.
Click Detection: Improved click detection so clicking airfield names reliably opens the panel.
The Nimrod R1 has been added as a fully simulated intelligence platform, expanding your strategic options for airspace monitoring.
Full Flight Simulation: The Nimrod follows complete flight logic, including taxi, takeoff sequencing, cruise climb, instrument approaches, and proper landing procedures.
Persistent Tracking: SIGINT tracks are maintained accurately throughout all flight phases.
500nm EW Coverage: Provides emitter detection over a wide area to enhance your situational awareness.
Redeployment: Redeploy Nimrods to forward airbases to adjust your surveillance coverage as the threat evolves.
Fleet Size: 3 aircraft are available at RAF Waddington to support sustained operations.
Callsigns: SIGINT aircraft use the GADGET callsign series (GADGET01, GADGET02, etc.).
The radio and voice procedure systems have been tightened to ensure accurate, reliable feedback during high-tempo operations.
Sortie Channels: COMMS channels now correctly bind to specific sorties, ensuring you are always listening to the relevant traffic.
ASMA Filtering: ASMA can now filter messages by sortie, syncing with COMMS channel selection.
Sortie Labels: ASMA headers, Active Ops, and panel labels now use consistent sortie labelling (01, 02, AW01, TK01, etc.).
Channel Separation: Controller calls no longer bleed into unmonitored frequencies.
Civilian Intercepts: Proper voice procedures are now implemented for civilian suspect intercepts (intentions questioning, compliance confirmation).
Spoofer Intercepts: Distinct voice procedures for spoofer intercepts including outside-FIR and inside-FIR sequences.
Combat Intercepts: Full hostile engagement voice sequence with proper escalation.
Duplicate Prevention: Radio calls no longer duplicate when multiple pairs are in the same sortie (4-ship formations).
Launch Persistence: QRA launch communications now persist correctly through spawn delays, ensuring the full scramble sequence is audible.
Pending Launches: Active Operations now shows pending QRA launches with countdown timers before aircraft appear.
Channel Stability: COMMS channels stay alive during takeoff even when there's lag in contact registration.
Significant work has gone into the stability and logic of the underlying simulation.
Major improvements to save/load reliability:
Interceptor Callsigns: Fixed issues where interceptors would receive civilian-style callsigns after loading.
Paired Sorties: Interceptor pairs now stay together in the same sortie/channel after load.
Asset Persistence: AWACS, tankers, and other assets no longer disappear after loading or exiting training missions.
CAP Patrols: CAP interceptors now resume patrol patterns correctly after loading instead of stalling.
Raid Contacts: Critical raid aircraft persist correctly through save/load cycles.
Track Identification: Track ident status is preserved correctly (hostiles no longer revert to pending).
IFR Approaches: Arrival sequencing has been smoothed out to prevent unnecessary holding on final approach.
Edinburgh Fix: Edinburgh (EGPH) arrival holds now clear properly instead of circling indefinitely.
VFR Landings: Solved issues where VFR traffic would stall at low altitude instead of completing the landing roll.
Airspace Closures: Inbound civilian traffic now correctly diverts or turns back when airspace is closed at Critical tension.
Airspace Reopening: Civilian airspace reopens automatically when all enemy threats are cleared, with a prominent notification.
Mode 3 Codes: International IFR flights now keep correct ORCAM transit Mode 3 codes across the UK.
Improved Protection: Enhanced safeguards to prevent accidental engagement of friendly aircraft.
Show of Force Compliance: Enemy aircraft respond to interceptor presence with realistic compliance behaviour.
Pair Separation: Interceptor pairs now maintain proper line-abreast separation so both aircraft are always visible.
AWACS L11 Coverage: AWACS L11 datalink now correctly uses each ground station's actual coverage radius.
AWACS RTB: Fixed AWACS getting stuck in the circuit during RTB - they now complete landings properly.
Tanker Redeploy: Redeployed tankers now take off and climb properly instead of jumping to cruise altitude.
Destroyed Airfield Handling: Assets now divert to surviving airfields when their home base is destroyed.
Single-Ship Tasking: ID/ENG tasking can now launch a single interceptor when only one is available.
Several training missions have received targeted fixes to ensure they work correctly:Bear Hunt
Complete Voice Sequence: The mission now plays the full intercept voice sequence.
Refuel Flow: After the bomber complies and exits UK airspace, QRA interceptors correctly proceed to the tanker for refuelling.
RTB After Refuel: After refuelling, interceptors RTB instead of resuming the escort mission.
Duplicate Audio Fix: Suppressed duplicate "now complying" voice lines.
Full Voice Procedure: The mission now runs the full interceptor voice procedure before weapons release.
Engagement Fix: Fixed interceptors circling instead of properly engaging targets.
Proper Completion: Mission now requires QRA Launch and Positive Identification (PosID) after user identification.
PosID Recognition: Fixed issue where the spoofer ID wasn't recognised for mission completion.
Background Traffic: The Assets training mission now includes normal civilian traffic for added realism.
New and improved keyboard shortcuts for faster operation:
KeyAction
G
Toggle Active Operations panel
M
Toggle ASMA console
\\ or #
Call ATC for selected track
/
Squawk Ident focus (centre, zoom, call ATC)
Delete
Hide all tracks except selected/hooked (shows just the radar contact)
Backspace
Remove all tracks except the selected track
Ctrl+A
Set ident to Assumed Friendly
Ctrl+U
Set ident to Unknown
Ctrl+X
Set ident to Suspect
Ctrl+S
Set ident to Special
Ctrl+H
Set ident to Hostile
Cancel Task Buttons: Assets and Airfield panels now have Cancel Task buttons to abort pending selections.
Full Aircraft Names: Assets panel now shows full aircraft type names (e.g., "Tornado F3" instead of "Torn").
ASMA Starts Unfiltered: ASMA console now starts showing all messages by default.
Refuel Status: Active Ops refuel status and ASMA messages now name the specific tanker being used.
Redeploy Status: Redeploying aircraft now show "Redeploying -> Base" with distance in Active Operations.
Give Feedback Button: Added a Give Feedback button next to Discord on the front page for easier community input.
Endless Mode: Once all inbound enemy aircraft have been destroyed and victory is achieved, you're given the option to play in Endless mode.
Windowed Borderless: Added new borderless option for better windows management.
Realistic North Sea oil rig helicopter traffic has been added:
CAA-Based Traffic Volumes: Offshore helicopter traffic now reflects real-world volumes.
Operating Hours: Offshore helicopters operate between 6am and 8pm, matching real-world schedules.
Realistic Routing: Helicopters now fly to any oil rig within their operational range.
Improved Interceptor Behaviour: Interceptors now behave more realistically during combat, including proper weapon employment and target tracking.
Airspace Closure Logic: Airspace closures are now triggered by confirmed threats rather than tension level alone.
Panel Styling: Panel buttons now keep their standard styling after loading a saved game.
Heathrow Arrivals: Arrival holds at Heathrow are now distributed more realistically when congested.
Gameplay Fixes
Shadow Mission Popups: Shadow mission decision popups now appear at the correct time.
QRA Launch Warning: A warning sound now plays when QRA launch is blocked.
Interceptor RTB: Fixed interceptors freezing mid-air during return to base.
Duplicate Radio Calls: Fixed duplicate radio communications during intercepts.
Full changelog from version 0.3.6.3 to 0.4.5.7