DCS Reference: Air Defenses

This resource is mainly for missions designers to set up fully-featured and functional SAM groups using the many various units available under the “Air defence” vehicle category in the DCS mission editor.

Each block describes the system as a whole, the ground units it consists of, the dependencies between these units, and some very rough performance figures (in-game and wiki-based). Note that maximum altitudes, in particular, can be a bit vague due to the interaction between maximum sensor elevation, sensor range, and missile flight capabilities. While the maximum altitude may seem sufficient on some systems, it is often a lot lower in practice because there is a rather narrow band between where the missile still has energy enough to climb, and where the (usually) radar is still able to track a target. For maximum skylord murderness, make sure the altitude capabilities are ridiculously above where the target is expected to fly.

Eastern systems

Radar-guided

SA-2

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

SA-6

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

SA-8

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

SA-10

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

SA-11

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

SA-15

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

ZSU-23-4 Shilka

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

IR-guided

SA-9

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

SA-13

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

SA-18

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

Optically guided

SA-19

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

Zu-23

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

Western systems

Radar-guided

Gepard

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

MIM-23 Hawk PIP Phase I

Units	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Hawk CWAR AN/MPQ-55	Continuous Wave Acquisition Radar (low-altitude search)	—	Detection: 37nm
SAM Hawk LN M192	Launcher	3× MIM-23B	Engagement: 24nm Altitude: 200–65,000'
SAM Hawk PCP	Platoon Command Post	—	—
SAM Hawk SR AN/MPQ-50	Pulse Acquisition Radar (high-altitude search)	—	Detection: 48nm
SAM Hawk TR AN/MPQ-46	High Power Illumination doppler Radar (tracking)	—	Detection: 48nm
(Optional: SAM Hawk PCP)	Assault Fire Command Console	—	—
(Static Structures) GeneratorF	Battery Control Central	—	—
(Static Structures) GeneratorF	Information Coordination Central	—	—
(Optional: SAM Hawk PCP)	Launcher Section Controls	—	—
(Static Cargos) Container	M390 Missile Pallet	3× MIM-23B	—
(Unarmed) M818	M501 Loading Tractor	∞	—
N/A	Range-Only Radar	—	—
(Static Structures) GeneratorF	SEA 56kVA Generator	—	—
Reload / rearm	120s per launcher (3 missiles).
Acquisition time	12s
Notes
A basic Hawk battery consists of: 1× PCP 2× AN/MPQ-56 HPIR 1× AN/MPQ-50 PAR 1× AN/MPQ-55 CWAR 6× M192 Launchers 3× M501 Loading Tractors For endurance, it should be supplemented with static warehouses or M818 trucks to supply ammunition. Other components of the system can either be added as (non-functional) static objects, or excluded altogether. The system cannot be driven using Combined Arms. The ROR is a fall-back system to help with ranging in a high-ECM environment. It is not simulated or present in DCS. Similarly, the AFCC and LSC are distributed systems for redundancy should the command post be eliminated. The effect of these can be approximated by adding 3 additional PCP:s. For further decoration, add 8× Structures/GeneratorF and 12× Cargos/Container static objects.
Available to

MIM-104 Patriot PAC-2

Units	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Patriot AMG AN/MRC-137	Antenna Mast Group	—	—
SAM Patriot ECS AN/MSQ-104	Engagement Control Station	—	—
SAM Patriot EPP-III	Diesel-Electric Power Plant	—	—
SAM Patriot ICC	Information Coordination Central	—	—
SAM Patrion LN M901	Launcher	4× MIM-104C	Engagement: 54nm Altitude: 200–80,000'
SAM Patriot STR AN/MPQ-53	PESA Radar (search and track)	—	Detection: 85nm
(Unarmed) HEMTT TFFT	Guided Missile Transporter	—	—
(Unarmed) HEMTT TFFT	Large Repair Parts Transporter HEMTT	—	—
(Unarmed) M818	Maintenance Center	∞	—
(Unarmed) M818	Small Repair Parts Transporter	∞	—
(Static Cargos) Container	Parts containers	—	—
Reload / rearm	1800s per missile; 7200s total rearm time per launcher.
Acquisition time	?
Notes
Has self-defence anti-missile capability. A basic Patriot battery consists of: 1× ICC 1× AN/MSQ-104 ECS 1× AN/MRC-137 AMG 1× EPP-III 1× AN/MPQ-53 PESA Radar 8× M901 Launchers 1× GMT For endurance, it should be supplemented with static warehouses or M818 trucks to supply ammunition. Other components of the system can either be added as (non-functional) static objects, or excluded altogether. The system cannot be driven using Combined Arms.
Available to

Rapier

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

Roland

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

IR-guided

AN/TWQ-1 / M1097 Heavy HMMWV Avenger

Units	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Avenger M1097	IR-guided, self-propelled SAM	8× FIM-92 + 8 reserve 200× 12.7mm	Detection: 2.75nm Engagement: 2.45nm Altitude: 3,000m / 10,000'
Reload / rearm	40s per missile; 640s total rearm time from depleted state. 30s to rearm depleted 12.7mm gun.
Acquisition time	2.5s
Notes
Optical acquisition all-aspect IR homing. Fits well within mobile infantry columns and other HMMWV / Stryker-based groups.
Available to

FIM-92 Stinger

Units	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Stinger comm	Command unit	—	Detection: +? nm
Stinger MANPADS	IR-guided MANPADS	1× FIM-92	Detection: 2.7nm Engagement: 2.7nm Altitude: 3,000m / 10,000'
Reload / rearm	N/A
Acquisition time	6s
Notes
Optical acquisition all-aspect IR homing. Fits within infantry columns. The commander unit is supposed to increase detection (and possibly engagement) range, but the mechanics of this are unknown.
Available to

M6 Linebacker

Units	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Linebacker M6	IR-guided, self-propelled SAM and IFV	4× FIM-92 + 6 reserve 250× 25mm HE 71× 25mm AP 800× 7.62mm	Detection: 4.3nm Engagement: 2.45nm Altitude: 3,000m / 10,000'
Reload / rearm	0s reload per missile; 23s rearm per missile; 230s total rearm time from depleted state. 515s to rearm depleted 7.62mm gun; 1300s to rearm depleted 25mm AP; 830s to rearm depleted 25mm HE.
Acquisition time	2.5s
Notes
Optical acquisition all-aspect IR homing. Fits well within armoured groups.
Available to

MIM-72G / M48 Chaparral

Units	Function	Stores	Range
SAM Chaparral M48	IR-guided, self-propelled SAM	4× MIM-72G + 4 reserve	Detection: 5.4nm Engagement: 0.2–4.5nm Altitude: 25-4,000m / 82–13,000'
Reload / rearm	41s per missile; 335s total rearm time from a depleted state.
Acquisition time	2.5s
Notes
Originally based on the rear-aspect AIM-9D, the G model upgrade uses an all-aspect seeker from the FIM-92 Stinger. Intended to complement the M163 VADS as protection, primarily for light mechanised columns.
Available to

Optically guided

M163 Vulcan Air Defence Systems (VADS)

Units	Function	Stores	Range
AAA Vulcan M163	Radar-guided, self-propelled AAA	1180× 20mm	Detection: 2.7nm Engagement: 1.4nm Altitude: 1,500m / 4,500'
Reload / rearm	1280s
Acquisition time	6s
Notes
Optical sight with radar ranging; will not generate any RWR warning. Intended to complement the M48 Chaparral, primarily for infantry/light mechanised columns.
Available to

WWII Systems

Bofors 40mm

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Bofors 40mm	Flak	620×	7,160m / 4nm
Notes
Requires WWII Assets Pack. Cannot be driven using Combined Arms.
Available to

Flak 18

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

Flak 30

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

Flak 36

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to

Flak-Vierling 38

Units	Function	Stores	Range
Reload / rearm
Acquisition time
Notes
Available to