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== The freebies ==
== Freebies — what's in the box? ==
These modules come included with the free DCS World client
The free, base DCS World package comes with one full-sim aircraft module, the [[TF-51D_Mustang|TF-51D Mustang]]; one simplified-sim (“FC3-style”) aircraft, the [[Su-25T_Frogfoot|Su-25T “Frogfoot”]]; and one piece of terrain, the [[Caucasus|Caucasus]] region.
* [[Su-25T_Frogfoot|Su-25T “Frogfoot”]] — an FC3-style simplified simulation of the modernised (and never deployed) Frogfoot.
* [[TF-51D_Mustang|TF-51D Mustang]] — a full simulation of the of a two-seater training variant of the P-51 Mustang.
* [[Caucasus|Caucasus]] — the base terrain, setting of the 2008 Russio-Georgian war, covering Georgia, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, as well as the Russian federal republics of Chechnya, Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkessia, Adygea and the Krasnodar krai.


== The for-pay modules ==
== The modules ==
=== Aircraft modules ===
''Main article: [[DCS_Modules|DCS Modules]]
The DCS aircraft modules can be separated into four main categories: full-sim jets, helicopters, and prop planes — all of which feature clicky cockpits and advanced systems simulation — and the Flaming Cliffs 3 aircraft, which are simplified, hotkey-driven sims that have been grandfathered in and inherited from Eagle Dynamics' older Lock On: Modern Air Combat simulator.


==== The jets ====
DCS content is divided into “modules.” There are generally four kinds: aircraft, terrain, add-ons, and campaigns. Aircraft modules are pretty much what it says on the tin: a single aircraft, occasionally with a few variants thrown in, and often accompanied by single campaign. Terrains are the world maps in which your mission take place. Add-ons are an odd mix of speciality content for specific purposes — there is no real coherent theme other than that they require some other module to really add anything useful. Campaigns, finally, are just that: a set of missions for a specific aircraft and terrain (having both as a prerequisite in order for the campaign to run).


* [[A-10C_Warthog|A-10C Warthog]] — the poster child DCS module, for all your BRRRRRT needs.
The short list of available modules is:
* [[AJS-37_Viggen|AJS-37 Viggen]] — a Swedish supersonic nap-of-the-earth anti-shipping jet? Gör't (men som beta)!
* [[AV-8B_NA_Harrier|AV-8B NA Harrier]] — can't decide whether you want a plane or a helicopter? Why choose when you can just go VTOL? (beta)
* C-101EB and CC Aviojet — Spanish airforce jet trainers and aerobatics aircraft (largely defunct early access)
* [[FA-18C_Hornet|F/A-18C Hornet]] — for all your carrier-based multi-role needs (very early access).
* [[F-5E-3_Tiger_II|F-5E-3 Tiger II]] — a simple and lightweight daytime jet fighter and trainer.
* [[F-86F_Sabre|F-86F Sabre]] — a venerable Korean-war era early jet fighter.
* Hawk T.1A — RAF jet trainer and aerobatics aircraft (largely defunct early access)
* [[L-39_Albatross|L-39C and ZA Albatross]] — two-seater (and MP multicrew) Czech training aircraft.
* [[Mirage_M2000C|Mirage M2000C]] — “La baguette”, a French supersonic lightweight multirole aircraft (beta).
* [[MiG-15bis|MiG-15bis]] — NATO designation “Fagot”, the main adversary of the F-86 Sabre.
* [[MiG-21bis|MiG-21bis]] — NATO designation “Fishbed”, the world's most common fighter jet, and after all, what's not to love about a supersonic maze of switches with nuclear capabilities?


==== The <s>sharks</s> helos ====
* Aircraft: [[A-10C_Warthog|A-10C Warthog]], [[AJS-37_Viggen|AJS-37 Viggen]], [[AV-8B_NA_Harrier|AV-8B NA Harrier]], C-101EB and CC Aviojet, [[FA-18C_Hornet|F/A-18C Hornet]], [[F-5E-3_Tiger_II|F-5E-3 Tiger II]], [[F-86F_Sabre|F-86F Sabre]], Hawk T.1A, [[L-39_Albatross|L-39C and ZA Albatross]], [[Mirage_M2000C|Mirage M2000C]], [[MiG-15bis|MiG-15bis]], and the [[MiG-21bis|MiG-21bis]].
 
** Helicopters: [[Ka-50_Black_Shark|Ka-50 Black Shark 2]], [[Mi-8MTV2_Magnificent_Eight|Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight]], [[SA342_Gazelle|SA342L, M and Mistral Gazelle]], and the [[UH-1H_Huey|UH-1H Huey]].
* [[Ka-50_Black_Shark|Ka-50 Black Shark 2]] &mdash; the oldest and, alongside the A-10, the most iconic of DCS modules, and the similarities with the A-10 do not end there.
** WWII prop planes: [[Bf-109_K-4_Kurfurst|Bf-109 K-4 Kurfürst]], [[Fw-190_D-9_Dora|Fw-190 D-9 Dora]], [[P-51D_Mustang|P-51D Mustang]], and the [[Spitfire_LF_Mk_IX|Spitfire L.F. Mk IX]].
* [[Mi-8MTV2_Magnificent_Eight|Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight]] &mdash; one of the most common helicopters in the world, and the base chassis of the Mi-17 &ldquo;Hip&rdquo;.
** The [[Flaming_Cliffs_3|Flaming Cliffs 3]] collection of aircraft: [[A-10A_Thunderbolt_II|A-10A Thunderbolt II]], [[F-15C_Eagle|F-15C Eagle]], [[MiG-29_Fulcrum|MiG-29A &ldquo;Fulcrum A&rdquo; and S &ldquo;Fulcrum C&rdquo;]], [[Su-25_Frogfoot|Su-25 &ldquo;Frogfoot&rdquo;]], [[Su-27_Flanker|Su-27 &ldquo;Flanker B&rdquo;]], and the [[Su-33_Flanker|Su-33 &ldquo;Flanker D&rdquo;]].
* [[SA342_Gazelle|SA342L, M and Mistral Gazelle]] &mdash; anti-infantry, anti-tank, and anti-air versions of one of the fastest helicopters ever.
* Terrains: [[Nevada_Test_and_Training_Range|Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR)]], [[Normandy_1944|Normandy 1944]], and the [[Persian_Gulf|Persian Gulf]].
* [[UH-1H_Huey|UH-1H Huey]] &mdash; get your Vietnam on, and then crash due to a burned-out engine.
* Add-ons: [[Combined_Arms|Combined Arms]], [[NS_430_Navigation_system|NS 430 Navigation system for Mi-8MTV2]], an the [[WWII_Assets_Pack|WWII Assets Pack]].
 
* Campaigns: ''Basic Flight Training'' (BFT), ''Tactical Training Qualification Campaign'' (TTQC), ''Advanced Aircraft Training Qualification'' (AATQ), ''16-2 Red Flag'', ''The Enemy Within'', ''Operation Piercing Fury'', and ''Stone Shield'' for A-10C; ''16-2 Red Flag'' for AJS-37; ''Aggressors Basic Fighter Maneuvers'' (BFM), and ''Aggressors Air Combat Maneuver'' (ACM) for F-5E; ''Aggressors BFM'', ''16-2 Red Flag'', and ''The Georgian War'' for F-15C; ''Republic'' for Ka-50; ''Kursant'' for L-39 Albatros; ''The Border Campaign'' and the ''Oilfield Campaign'' for Mi-8MTV2; ''The Museum Relic'' for MiG-15bis and/or F-86F; ''Charnwood'', and ''High Stakes'' for P-51D; ''Operation Epsom'' for Spitfire LF Mk. IX; ''The Ultimate Argument'' for Su-27; and ''Argo'' for UH-1H.
==== The props ====
 
* [[Bf-109_K-4_Kurfurst|Bf-109 K-4 Kurfürst]] &mdash; late-war version of the classic 109.
* [[Fw-190_D-9_Dora|Fw-190 D-9 Dora]] &mdash; not as iconic as the 109, but still a cornerstone of the
* [[P-51D_Mustang|P-51D Mustang]] &mdash; I guess the yanks need to feel like they contributed too&hellip;
* [[Spitfire_LF_Mk_IX|Spitfire L.F. Mk IX]] &mdash; fly a legend. Then try to land it. Good luck.
 
==== The Flaming Cliffs ====
These planes are essentially old LOMAC add-ons that have been reimplemented within DCS. They offer simplified flight modelling and very little in the way of systems modelling compared to the full sims, and also use hotkeys rather than clicky cockpits for controls. While they ''can'' be bought individually, one should never do so. Instead, the Flaming Cliffs 3 package contains them all for a much smaller sum.
* [[A-10A_Thunderbolt_II|A-10A Thunderbolt II]] &mdash; for all your simplified BRRRRRT needs.
* [[F-15C_Eagle|F-15C Eagle]] &mdash; everyone loves the SPAMRAAM and now you can too.
* [[MiG-29_Fulcrum|MiG-29A &ldquo;Fulcrum A&rdquo; and S &ldquo;Fulcrum C&rdquo;]] &mdash; a Russian classic. Remember to check your fuel level.
* [[Su-25_Frogfoot|Su-25 &ldquo;Frogfoot&rdquo;]] &mdash; another classic, built on the principle of, why fire ''one'' rocket, when you can fire ''a bajillion'' rockets?
* [[Su-27_Flanker|Su-27 &ldquo;Flanker B&rdquo;]] &mdash; get back at the SPAMRAAMers by doing the same, only without being detected.
* [[Su-33_Flanker|Su-33 &ldquo;Flanker D&rdquo;]] &mdash; dito, but now do it from a carrier.
 
=== Terrain modules ===
 
* [[Nevada_Test_and_Training_Range|Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR)]] &mdash; lousy with tourists, nuclear pockmarks, and UFOs, this patch of mountainous desert around Las Vegas offers lots of room and different possibilities for all kinds of training scenarios.
* [[Normandy_1944|Normandy 1944]] &mdash; from Cherbourgh to Le Havre, this map covers not just the French but also a sliver of the English side of the channel, and allows for many recreations of those early days in June.
* [[Persian_Gulf|Persian Gulf]] &mdash; previously advertised as the &ldquo;Strait of Hormuz,&rdquo; this map covers the southern coast of Iran and the northern tips of UAE and Oman. Ghorbanifar-provided Hawk batteries not included.
 
=== Add-on modules ==)
 
* [[Combined_Arms|Combined Arms]] &mdash; take control over ground forces, either indirectly as a tactical commander or directly as a driver or gunner of most vehicles.
* [[NS_430_Navigation_system|NS 430 Navigation system for Mi-8MTV2]] &mdash; a dashboard-mounted GPS (totally not the Garmin 430) for the [[Mi-8MTV2_Magnificent_Eight|MI-8]]. That's it.
* [[WWII_Assets_Pack|WWII Assets Pack]] &mdash; additional static and active units and decorations for mission- and campaigns set on the [[Normandy_1944|Normandy 1944]] map.
 
=== Campaign modules ===
The paid campaigns for DCS can generally be divided into four different categories: training campaigns, exercises, conflicts, and peaceful
 
==== Training campaigns ====
 
* Basic Flight Training (BFT) for A-10C
* Tactical Training Qualification Campaign (TTQC) for A-10C
* Advanced Aircraft Training Qualification (AATQ) for A-10C
* Aggressors Basic Fighter Maneuvers (BFM) for F-5E
* Aggressors Air Combat Maneuver (ACM) for F-5E
* Aggressors BFM for F-15C
* Kursant for L-39 Albatros
 
==== Exercise campaigns ====
 
* 16-2 Red Flag for A-10C
* 16-2 Red Flag for AJS-37
* 16-2 Red Flag for F-15C
 
==== Conflict campaigns ====
 
* Argo for UH-1H
* The Border Campaign for Mi-8MTV2
* Charnwood for P-51D
* The Enemy Within for A-10C
* The Georgian War for F-15C
* High Stakes for P-51D
* The Museum Relic for MiG-15bis and/or F-86F
* Operation Epsom for Spitfire LF Mk. IX
* Operation Piercing Fury for A-10C
* Republic for Ka-50
* Stone Shield for A-10C
* The Ultimate Argument for Su-27
 
==== Peaceful campaigns ====
 
* Oilfield Campaign for Mi-8MTV2

Revision as of 16:35, 26 May 2018

Freebies — what's in the box?

The free, base DCS World package comes with one full-sim aircraft module, the P-51D Mustang; one simplified-sim (“FC3-style”) aircraft, the Su-25T “Frogfoot”; and one piece of terrain, the Caucasus region.

The modules

Main article: DCS Modules

DCS content is divided into “modules.” There are generally four kinds: aircraft, terrain, add-ons, and campaigns. Aircraft modules are pretty much what it says on the tin: a single aircraft, occasionally with a few variants thrown in, and often accompanied by single campaign. Terrains are the world maps in which your mission take place. Add-ons are an odd mix of speciality content for specific purposes — there is no real coherent theme other than that they require some other module to really add anything useful. Campaigns, finally, are just that: a set of missions for a specific aircraft and terrain (having both as a prerequisite in order for the campaign to run).

The short list of available modules is: