DCS: AH-64D Improvements

**Dear Fighter Pilots, Partners and Friends, **

DTC is coming to its first helicopter module. The DCS: AH-64D's Data Transfer Cartridge brings an expansive feature set to the DCS: AH-64D, including waypoint and threat databases, custom routes, engagement areas, and dual-mission storage for crews operating across large theatres. Learn more below.

DCS: AH-64D’s George AI Pilot is getting sharper. New combat maneuvers, verbal threat warnings, and autonomous defensive actions mean your copilot can now hold his own when things get hot, freeing you up to focus on the fight. Check out the details below.

Weekend One of Operation Wags is behind us, and BLUFOR delivered in a big way. With the GoFundMe closing in on its goal, Weekend Two kicks off this Friday, running across two servers again to keep up with demand, so there's never been a better time to jump in and help push us to the finish line. The Community has stepped up in the most endearing and compassionate way, we will never forget your generosity and dedication. 

Thank you for your passion and support.

Yours sincerely, 

Eagle Dynamics

DCS AH-64D: DTC Development Report

Coming Soon

A long-awaited feature for AH-64D players is nearing release. Our DTC and AH-64D development teams have been working hard for many months to expand DTC to its first helicopter module. As the MiG-29, F-16, and F/A-18 modules initially paved the way for many DTC functions, the initial feature set for the AH-64D’s DTC is quite expansive, and in fact includes most of the module’s planned DTC features.

• 50 Waypoint/Hazard, 49 Control Measure, and 50 Target/Threat points

• 10 Routes

• 15 Battlefield Lines and 12 Engagement Areas

• 8 Priority Fire Zones and 8 No Fire Zones

• 10 ADF navigation presets, 10 COM radio presets, and 10 pre-composed text messages

• Pilot and CPG weapon settings, missile channels, and laser codes

• Customized RLWR threat table and chaff/flare programs

It is worth noting that the AH-64D DTC is actually capable of saving two separate “Missions” simultaneously, with each containing a unique 149-point database, 10 routes, 15 lines, 12 areas, 16 zones, and 10 ADF presets. This allows crews to upload data for follow-on or contingency missions following their primary mission. Alternatively, when operating across a large region like Afghanistan or Iraq, the aircrew’s assigned area of operations (AO) could be divided in half, with the corresponding Mission uploaded from the DTC mid-flight if the aircrew crosses from one sector to the other, thus overcoming the limited onboard memory for depicting numerous FOB locations, FARPs, or Named-Areas-of-Interest (NAI).

Further, the existing capability of the AH-64D’s datalink may be leveraged to transmit portions of these Mission files to other AH-64Ds in multiplayer gameplay.

DCS AH-64D: George AI Pilot Enhancements

Coming Soon

Last year we delivered new features and enhancements to George AI Copilot/Gunner (CPG) and a number of improvements to George AI Pilot. This year we have been working on additional features for George AI Pilot to finish expanding his tactical capabilities and streamline the player’s interaction with him. George will now be able to perform complex maneuvers with fewer button presses and will attempt to evade enemy fire or even actively defend the helicopter against close-range threats.

New Combat Maneuvers

When the player is occupying the front gunner seat and George is in control of the helicopter, the player can now command George to orbit a target location, maintain a holding pattern at the current location if the helicopter is too heavily loaded to hover or to conserve fuel, return to a previously designated battle position and hold, immediately descend to low altitude to reduce exposure to air defenses, or mask the helicopter back behind a hill.

Verbal Threat Warnings

George will now remain on the lookout for enemy weapons fire and will warn the player if he sees weapons fire aimed at the helicopter or if the helicopter is being hit, regardless of which seat George is occupying. Naturally, if George is performing CPG duties and is using the TADS, his attention will be focused on the sensor video and won’t be looking around outside for enemy fire; so under some circumstances it may be prudent to command him to cease using the TADS if you would prefer him to look around the helicopter for immediate threats.

New Defensive Actions

If George is flying the helicopter, the player can direct him, in advance, to autonomously evade enemy weapons if the helicopter is engaged, dispense chaff or flares when necessary, or mask the helicopter to low altitude without requiring a command from the player to do so. George may even be directed to autonomously engage nearby enemy units with the 30mm gun turret, to either return fire in self-defense or to engage enemy positions at will. This can be particularly useful when the player’s attention is focused inside the cockpit on the TADS sensor video, FCR scans, configuring weapon settings, etc.

New Power and Energy Management Logic Finally, the flight logic of George AI Pilot has been further enhanced with improved climb, descent, and turn behavior. When performing break turns or evasive maneuvers, George will turn more aggressively. When at low speeds below 50 knots, George will perform turns smartly by properly coordinating bank angle and yaw; and when at a hover, George will yaw the helicopter more deliberately to reduce the chances of over-torque. When ordered to climb to a higher altitude, George will sometimes augment the climb rate with a positive pitch maneuver to trade airspeed for altitude, but only if the airspeed remains above 60 knots. Conversely, when the helicopter is at low speed or in a hover, and the power margin is limited due to environmental conditions and/or high gross weight, George will lower the nose to prioritize gaining airspeed over gaining altitude to improve the helicopter's climb performance.

Check out a detailed explanation of some of these new features in the AH-64D Mini-Updates post .

Operation Wags Final Weekend

Last Chance to win!

From the Operation Wags Team:

Weekend One of Operation Wags is in the books, and the DCS community showed up. The GoFundMe has climbed past $129K and continues to climb. Now it's time to finish the job.

Operation Wags is a community-wide charity event supporting Matt "Wags" Wagner in his fight against bone marrow cancer, and Weekend Two kicks off this Friday.

BLUFOR Weekend One After-Action Report

BLUFOR kept the supply chain moving, the tasking board packed, and the kill feed scrolling at an alarming rate.

Logistics: 31,250 weapons were delivered across the theatre. That breaks down to 283 weapon crates delivered, 387 crates not delivered or wasted, 185 crates built, 319 troops deployed, and 100 zones captured, a 42.2% weapon-crate delivery rate. Plenty reached the front, while 387 crates are apparently conducting independent operations somewhere in the Caucasus.

Air Tasking Order: 1,622 tasks were joined, with 187 successful for an 11.5% success rate.

Combat: 1,371 air-to-air kills, 718 air-to-ground kills, 2 ground-to-air kills, and 320 friendly kills.

Combat leaders: [M] ScoUT Urubu led the way with 72 air-to-air kills. FALCON 1-1 topped air-to-ground with 40 kills. GRIFN 6-1 | Sharko94 claimed both ground-to-air kills.

Weekend standouts: DOG_3773 delivered 8,250 weapons and 70 weapon crates. Phantom 11 | Snorlax built 18 crates, deployed 21 troops, and scored 14 air-to-ground kills. Satan 7-4 | Ro Koji built 18 crates, deployed 16 troops, and completed 13 successful ATO tasks**. [FOX] Wade** racked up 32 air-to-air kills and delivered 14 weapon crates.

Fantastic work, BLUFOR. Rest up, rearm, and get ready for one last push.

Weekend Two Schedule

Start: Friday, August 7 at 5:00 PM UTC

End: Monday, August 10 at 4:00 AM UTC

Due to demand during Weekend One, we ran a second server to keep up with the number of pilots joining the fight, and we'll be doing the same for Weekend Two. Both servers will be live throughout the weekend, so if one's full, jump on the other.

The fully persistent REDFOR vs. BLUFOR capture-and-advance campaign, built by the creators of The Panther Den, continues right where it left off. REDFOR is stacked with DCS creators, developers, mission builders, community personalities, and squadrons, and they're your targets. BLUFOR is open to the public, so if you haven't jumped in yet, now's your chance. Find the official Operation Wags servers in the DCS server browser and join the fight.

Whether you're chasing down your favorite creators for bragging rights, running logistics for your coalition, or just flying in support of someone who has given so much to this community, every sortie counts.

How You Can Help

Donate here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-matt-wags-wagners-cancer-fight

Can't donate? You can still make a difference by joining the servers this weekend, supporting participating creators, sharing screenshots and clips, and spreading the word across social media.

Giveaways

Thanks to the generosity of our prize sponsors, BLUFOR pilots have a serious haul to fly for this weekend.

Invictus Cockpit Systems is giving away an F-16 Side Stick Controller System and the F-16 Ultimate DIY Builders Bundle. Next Level Racing is offering two HF8 Pro Haptic Gaming Pads. Pimax is giving away a VR headset. WINCTRL is giving away an F/A-18 HOTAS (throttle and stick/base), an F-16 HOTAS (throttle and stick/base), a Top Gun MIP Set, and an Orion rudder pedal set. And more to come (if you are interested in donating to this event’s giveaways, let us know!)

Winners will be drawn from players who've joined and flown on the server for a set amount of time, with extra entries earned by completing various in-server tasks. Exact entry criteria won't be disclosed to keep things fair, but there are ways to boost your odds regardless of skill level or scoreboard standing. Just get in there and fly.

We'll see you in the skies.

Thank you again for your passion and support.

Yours sincerely, 

Eagle Dynamics

THIS WEEK’S PRIORITY TASKING

Check out this after-action report from Weekend 1 of the Operation Wags event with the guys from High Alpha Hooligans! Watch it here .