103-450: Digital Combat Simulator ( DCS ) is a combat flight simulation game developed primarily by Eagle Dynamics and The Fighter Collection . Several labels are used when referring to the DCS line of simulation products: DCS World , Modules , and Campaigns . DCS World is a free-to-play game that includes two free aircraft and two free maps. Modules are downloadable content that expand
206-512: A code escrow policy for future third party agreements. In June 2018, Belsimtek, a Belarusian developer, announced its merger with Eagle Dynamics. The company's website was taken down in 2020. PC Gamer reviewed the DCS: A-10C Warthog module with a rating of 92/100. IGN praised the care and attention to detail, though remarking a level of inaccessibility: "Yes, there is a 44-page 'Quickstart' guide and yes, there are tutorials –
309-625: A werewolf on its rudder—gaining the popular nickname "Werewolf". The fifth prototype, painted black, played the title role in the movie Чёрная акула (Black Shark), which made the Ka-50 known by its current nickname. In November 1993, four production helicopters were flown to the Army Aviation Combat Training Centre at Torzhok to begin field trials. The president of the Russian Federation authorized
412-457: A "God's eye view." Many simulators also include "mission builders" which allow the player to create their own missions. Combat flight simulators are among the most computer and graphics demanding applications at any given time, as they are real-time applications with multiple processes happening at once. This leads many simulation fans to constantly upgrade their hardware, including the most advanced graphics cards. These sims have also given rise to
515-468: A Ka-50 lost its tail, but still managed to return to base without a problem. It is the world's first operational helicopter with a rescue ejection system allowing the pilot to escape at all altitudes and speeds. The rotor blades detach using explosive bolts prior to ejection to prevent damage to the crew. The K-37-800 rocket-assisted ejection system is manufactured by NPP Zvezda . The aircraft has one Shipunov 2A42 autocannon with selective fire , and
618-656: A Ka-52 crashed near Mayadin due to a technical failure, according to some sources. On 24 February 2022, during the initial stages of the Russian invasion of Ukraine , at least one Russian Ka-52 helicopter was damaged but was able to land on its own. On 2 March, a Russian Ka-52 was hit by a surface-to-air missile and crash landed. On 12 March, Ukrainian forces reported that Ka-52 tail number RF-13409 had been shot down in Novomykolaivka near Kherson . Ukraine officials claimed on 16 March 2022 that Ka-52 number RF-13411
721-551: A Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile. On 4 June, Ukrainian forces of the 128th Mountain Brigade reported the downing of a Russian Ka-52 in the north. According to Ukrainian officials, the helicopter was shot down by MANPADS. On 27 June, another helicopter was hit by a British-made Martlet MANPADS, forcing it to land. On 15 August, Ukrainian forces damaged a Russian Ka-52 helicopter flying in Donetsk Oblast. Reportedly,
824-472: A bevy of lengthy, highly instructive tutorials, actually – but precious little of this is designed for the neophyte or even the marginally experienced jet jock." SimHQ praised the Ka-50 module, noting the attention to technical details such as the recoil of the main gun affecting flight dynamics, along with smaller details such as the windscreen wiper having several modes. Also noted was the difficulty of flying
927-407: A comparatively small target to ground fire. For improved pilot survivability the Ka-50 is fitted with a NPP Zvezda (transl. Star) K-37-800 ejection seat , which is a rare feature for a helicopter. Before the rocket in the ejection seat deploys, the rotor blades are blown away by explosive charges in the rotor disc and the canopy is jettisoned. Following initial flight testing and system tests,
1030-445: A dual-feed, giving it a cyclic rate of fire between 200 and 800 rounds per minute. It is mounted near centre of gravity for accuracy, and carries 460 high-fragmentation, explosive incendiary, or armour-piercing rounds. The type of ammunition is selected by the pilot during flight. The integrated 30 mm cannon is semi-rigidly fixed on the helicopter's side, movable only slightly in elevation and azimuth . Semi-rigid mounting improves
1133-531: A few Ka-52s have suffered from wing vibration under heavy-load attack missions. This was observed months after the invasion. It has been suggested that this may be due to causes such as fatigue, inadequate design, lack of maintenance, and poor management. Ukrainian military intelligence claimed that the Ka-52 can be "disabled with a 7.62mm machine gun" despite a claimed ability to withstand 12.7mm rounds. Ka-52s have been heavily used by Russian forces to defend against
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#17327985403971236-406: A fortified camp of insurgents using two " 9K121 Vikhr " guided missiles. On 14 February, a similar strike group carried out a "hunting" mission in the area of Oak-Yurt and Hatun. In difficult conditions, pilots found and destroyed eight targets. These missions tested the type's airframe, as well as its on-board systems and armament. Its successful performance in difficult, mountainous terrain confirmed
1339-534: A high level of combat effectiveness. It is equipped with IAI's flexible modular avionics suite, which can be readily tailored to meet the TLF's operational requirements and provides growth potential. IAI and Kamov performed flights of the variant with IAI's Core Avionics. These flights demonstrated the helicopter's "glass cockpit" with multifunctional displays and Control and Display Unit (CDU) driven by centralized mission computers. Also tested were its flight navigation and
1442-438: A new cooling system for operating in hot climate. Dmitry Rogozin , Deputy Prime Minister of Russia on defense and space industry, proposed to name it the "Nile Crocodile". The helicopter is equipped with the new OES-52 electro-optical observation and laser targeting system, replacing the standard GOES-451 mounted under the nose. The new optronic system began development in 2011 as a collaboration between Kamov and Sagem , and
1545-556: A physically impossible amount of weapons compared to real-life aircraft loadouts. Examples of console or PC games include Ace Combat , H.A.W.X. , and Project Wingman . Many arcade combat flight simulators in amusement arcades are housed in cockpit arcade cabinets that use motion simulator technology, often incorporating hydraulics . Popular examples include the original arcade versions of After Burner , Thunder Blade and Air Combat . Sega's R360 motion simulator cabinet notably features full 360-degree rotation, used by
1648-455: A second sighting system above the cockpit). The Ka-52 has the side-mounted cannon of the original Ka-50. It features six wing-mounted hardpoints compared to four on the Ka-50. To keep the weight and performance on par with that of the Ka-50, the armor and the capacity of the cannon magazine/feed were reduced. Also some flight parameters deteriorated: rate of climb dropped from 10 to 8 m/s and maximum positive load factor became 3.0 g. Most of
1751-479: A study sim or a survey sim, Lock On: Modern Air Combat is an example of a game that attempts to bridge the study/survey gap with highly detailed models of several US and Russian aircraft. Before multiplayer games became popular, many simulators could only be played by a single player. This continued to be the standard until the late 1990s when most titles included some sort of multi-player/network capability. In single-player combat simulators, every entity other than
1854-666: A tandem-seat cockpit version, the Kamov Ka-50-2 "Erdogan" (Russian: Эрдоган , Turkish : Erdoğan ), to compete in Turkey's attack helicopter competition. Kamov also designed another two-seat variant, the Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" (Russian: Аллигатор , NATO reporting name: Hokum B ). The Ka-52's unit cost is US$ 16 million as of 2023. The Ka-50 is the production version of the V-80Sh-1 prototype. Production of
1957-686: A thermal imaging system, while others saw a complete replacement by the Samshit day-and-night system (also used on Ka-52). Some of the imagers included in the trials were manufactured by the French SAGEM and Thomson companies. Kamov was forced to consider foreign analogues as a temporary replacement for domestic imaging systems because of their slow development. Trials led to two "final" versions: Ka-50N "Night Shark" (Russian: Ночная акула , " velvet belly lanternshark ") and Ka-50Sh (Russian: Ш ар , romanized: Sh ar , "ball"; because of
2060-471: A unified modular platform, in contrast to previous installments in the series which were standalone products. This allows users of different modules to switch between aircraft and play together within a single game client. The platform also allows third-party developers to publish modules through Eagle Dynamics' storefront. Community mods have also been produced, such as the A-4E , C-130J , T-45C , UH-60L , and
2163-562: A variety of hardware add-ons such as " HOTAS " (hands on throttle and stick) controllers that allow full control of most functions without touching the keyboard. Voice control and head-tracking view control systems are also available for home flight sim enthusiasts. The tables below define rough guidelines of what might classify as combat flight simulation games. Kamov Ka-50 The Kamov Ka-50 "Black Shark" ( Russian : Чёрная акула , romanized : Chyornaya akula , English: kitefin shark ), NATO reporting name Hokum A ,
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#17327985403972266-621: Is a Soviet/Russian single-seat attack helicopter with the distinctive coaxial rotor system of the Kamov design bureau. It was designed in the 1980s and adopted for service in the Russian army in 1995. The Ka-50 is manufactured by the Progress company in Arsenyev . It is used as a heavily armed scout helicopter and has a rescue ejection system , rare for helicopters. During the late 1990s, Kamov and Israel Aerospace Industries developed
2369-408: Is a genre of simulation games that focuses on modelling an aircraft's systems as accurately as possible. Advancing computer technology made this possible, with the development of highly detailed models that improved upon the fidelity of avionics, weapons systems, physics, flight models, graphics, etc. and allowed for fully interactive cockpits where virtually every control was mapped and functional. This
2472-774: Is based on the French company's STRIX sighting System. The OES-52 provides greater range of target detection and recognition. The helicopter features the Arbalet-52 dual-band coherent pulse radar, which has an Earth mapping range of 32 km and a detection range of 25 km for ground targets and 15 km for aerial targets. The Nile Crocodiles use President-S airborne defense systems for protection against guided missiles. The system includes both radar and laser warning receivers, MAW sensors, chaff/flare dispensers, in addition to ECM and DIRCM jammers. Egyptian Ka-52s feature two new DIRCM sets installed on either side of
2575-451: Is based on the system of precise target designation with digital coded communication system, which ensures the exchange of information (precise enemy coordinates) between helicopters flying far apart from each other as well as with ground command posts. The Ka-52 is also equipped with a " Phazotron " cockpit radio-locator, allowing flights in adverse meteorological conditions and at night. The necessary information acquired by this radio-locator
2678-486: Is the best 'cockpit simulator' around" but criticized the interaction between the aircraft and the game environment. Combat flight simulation game Combat flight simulators are vehicle simulation games , amateur flight simulation computer programs used to simulate military aircraft and their operations. These are distinct from dedicated flight simulators used for professional pilot and military flight training which consist of realistic physical recreations of
2781-610: Is transferred to the cockpit's multi-functional display screen. For conducting a fight, both pilots are equipped with range-finders built-in their helmets and they can use night vision eyepieces for night flights. For its own protection, Ka-50 is fitted with a radar warning receiver, electronic warfare system and chaff and flare dispensers. Aerodynamic cases at wings' ends each contain two dispensers, which in turn have 32 x 26 mm countermeasures each. The whole system works on principle of evaluated response based on infrared or electronic impulse irradiation. Extensive all-round armour in
2884-776: The Flanker and Lock On: Modern Air Combat series of combat flight simulator games. Three standalone titles were released under the DCS name from 2008 through 2011. The first was DCS: Black Shark as a simulation of the Kamov Ka-50 . DCS: A-10C Warthog, a standalone simulation of the A-10C, was released in February 2011. An upgrade for Black Shark , DCS: Black Shark 2 , was released in November 2011 and allowed for network multiplayer with Warthog . The open beta of DCS World
2987-420: The 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive . They have been successful, due in part to a shortage of Ukrainian short-range air defence, or SHORAD , weapons. Due to the unique design of the coaxial main rotors, the helicopter can withstand the destruction of the tail. A video released on 19 June 2023 shows a Ka-52 losing its tail. The UK MOD has noted the movement of additional Ka-52s to an airfield near Berdiansk , "In
3090-682: The Atari 2600 that simulated flight combat, two examples being Mattel's Air Raiders (1982) and Milton Bradley's Spitfire Attack (1983). Later in the 1980s, it became a trend for arcade flight combat simulators to use hydraulic motion simulator arcade cabinets . The trend was sparked by Sega 's "taikan" games, with "taikan" meaning "body sensation" in Japanese. Yu Suzuki 's team at Sega (later known as Sega AM2 ) developed hydraulic motion simulator cockpit cabinets for flight combat games such as Space Harrier (1985), After Burner (1987) and
3193-673: The Cold War into the early 21st century. Popular modules include the AH-64D , F-16C , F/A-18C , F-14 , and A-10C . A mission editor is included for users to create their own scenarios and campaigns with support for scripting in Lua . Users can host their own servers with user-made missions for PVE and PVP multiplayer. The community has developed tools to create missions using procedural generation and real-time editing, and hosts servers that simulate dynamic battlefields. DCS World acts as
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3296-471: The DCS World ecosystem are developed by companies officially licensed by Eagle Dynamics to produce modules for the simulator. Third parties also create single-player campaigns. Third party content is sold through Eagle Dynamics' storefronts on their eShop and Steam. In 2018, third party developer VEAO ceased development of their Hawk module. Eagle Dynamics offered full refunds to customers and introduced
3399-495: The JAS-39 Gripen . Some air forces have used DCS World as a training aid. A professional version called Mission Combat Simulator ( MCS ) is available for organizational use. The United States Air Force 's 355th Training Squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB makes use of DCS as an instrument and weapons-system trainer for the A-10C. The use of virtual reality headsets is preferred for a more immersive experience. Before
3502-539: The Mil Mi-28 has become the main army's gunship. The production of Ka-50 was recommenced in 2006. In 2009, the Russian Air Force received three units built from incomplete airframes dating from the mid-1990s. From the time the Ka-50 was ordered in 1987, it was known that the limited night-time capability of the original version would have to be upgraded to meet night attack requirements. Initially, Ka-50N
3605-643: The Mirage 2000C was retired in 2022, the French Air Force used DCS for both instrument and tactical training with the M-2000C module, citing insufficient numbers of professional simulators. Ukrainian pilots have trained using the A-10C II and F-16C modules for DCS World . DCS World has a number of maps available from Eagle Dynamics and third parties: DCS World traces its lineage directly from
3708-465: The R360 games. In the early 1990s, arcade flight combat simulators began adopting 3D polygon graphics. Taito's Air Inferno (1990) was a 3D flight simulator utilizing a motion simulator cockpit cabinet. Atari Games followed with the 3D flight combat simulator the following year, Steel Talons (1991). Namco then followed with the 3D arcade combat flight simulator Air Combat (1993). During
3811-519: The Russian Ministry of Defence expressed an interest to purchase 114 Ka-52s of a new version within the new State Armament Program for 2018–2027. In 2015, Egypt signed a deal for the purchase of 46 Ka-52 helicopters, with a stated completion year of 2020. Russian Helicopters started producing its first export models in early 2017, the overall production was doubled in order to meet new demands. The first batch of 3 Ka-52 attack helicopters
3914-590: The Zalyv Shipbuilding yard . Each ship will be able to carry up to 18 helicopters, including Ka-52Ks. The Ka-52K has passed all tests and was ready for serial production as of September 2020. According to the SCMP , China is considering the purchase of 36 Ka-52Ks to be used aboard the Type 075 helicopter carrier , which would fulfil the role of a heavy attack helicopter. These helicopters are necessary to equip
4017-530: The massively multiplayer Fighter Ace , WarBirds , Aces High , World War II Online , Ace Online , War Thunder , Fighter Wing 2 and others). Many players of both video games and simulators seek games for their replay value . Simulators enhance the replay value by offering a variety of single missions consisting of short, randomly generated missions as well as longer campaigns consisting of several smaller mission or objectives. Most campaigns are "dynamic flowing," which means they change according to
4120-465: The 1990s to early 2000s, there was a transition from traditional video game platforms like arcades, to consoles such as the original PlayStation , for their ability to be played at home. PC games remained popular during this time, as many publishers continued to produce games primarily for the PC platform. Due to the limitations and the relative simplicity of the controllers available for gaming consoles at
4223-677: The 2008. After the completion of the state trials, the Ka-52 entered service in May 2011 with first operational units joining the Russian Air Force the same month. Under previous State Defense Procurement Plans, the Russian Armed Forces was to receive 2 experimental and 24 serial Ka-52s by 2012. The second long-term contract signed in 2011 worth 120 billion rubles is to provide the Russian Aerospace Forces with 146 Ka-52 helicopters in total until 2020. In February 2018,
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4326-635: The Air Base of the 344th Centre for Combat Training and Aircrew Conversion. The first phase of the official tests (ГСИ) was completed in December 2008 and after that permission was given for the production of an experimental batch for phase 2 (ГСИ, including fire tests and the search for targets) Serial production of the Ka-52 began at the Progress Arsenyev Aviation Company plant in Arsenyev , Primorsky Krai by end of
4429-759: The Council ordered the first batch of helicopters in 1990. The attack helicopter was first described publicly as the "Ka-50" in March 1992 at a symposium in the United Kingdom. The helicopter was unveiled at the Mosaeroshow '92 at Zhukovskiy in August 1992. The following month, the second production example made its foreign debut at the Farnborough Airshow , where it was displayed with an image of
4532-543: The Egyptian Air Force. Egypt's helicopter is a modified version of the basic Ka-52 Alligator that serves in the Russian Aerospace Forces. Unlike the basic model, the Egyptian Ka-52 utilizes anti-corrosion materials and has a reinforced fuselage structure. It received new landing gear and wheels, designed for the increased takeoff weight of the helicopter. The Egyptian model features updated avionics and
4635-454: The Ka-50 highly agile. Flight systems include an inertial navigation system (INS), autopilot and head-up display (HUD). Sensors include forward-looking infrared (FLIR) and terrain-following radar . The Kamov Ka-50 is also fitted with an electronic radio and sighting-piloting-navigating system allowing flights at day and night in VFR and IFR weather conditions. The novelty of this avionics
4738-458: The Ka-52M include a modernized GOES-451M electro-optical targeting turret with an increased range, stronger undercarriage wheels, and improved cockpit ergonomics, with better adaptation to the use of night-vision goggles . The LMUR missile is added to the helicopter's armament options. Several new radar types are being considered for the Ka-52M. A new self-protection system will also be fitted to
4841-535: The Ka-52M, replacing the current L370-5 Vitebsk . Lastly, the Ka-52M is adapted to work within a new battlefield command and control system. The Russian military received its first 10 modified Ka-52M helicopters on 9 January 2023. The state defense order for the helicopters was doubled in 2023. The Ka-50 and its two-seat version Ka-52 are high-performance combat helicopters with day and night capability, high survivability and fire power, to defeat air targets and heavily armoured tanks armed with air defence weapons. It
4944-581: The Kamov bureau entered the Ka-50-2 Erdoğan in a Turkish design competition for a $ 4 billion contract for 145 (later changed to 50) combat helicopters. The Ka-50-2 is a tandem cockpit variant of the Ka-50. It featured a modern, Israeli-made " glass cockpit " avionics and a turret-mounted folding (for landing clearance) 30 mm cannon instead of the fixed cannon on the Ka-50. It features combat-proven avionics and advanced anti-tank guided missiles for
5047-652: The Russian Defense Ministry, were to contain rotary-wing assets, formed into aviation groups. Each of these groups was planned to include eight attack and eight assault/transport helicopters. The Ka-52K "Katran" (Russian: Катран , ' mud shark '), a navalised derivative of the Ka-52, has been selected as the new ship-borne attack type for the Russian Naval Aviation . Its features include folding rotor blades, folding wings, and reinforced landing gear. Since its wings are shorter than those of
5150-536: The US or Russia. The sophistication and intricacy of these simulators continued to grow, and in 2008 the Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) released DCS: Black Shark , the first of a series of simulations that featured a complete and detailed cockpit with all the relevant switches accurately modelled and functional, and mapped over 500 key-commands. DCS also supported a variety of input devices aside from
5253-471: The actual aircraft cockpit, often with a full-motion platform. Combat flight simulation titles are more numerous than civilian flight simulators due to the variety of subject matter available and market demand. Many free flight simulators , such as the open source Linux Air Combat , Falcon 4.0 , Digital Combat Simulator and Rise of Flight , can be downloaded for free off the Internet. Prior to
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#17327985403975356-452: The arcade games G-LOC: Air Battle and Wing War . A survey simulation is a classification of simulator that includes a variety (or survey) of aircraft from the period in question. This type of classification applies to many historical combat simulators, and typically includes aircraft from all nations participating in the conflict. Early simulators suffered from flight models and instrument panels that differed little between aircraft. As
5459-646: The attack helicopter was ordered by the Soviet Council of Ministers on 14 December 1987. Development of the helicopter was first reported in the West in 1984, while the first photograph appeared in 1989. During operational testing from 1985 to 1986, the workload on the pilot was found to be similar to that of a fighter-bomber pilot, such that the pilot could perform both flying and navigation duties. Like other Kamov helicopters, it features Kamov's characteristic coaxial contra-rotating rotor system, which removes
5562-492: The cannon's accuracy, giving the 30 mm a longer practical range and better hit ratio at medium ranges than with a free-turning turret mount. The fire control system automatically shares all target information in real time, allowing one helicopter to engage a target spotted by another aircraft, and the system can also input target information from ground-based forward scouts with personnel-carried target designation gear. Weapons can be carried on four external hardpoints under
5665-498: The carrier with powerful attack weapons, which it currently lacks. The new version announced by the Russian Ministry of Defence in 2018 eventually crystalized into the Ka-52M; 114 helicopters of this new version are to be acquired. Additionally, older Ka-52s are to be upgraded to Ka-52M standard. The contract for the first 30 Ka-52Ms was signed in August 2021. A new contract was signed in August 2022. Upgrades embodied in
5768-405: The category of "flight simulation." Simulator realism can be classified as the following : Arcade-style combat flight simulators have various elements that are less realistic than other simulators, such as simplified controls and physics models, compressed or non-existent start up times, emphasis on close-range dogfighting over beyond-visual-range combat for modern jets, and the ability to carry
5871-475: The century saw advancements in technology that increased the capabilities of these simulators, simplifying and improving their weapon handling and flight models, as well as updated visuals. Titles featuring these improvements include Jane's Combat Simulations , a line of flight simulations originally developed by Electronic Arts and later continued by the company Third Wire , as well as the series Strike Fighters: Project 1 and Wings over Europe . The "study sim"
5974-444: The cockpit protects the pilot against 12.7 mm armour-piercing bullets and 23 mm projectile fragments. The rotor blades are rated to withstand several hits of ground-based automatic weapons. Other survivability features include armour protection for vital aircraft systems, and crash-absorbing landing gear and seats. Also, not having a tail rotor can improve survivability, since the tail boom isn't load-bearing; during testing,
6077-479: The earliest version of Microsoft Flight Simulator (1982) had crude graphics, simple flight models, and a combat option with "dog fighting" in a World War I Sopwith Camel . Shortly after Microsoft Flight Simulator was released for the 8-bit computer, Microsoft released Jet in 1985. This simulator used simple filled wire frame graphics and a small generic battle space to allow players to fight MiGs in an F-18 or F-16 . There were also titles released for
6180-420: The economic hardships that hit the nation in the late 1980s hampered this new development program. This prompted Kamov's Designer General to choose a modified version of Ka-50 on which to install the reconnaissance and target designation system. The modified "Black Shark" required a second crew member to operate the optotronics/radar reconnaissance suite. Kamov decided to use side-by-side seating arrangement, due to
6283-608: The end, the contract was awarded to the A129 in 2007. In the early 1980s, while comparative tests of the V-80 (Ka-50 prototype) and the Mi-28 were being conducted, the Kamov design team came up with a proposal to develop a dedicated helicopter to conduct battlefield reconnaissance, provide target designation, support and coordinate group attack helicopter operations based on the Ka-60 . However,
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#17327985403976386-425: The entry into a mountain gorge in the area of a settlement named Komsomolskoye, a single Ka-50 accompanied by an Mi-24 used S-8 unguided rockets to destroy a warehouse full of ammunition belonging to Chechen insurgents. On 6 February, in the forest-covered mountain area to the south of the village of Tsentoroj, a strike group composed of two Ka-50s and the sole Ka-29 discovered and, from a range of 3 km, destroyed
6489-629: The fielding of the Ka-50 with the Russian Ground Forces (army) on 28 August 1995. The collapse of the Soviet Union led to a severe drop in defense procurement. This resulted in only a dozen Ka-50s delivered, instead of the planned several hundred to replace the Mil Mi-24 . The single-seat configuration was considered undesirable by NATO. The first two Ka-50 prototypes had false windows painted on them, which successfully misled
6592-575: The first of four Ka-52Ks ordered for the Russian Navy flew on 7 March 2015; the Navy also had an option for a further 28 helicopters. As of 2017, 4 pre-series Ka-52Ks were operated and used for testing by the Russian Navy. After a period of uncertainty, the Ka-52K's future with the Russian Navy now appears clearer. In July 2020, the keel was laid for two new Project 23900 amphibious assault ships in
6695-564: The first of which was tentatively slated to enter squadron service by early 2015, coinciding with the delivery of the first carrier. However, following the Russian annexation of Crimea the sale of the Mistrals was cancelled and they have since been sold to Egypt. Later, Egypt bought 46 Ka-52s, with deliveries lasting from 2017 to 2019. These helicopters have been deployed on the Mistrals originally built for Russia; however, Egyptian Ka-52s are regular land-based variants, not Ka-52Ks. Still,
6798-421: The first western reports of the aircraft in the mid-1980s, to the point of some analysts even concluding that its primary mission was as an air superiority aircraft for hunting and killing NATO attack helicopters, an alarming but expected Soviet move by NATO planners following the recent J-CATCH program evaluation. The Ka-50 and its modifications have been chosen as the special forces' support helicopter, while
6901-560: The fuselage, which are different from the standard L370-5 sets. Moreover, the laser-warning system present on the Russian variants of the Ka-52 has been removed, and a L-150 Pastel radar warning receiver has been installed instead. Egypt plans to arm its Ka-52s with Russian anti-tank guided missiles . The Air Force has chosen two types of missiles; namely the laser-guided Vikhr and the radar-guided Ataka beam-riding missiles. The Mistral -class amphibious assault ships , ordered by
7004-472: The game with add-on aircraft, maps, and other content. Campaigns are scripted sets of missions. Modules and campaigns are produced by Eagle Dynamics as well as third-parties. DCS World is a study sim in which players learn how to operate aircraft using realistic procedures. Aircraft are meticulously modeled from real-world data, including authentic flight models and subsystems and detailed cockpits with interactive buttons and switches. Digital manuals document
7107-488: The helicopter. The Ka-50 simulation earned SimHQ's Simulation Product of the Year award for 2008. PC Pilot reviewed the third-party F-14 Tomcat module with a score of 97/100. The review concluded that "[ DCS: F-14 Tomcat ] is truly one of the greatest simulation modules ever created for a PC flight simulator." The complexity and depth of the multi-crew cockpit and systems was described as exceptional. HeliSimmer.com's article on
7210-462: The history, systems, and operation of each aircraft in extensive detail. The game has extensive support for joysticks and HOTAS input devices ranging from gamepads to 1:1 replica cockpits. DCS World supports a wide variety of combat operations including combat air patrol , dogfighting , airstrikes , close air support , SEAD , and airlifts . Dozens of military airplanes and helicopters are available, spanning eras from World War II through
7313-406: The land-based variants, the Ka-52K only has four weapons pylons, instead of six on the land-based Ka-52. There are plans to install a new radar in the Ka-52K, with longer range compared to the Ka-52's radar. The Ka-52K will also be able to use Kh-35 and Kh-38 missiles. However, they haven't yet been integrated in the helicopter's mission suite. Russian Naval Aviation will need at least 40 Ka-52Ks,
7416-454: The late 1970s. In 1975, Taito released the arcade video game simulator Interceptor , an early first-person combat flight simulator that involved piloting a jet fighter using an eight-way joystick to aim and shoot at enemy aircraft. Sega's last EM combat flight simulator was Heli-Shooter (1977), which combines the use of a CPU processor with electro-mechanical components, screen projection and audio tape deck. The gameplay involves
7519-622: The most sophisticated helicopter simulation of the time. In 1996 it was exceeded by Jane's AH-64D Longbow , a game created by Origin Systems and released by Electronic Arts as part of the Jane's Combat Simulator series. The sequel, Jane's Longbow 2 (1997), was one of the earliest simulations to take advantage of hardware accelerated graphics, including advanced lighting. 1998 saw the release of Enemy Engaged: Apache vs Havoc by Empire Interactive , which allowed players to choose to fly for either
7622-460: The need for the entire tail rotor assembly and improves the aircraft's aerobatic qualities—it can perform loops, rolls and "the funnel" ( circle-strafing ), where the aircraft maintains a line-of-sight to the target while flying circles of varying altitude and airspeed around it. The omission of the tail rotor is a qualitative advantage, because the torque-countering tail rotor can use up to 30% of engine power. The Ka-50's entire transmission presents
7725-429: The next and will only be rebuilt in view of limited resources, realistic time and strategic priorities, etc.). A notable pioneer in this area was Andy Hollis , producer of the Jane's Longbow series ( Jane's AH-64D Longbow and Jane's Longbow 2 ). Digital Image Design , with their release of F-22 Total Air War in 1998, allowed for a transparency into the larger strategic battlefield by use of multiple screens and
7828-661: The operation of the Helicopter Multi-Mission Optronic Stabilized Payload (HMOSP) targeting system. The demonstration flights included night mission capability demonstrations using Night Vision Goggles (NVG) and the day/night targeting system. Turkey initially selected an improved version of the Bell AH-1 SuperCobra over the Erdogan, Eurocopter Tiger , AH-64 Apache , Denel Rooivalk , and A129 Mangusta . In
7931-703: The player piloting a helicopter using a throttle joystick (to accelerate and decelerate) and pedals (to maneuver left and right) across a realistic three-dimensional landscape and shooting at military targets across the landscape. In Japan, it was one of the top ten highest-grossing EM arcade games of 1977 , and it released in North America the same year. The 1980s experienced a wave of more advanced simulation video games, with companies such as Atari Inc. releasing their own game called Red Baron in 1980, which used QuadraScan graphics and sound effects to simulate first-person flight combat. Other games such as
8034-589: The player's aircraft around a landscape displayed on a screen and shoot missiles at targets that would explode when hit. The game displayed three-dimensional terrain with buildings, produced using special belt technology along with fluorescent paint to simulate a night view. Upon its debut, the game was cloned by three Chicago arcade manufacturers, which led to the game under-performing in North America. Sega released several other similar EM flight combat games, including Dive Bomber (1971) and Air Attack (1972). Combat flight simulator video games began appearing from
8137-511: The players' own aircraft are controlled by the program's "AI" ( artificial intelligence ), and modern video games create very sophisticated and intelligent AI with independent behavior for adversaries and allies. Multiplayer games, which usually also contain AI, allow players to oppose one or many human players. After the growth of the internet, many simulators were created that exist only or primarily as internet multiplayer versions (e.g., Air Warrior ,
8240-566: The popular Falcon 4.0 , a detailed simulation of the USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon . Other development of these simulators includes a collaborative and specialized effort between Electronic Arts and Jane's in the 1990s, with titles such as Jane's Longbow , Jane's Longbow 2 , Jane's F-15 and Jane's F/A-18 . Helicopter simulations began in 1986 with the title Gunship by MicroProse . Nine years later, in 1995, Digital Integration Ltd. released Apache Longbow ,
8343-548: The problems were solved by installing the new VK-2500 engine. The Ka-52 is approved for day, night and adverse weather conditions. Manufacturing of the first Ka-52 airframe began in mid-1996. Series production was started in autumn 2008. As of September 2010 , the 696th Instructor and Research Helicopter Regiment, based at Torzhok (air base) , is operating eight helicopters, in varying degrees of capability and/or modification, for research and development. In December 2010, four new, series-production Ka-52s were delivered to
8446-664: The proposed Ugroza system. The Ka-50 took part in the Russian Army's operations against separatists in the Chechen Republic during the Second Chechen War . In December 2000, a pair of production Ka-50s arrived in the area. With the Ka-50s was a Ka-29 to provide reconnaissance and target designation. On 6 January 2001, the Ka-50 used live weapons against a real enemy for the first time. On 9 January, at
8549-414: The results of each successive mission (e.g. if the player destroys a "target of opportunity" which turns out to be a truck carrying an enemy leader, then the campaign starts to take a different path). Some campaign models have been developed which are fully dynamic, and where successive missions take place in an environment which is persistent (if a building is destroyed in one mission, it remains destroyed in
8652-436: The rise of modern-day video games, electro-mechanical games (EM games) were produced that used rear image projection in a manner similar to a zoetrope to produce moving animations on a screen . This technology led to the rise of flight simulation arcade games , initially in the form of EM games. One such EM game was Jet Rocket , a flight simulator released by Sega in 1970 that featured cockpit controls that could move
8755-586: The spherical FLIR turret). The first Ka-50Sh, which was the eighth pre-production aircraft, Bort 018, first flew on 4 March 1997. The Kamov company and Black Shark logos were displayed on the endplate fins and the vertical tail. It featured the Samshit-50 system installed within a 640 mm (25 in) diameter sphere under the nose. Shkval system was moved to the nose cone area. Neither of the Ka-50 night-attack versions has entered full production. In 1997, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in cooperation with
8858-812: The stable release version coinciding with a Steam release. DCS World 2.7 was released as an open beta in April 2021, with new weather and clouds as well as improved piston engine simulation. 2.7 became the stable release in June of that year. DCS World 2.8 was released as an open beta in October 2022, improving atmospheric effects and AI basic fighter maneuvers . DCS World 2.9 was released as an open beta in October 2023, featuring support for Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR , improvements to multiplayer voice chat , higher fidelity data link and radar simulation, and new graphics and camera effects. The open beta version of DCS World
8961-437: The stub wings, plus two on the wingtips, a total of more than 2,000 kg (depending on the mix). The pylons can be tilted up to 10 degrees downward. Fuel tanks may be mounted on a suspension point, whenever necessary. Anti-tank armament comprises twelve Vikhr laser-guided anti-tank missiles (transl. Vortex or whirlwind), with a maximum range of some 8 km. The laser guidance is reported to be virtually jam-proof and
9064-530: The system features automatic guidance to target, enabling evasive action immediately after missile launch, alternatively it can also use Ataka laser-guided anti-tank missiles. Before firing laser-guided missiles it often must hover a few hundred feet off the ground to direct a laser at a target, leaving itself briefly exposed. Ka-50/52 can also carry several rocket pods, including the S-13 and S-8 rockets . The "dumb" rockets could be upgraded to laser guided with
9167-758: The technology got better, so did the diversity of aircraft, which forced the virtual pilot to learn the carefully modelled strengths and weaknesses of the various types of aircraft (e.g. the different fighting and flying styles of a Spitfire versus a Messerschmitt 109 in IL-2 Sturmovik or a Mitsubishi Zero versus a US Navy F4F Wildcat in Combat Flight Simulator 2 ). Modern jet survey simulators have been developed as well, such as US Navy Fighters (USNF) and Jane's USAF by Jane's/Electronic Arts, typically with simplified and generic modelling of radar, navigation, and weapons. The turn of
9270-1442: The time, flight simulators remained largely absent from consoles for years to come. Several rival publishers rose during this period such as NovaLogic with titles like the Comanche Series that simulated helicopter combat, and Electronic Arts with Jane's WWII Fighters which improved upon features such as detailed visible damage. Newer software in the genre include Digital Combat Simulator (released in 2008 and mostly simulating modern aircraft), Rise of Flight (released in 2009 and set in World War I ) and IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover (released in 2011 and set in World War II ). These three are examples of accurate simulation PC games , as opposed to arcade-style air combat games such as Bandai Namco Entertainment 's highly-successful Ace Combat series. Combat flight simulators are classified according to their historical period, type of aircraft, and level of detail. This method of classifying means that many simulators belong to more than one category, which leads to arguments about what can be considered actual simulations instead of games. Generally, simulations are expected to be imitations of real-world technology, while games are not; therefore, every game with flying in them does not fit into
9373-724: The traditional joystick, throttle, and pedals, featuring built-in support for TrackIR and virtual reality with 6 degrees of freedom which, in conjunction with the interactive 3D -cockpit, created a very realistic experience. Modern jet simulators are usually classified by their historical context or level of details ( study versus survey ). There have been many modern jet sims that concentrate on existing fighters (several AV-8 Harrier II sims, and others such as Fleet Defender by MicroProse, and F-22 Lightning 3 and F-22 Raptor by NovaLogic) , whereas others concentrate on future fighters (e.g., F-22 Total Air War by Digital Image Design in 1998). While many simulators either classify as
9476-554: The usefulness of the many advanced features of the Ka-50's design, and its power and maneuverability. Ka-52 helicopters were spotted being deployed in support of the Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War in 2015, various sources stating they were involved in defense of the Russian base in Latakia , providing escort for search and rescue helicopters, and supporting Russian special forces. On 5 May 2018,
9579-425: The verified improvements in co-operation between the crew members. This twin-seat version was designated Ka-52. In comparison to the original Ka-50, the Ka-52 has a new radome with a nose-mounted radar system for targeting giving the Ka-52 a rounder nose profile. A day-and-night TV/thermal sighting system is fitted in a spherical turret under the nose (some examples have an additional mast radar for aerial targets and
9682-431: The work-in-progress AH-64D module's early access version praised the 3D modeling and soundscape while noting the incomplete systems and critiquing the flight model's accuracy compared to a real helicopter. Despite these shortcomings, it was said to be "the best representation of an AH-64D since Jane's Longbow 2 ." DCS World' s gameplay has been critiqued, in contrast to its aircraft simulation. FlyAndWire wrote that "DCS
9785-443: Was "shelved" earlier in 2024. Flaming Cliffs 2024 is available as a full pack, as an upgrade for owners of Flaming Cliffs 3 , or as individually sold modules. Over the course of development, modules have introduced new features to the simulator including improved flight models and damage models, multi-crew aircraft with multiple players or AI acting as crew and enhanced FLIR simulation. A large portion of aircraft and terrains in
9888-518: Was delivered to Egypt in July 2017, with a second batch of another 3 helicopters being delivered in August. By year-end 2017, Egypt had received 19 Ka-52s, but these early units came with issues related to power, night vision, navigation systems, and other avionics equipment. On 6 December 2018, it was announced at the Egypt Defence Expo (EDEX) that Ka-52s had officially entered service with
9991-500: Was designed to be small, fast and agile to improve survivability and lethality. The hovering ceiling is 4,000 m and vertical rate of climb 10 m/s at an altitude of 2,500 m. Having a coaxial rotor with blades of polymer results in low inertia both relative to vertical and lateral axes, at 50%–75% as compared to a single rotor helicopter with tail rotor. No tail rotor also means it can perform flat turns at all speeds. A maximum vertical load of 3.5 g combined with low inertia makes
10094-589: Was discontinued at the end of 2023, and all subsequent updates have been released directly to the stable release version. In July 2024, Flaming Cliffs 2024 added survey sim versions of the F-5E Tiger , F-86F Sabre , and MiG-15bis . These versions feature professional flight model and updated 3D modelling comparable to the modelling and texturing update of Flaming Cliffs 3 that occurred in March of 2024. The 2024 modules were adapted from work created for another Eagle Dynamics product, Modern Air Combat , which
10197-413: Was important as modern jet combat aircraft and helicopters have a variety of complex electronic and weapon systems that are specific to a particular aircraft. Early iterations of simulators in this genre include the release of EF2000 by Digital Image Design (DiD) which quickly garnered a dedicated following, including a user group that produced a detailed online manual of weapons and tactics, as well as
10300-498: Was launched in May 2012. Warthog and Black Shark 2 were made available as modules. Flaming Cliffs 3 was released later that year, which added aircraft from Lock On as modules of DCS World . The first third-party module, the Bell UH-1H Huey , was also announced in 2012. DCS World 1.5 was released in October 2015 featuring a new DirectX 11 graphics engine and a unified executable. In November 2015, DCS World 2.0
10403-539: Was meant to be fitted with the Merkury Low-Light TV (LLTV) system. Due to lack of funding, the system was late and experienced reliability and capability issues. As a result, focus shifted to forward looking infrared (FLIR) systems. Kamov drafted a design in 1993 that included the Shkval-N sighting system with an infrared sensor. Many variants were tried. On some, the original Shkval was supplemented by
10506-499: Was released as an open alpha while 1.5 continued to be supported as a stable release. 2.0 added support for more detailed terrain including the Nevada Test and Training Range map. DCS World 2.1 was released in 2017 and added support for deferred shading and physically based rendering , followed by DCS World 2.2 that same year. The next major release, DCS World 2.5, added an improved Caucasus map in 2018. 2.5 replaced 1.5 as
10609-509: Was shot down at an undisclosed location in Ukraine, providing footage of the airframe wreckage. Footage appeared on social media on 5 April 2022 that appeared to show a hovering Ka-52 shot down by a Ukrainian Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile. On 15 April, Ukrainian forces claimed to have shot down another Ka-52 and published footage of the wreckage; the crew were reported to have died. On 1 May footage appeared of another Ka-52 shot down using
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