FAQ: VEAO Typhoon for DCS World

Hello everybody,

I thought it would be a good idea to launch a FAQ thread on the VEAO Typhoon module that is currently WIP. The purpose of this FAQ is to answer the most basic and interesting questions that newcomers will likely have about this project.

I want to stress that I’m not a member of the VEAO team, but I have consulted the team to obtain their support/approval for this FAQ thread and to proof read it advance.

The questions represent a collection of those repeatedly raised in the threads of this forum channel. I have derived some additional questions from them. The responses are based on statements made by the VEAO team, with myself providing some complementary comments and information where appropriate and feasible.

This FAQ might be updated over time as new questions emerge.

My thanks goes to Pman for the kind support and approval of this FAQ

Kind regards

Spectre

Q: When is the VEAO Typhoon module going to be released?

A: There is no fix release date set. A forecast can only be made once the project has passed a certain maturity gate. Stay tuned for further updates in the future.

Q: To what quality standards will the VEAO Typhoon adhere to in terms of flight and systems modeling?

A: The VEAO Typhoon will feature an External Flight Model (EFM), which is comparable to ED’s Professional Flight Model (PFM), as well as Advanced Systems Modeling (ASM).

Q: How realistic will the VEAO Typhoon be in comparison to the real aircraft?

A: The VEAO team intends to create an authentic representation of the real aircraft within the given constraints.

Q: The Eurofighter Typhoon is a relative recent, advanced combat aircraft, aren’t most of its features/capabilities classified?

A: Not everything about this aircraft is classified, but of course there are several classified aspects. That’s actually true for all military aircraft in active service and even for many former types that aren’t operational anymore.

Q: Given the above, how is VEAO going to create an authentic replication of the real aircraft?

A: VEAO has contacts within the UK military and is in the process of developing a military version of the Typhoon module. The team subsequently has the access to the information and data needed to create an authentic model of the aircraft. The public version that will be released as a certified 3rd party add-on module for DCS World will be based on this military version. However, it will be a deducted/-de-classified version of it.

Q: What does deducted/de-classified mean and what implications does it have on the public version of the Typhoon module for DCS World?

A: Deduction means that certain classified features won’t be implemented on the public version. It also means that some features might be simulated in a simplified fashion or that they are approximated. Certain data might be tweaked.

Q: What does the above mean to the end user?

A: It will probably mean nothing to the end user. Unless you are a professional involved with the real Eurofighter program from the military or industry side you won’t notice what is missing or not 1:1 implemented in comparison to the real aircraft.

Q: Can VEAO confirm which features will be missing and which are authentic, simplified or approximated?

A: No, VEAO can’t confirm any of the above as it has a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) in place.

Q: What does NDA mean, why is it necessary and what advantages/disadvantages are entailed to it?

A: The NDA enables VEAO to develop both, the military and public versions of the Typhoon. It is as such a pre-condition and without the NDA it wouldn’t be possible.

In addition to the above the advantage is that a more realistic replication of the real aircraft is possible, even if you don’t know what is authentic and what might not be authentic.

Q: Based on what is said above, how can we be sure we aren’t fooled with a fantasy version of the aircraft?

A: You can’t, but you can judge the module on its merits, match it against what’s publicly known and maybe someone with actual insight may leave a hint about how authentic it is or not. The same can be said for any military aircraft that is being modeled for a public flight simulator like DCS World, that’s the compromise all sides have to respect.

Q: What version of the aircraft will be simulated by the VEAO Typhoon module?

A: At release the VEAO Typhoon module will simulate the single seat variant of the aircraft at a standard equivalent to Block 5 as is in service with the British Royal Air Force.

Q: What is a Block 5 Typhoon?

A: As with many other military aircraft production of the Typhoon is split into multiple tranches, batches and blocks. Blocks herein represent the smallest production breakdown and can be described as capability baselines. Block 5 represents the last block of the Tranche 1 order. Block 5 is the final operating capability (FOC) standard. That means Block 5 Typhoons provide the level of capability and functionality laid out in the weapon system performance specification of this aircraft as stipulated in the development contract. It should be noted that the Typhoon, like other combat aircraft continues to evolve. That means that existing aircraft are receiving updates and there is subsequently not THE block 5 standard aircraft. There have been multiple iterations and thus different capability standards.

Q: What systems and capabilities does a Block 5 have?

A: Block 5 Typhoons are mainly optimized for air-to-air missions, with some basic air-to-ground capabilities. These aircraft feature the Captor-C radar utilizing a mechanically scanned planar array, the PIRATE infrared sensor, the Defensive Aids Sub-System, the Multifunction Information Distribution System, Direct Voice Input etc.

The VEAO team has hinted at an earlier capability standard for Block 5, reflecting the 2008 timeframe. This equals the SRP 4.1 minimum capability standard without the helmet mounted display known as HEA or HMSS and without the Litening 3 laser designator pod.

Q: Will the VEAO Typhoon simulate all of the above systems?

A: The VEAO Typhoon will simulate most of these systems to varying degrees dependent the level of classification and limitations imposed by the DCS World engine. Some like DVI cannot be guaranteed at this point, but the VEAO team is looking at this. Some features might be subject to future updates of this module.

Q: What about weapons, which weapons will be available for the VEAO Typhoon?

A: The exact weapons fit has not been set in stone, but bear in mind that VEAO will only simulate weapons that are integrated on real Typhoon Block 5 aircraft in service with the RAF.

From public sources you can gather that weapons cleared for real Block 5 aircraft comprise the AIM-9L Sidewinder, ASRAAM and IRIS-T infrared guided short range air-to-air missiles (SRAAM), the A, B & C5 variants of the AIM-120 AMRAAM active radar guided medium range air-to-air missile (MRAAM), the internally housed Mauser Bk27 gun, 1000 lb class free fall bombs, UK Paveway II and GBU-16 1000 lb class laser guided bombs (LGBs), GBU-10 2000 lb class LGBs and Enhanced Paveway II dual-mode bombs with laser/GPS-guidance. In addition the aircraft is cleared for carriage of up to three 1000 l supersonic fuel tanks and the Rafael Litening 3 laser designator pod (LDP).

As mentioned before the VEAO Typhoon will simulate the aircraft as is in service with the RAF. That means weapons like the IRIS-T, GBU-10 or GBU-16 won’t be integrated. It can be confirmed that the EPW II won’t be integrated at this point either, but the team is looking at the possibility to implement the Paveway II and LDP. As development of air-to-ground capabilities hasn’t begun on behalf of the VEAO team time will show whether its implementation can be harmonized with the time scales envisaged. If not you’ll have to cope with an air-to-air only capable version of this aircraft. However, that doesn’t rule out the possibility of future additions.

Q: What about other weapons and system capabilities such as Meteor, Storm Shadow, the Captor-E AESA radar, thrust vectoring controls or conformal fuel tanks?

A: All of the above and others are capabilities not available on Block 5 Typhoons, most of them are not even integrated yet and subject to future upgrades, mainly for Tranche 2 & 3 aircraft, whereas Block 5 is Tranche 1.

Q: Will we see more advanced versions of the Typhoon from VEAO in the future?

A: The VEAO team keeps its options open, but there is no firm commitment to develop more advanced versions. The development of such versions would be dependent on a number of factors that cannot be entirely predicted at this point in time.

Pman approved

Pman

Great idea and interesting information. Thanks for putting this together Spectre.

Thanks Spectre for the update.

is it planed a new 3D external model for the Typhoon?

It is already in the works. VEAO weren't happy with the one they had so they do a complete rebuild.

EDIT: And thank you Spectre11 (and VEAO of course) !

can we have some screenshots? i'm glad they decided to rebuild it.

I think they haven't posted any pictures of it yet. I'd like to see some as well though. :)

I'll be posting some picture soon. Yes confirmed new external and cockpit models.

Thanks Spectre

Yay! :)

I'll be posting some picture soon. Yes confirmed new external and cockpit models.

 

Thanks Spectre

are you going to be posting them in this thread? or are you going to be making a new one.

Thank you for the info

Thanks for the feedback guys. When Ells has posted the renders I'll add a link to that thread/post(s) in the OP.

We won't post them in this thread no, they will go in eye candy.

Spectre has said he will link them

Pman

Really excited with what you guys have put in the pipeline for DCS. The UK being our nearest neighbour with a professional air force and having family connections to the RAF it's great to see a company putting both vintage and modern RAF aircraft on the map.

Well if your are not pulling our noses here then this is one of the best news this year! Right next to the F-14 from LS. Even better!

I wish you the best with the development and I hope you can make it this year. It would make the long winter nights so perfect!

Do you know when you guys will post the pictures of the new typhoon?

Sorry cant help myself :D this is one of my favorite jets!

Do you know when you guys will post the pictures of the new typhoon?

 

Sorry cant help myself :D this is one of my favorite jets!

Few weeks minimum I would think its still going through redactment

Pman

D:

Are you being serious? (I really want to see this aircraft :cry:)

This looks like a list of FAQ actually worth its name, which is kinda rare.

Many thanks Spectre11 and everyone who contributed! :thumbup:

So currently, multi-role capability is not planned?

Ouch... Without that it really doesn't offer anything, weapons wise, that FC3 F-15C doesn't.

No hard feelings but without A2G, Typhoon just isn't as interesting.

So currently, multi-role capability is not planned?

 

Ouch... Without that it really doesn't offer anything, weapons wise, that FC3 F-15C doesn't.

 

No hard feelings but without A2G, Typhoon just isn't as interesting.

As specified in the faq, we have specific guidelines we have to work to, those include which weapons systems we can do and which we chose to do.

We chose to only use realistic payloads for an RAF spec t1 b5. Within agreed constraints with the Ministry of Defence.

It is a fair replication of a t1 b5 as it is in service today within the above limitations.

We know it won't please everyone but it really isn't in our interest to start adding fantasy weapons or breaking agreements with commercial partners.

Pman

is there a plan to add more recent versions of the typhoon as part of the same module in the future, or will this module always be block5 and that's it?

thank you for creating this thread!!! :)

We wont rule it completely out

But certainly not within the next couple of years and it would involve another round of negotiation with the MoD, if they would even consider it. Its highly likely that should we do a Tranche 2 or 3 then it would be a separate module as currently there is no facility for the sweeping changes that would need to be made to the T1 variant, its different in alot of regards, alot would need to change within DCS for it to be the same module. So likely it would be a separate one.

Not too mention the cost of development, we would need to charge something for it or the development cost would be far too high.

So not for the time being no.

Pman

Fair enough. In my humble opinion people should be grateful that someone is taking on the challenge to develope such a sophisticated aircraft to this level of fidelity in the first place. Haven't seen many complaining about the relative single/few mission capability of existing DCS jets like the F-15C, Su-27/33 or MiG-29. Consider that you'll get a very complex and advanced aircraft! There will be much to explore even if it ends up to be air-to-air capable only!

My 2ct