joelsi

+1 for DTC and proper mission planning tools

Puts on tin foil hat Adams Group Simulation and Training TG's 3D model of the cockpit^ Adams Group's 3D model of the cockpit^ Aaaaand this is at the bottom of the page: So there's a chance that TG/AG got a pro contract and that may or may not be the cause for the radio silence but only TG knows the real reason.

Hornet has been able to operate the jammer and radar at the same time at least since 1992 and shooting Sparrows while the jammer is active became a capability when the Hornet got the old ALQ-126B (With the basic ALQ-126 the jammer shut down when the missile is launched clearly indicating that simultaneous radar/jammer operation is possible). All this is prior to Hornet getting the RADAR/Jammer Priority Filter that further enhances this capability. The filter was added prior to 2005 with OFP 15C. As for the systems interfering with each other the Hornet has a system called the Interference Blanker that is specifically designed to coordinate pretty much all relevant systems (Radar, Jammer, MIDS, TACAN, HARM, RWR, Radar Altimeter and the Walleye datalink pod) so that they don't interfere with each others operation.

AGM-114L can also target slow moving air targets

From what I've heard CMWS was originally kinda just slapped on and stuff about it was added to the proper documents quite a bit later

btw it was never a 2002 Apache. The original "based on a publicly available 2002 manual" statement morphed into "2002 Apache" which in this case doesn't mean the same thing. The manual mentioned was originally published in 2002 but it has received changes after that. For example everything related to block 2 software was added in 2003 (this was the point when I realized that it wasn't going to be a 2002 Apache). The latest change (change number 5) in that manual was made in the summer of 2005. So what we are getting in DCS is software from summer 2005. In addition to this Chizh wrote this on the Russian forums: I'm pretty sure that the year 2007 in that mainly refers to CMWS which became a thing roughly in 2007. Other than CMWS I don't think we'll be getting any other new features from that year.

The manual that ED is using directly states that the Air To Air weapon switch is not active and it's a growth position so it's very clear that our Apache cannot use Stingers. In addition to this we'll be getting CMWS and its backwards facing sensors block the places where the Stingers would be mounted.

The capability is still very much a thing on the version we are getting. If anyone wants details about the Apache we are getting the correct IRL manual is just one simple Google search away. ("AH-64D Manual" to Google works fine)

Block III AH-64D is what the AH-64E was called before. They are pretty much the same thing

The range limitations I posted are valid for a software version that's as new as 2010 and I haven't heard of any FCR upgrades for a AH-64D of our timeframe that would drastically improve its performance

The FCR has on paper range limits of 8 km against moving ground targets and 6 km against stationary ground targets. All the SME comments I've heard regarding the FCR suggest that its performance doesn't live up to the hype it gets. In addition to the SME comments there's also the document called "Longbow Stationary Target Indicator Technical History" (you can find it with a Google search) that talks a bit about the FCR's performance against stationary targets. From that document here's a brief synopsis of aviator experiences from OIF regarding the FCR:

Just checked the manual again and now I feel a bit dumb. It was first released in March 2002 and latest change(=what the manual actually contains) is from July 2005. I guess the new year to look for may be 2005?

The 2002 manual ED is basing the Apache on has stuff on both MTADS and TEDAC so what we get may not have the avionics configuration an IRL US Army AH-64D would've had in 2002.

Considering that the Army manual doesn't mention the CMWS equipment I'd say that the DCS Apache won't get it

I wonder if the JSTARS is capable of sending target data directly to the Apache or if it would require something in between as the "-10" has no mention of it

That would mean TEDAC and M-PVNS/TADS are both possible and that the AH-64D we get might not get the most typical/common avionics/sensor setup for a 2002 airframe

AGM-114K and AGM-114L were mentioned by Chizh on a Russian thread: DCS: AH-64 Apache - Page 5 - DCS World - ED Forums (eagle.ru)

+1 for this feature if ED decides to add the FCR to the Apache

Yes, I'm sure

RDR PRI right on top of the PRF selection

Assuming this behaviour is correct then what role does the radar/jammer priority button play on the radar page? Is the button just something that's non-functional IRL? Or does ED perhaps in the future intend to add some kind of function to this button that may or may not affect how the jammer and radar interact?

@N8AHbl4 hmm, ran that through Google translate and I wonder: does that comment imply that we'll get the APG-78 and AGM-114L or that we'll only get the radar guided AGM-114L?

@N8AHbl4 @NeedzWD40 Big thanks for all the info! The M-PNVS in the teaser and the possibility of us getting a newer variant than 2002 sounds pretty good. @N8AHbl4 Would happen to have a source for this somewhere? I've somehow missed this announcement completely

US Apaches were upgraded with AN/AAR-57 MAWS at some point after 2002 and afaik that upgrade included extra countermeasures dispensers that are capable of carrying flares so I don't think a clip from late 2019 is a good indication of the DCS variant's ability to carry flares. So far I haven't been able to find conclusive evidence that a US Army AH-64D from 2002 is able to carry and use flares. Some export customers have also made their own modifications that include flares but US Army Apaches don't have those mods

At first I was a bit disappointed that we may not get the radar buuuuut after seeing some comments from SMEs calling the radar "dead weight" as well them telling just how severe the negative flight performance impact is I'm no longer worrying about the radar that much. I'd still love to have the APG-78 but it certainly won't be a deal breaker and if we get it I think it should be a pretty low priority feature, perhaps 1st a non-radar version FM and avionics would be made and at the very end or even after EA ED would make a "radar-FM" and actually add the radar. Now onto other stuff about a 2002 AH-64D Based on documentation available online our 2002 DCS AH-64D will quite likely be a block 1 but I wouldn't discount the possibility of us getting a block 2. Overall don't be disappointed if we get block 1 instead of 2, no huge differences between them. Now onto avionics of a ~2002ish AH-64D block 1: VHF UHF and (two?) FM radio sets IDM (Improved Data Modem, think datalink...) Capable of supporting the following protocols: LONGBOW (newer more and more capable) TACFIRE (older but compatible with Kiowas) for navigation I think the thing that people are mainly interested in is that yes, the AH-64D has EGI (think GPS...), only (afaik...) AH-64A block that had an integrated GPS was the latest block 51. AH-64D's "sighting subsystem" has the following systems: IHADSS (the cool helmet sight) AN/AAQ-11 Pilot Night Vision Sensor (PNVS) (The NVS image is projected on the helmet sight, no need for separate NVGs!) AN/ASQ-170 Target Acquisition Designation Sight (TADS) (Main FLIR turret on the nose. This is the sensor that you'll use most of the time) AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radar (FCR) (MTADS, an upgrade to the original TADS with some additional features, SME told me that they were beginning to show up in 2008 so I'd say a veeeery small chance that we'll see this thing in our AH-64D. I'd like to have it though...) AH-64D's defensive systems include: AN/APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometer (think RWR on steroids, it can do all sorts of cool stuff. It's mounted on the FCR mast assembly so no radar = no RFI) AN/APR-39A(V)4 RWR AN/AVR-2A LWR (=Laser Warning System) AN/ALQ-136(V)5 Radar Jammer AN/ALQ-144A(V)3 Infrared Jammer M-141 Chaff Dispenser (Flares? Documentation doesn't really mention flares. We might be limited to the IR jammer but some info from ED/SME regarding flares on the AH-64D would be nice) Armament includes: Laser guided Hellfires (both older and newer types. I don't really have an idea about their differences) Radar guided Hellfires (not 100% sure if these require the FCR and if they don't not sure if they have some limitations when used that way) Hydra 70 rockets aaand the M230E1 30mm cannon As for cockpit systems the main thing I'm thinking about is the older ORT vs. newer TEDAC in the gunner seat (pics (if they work...) below) : I'd prefer to have the newer TEDAC as it would likely be more comfortable to use (and I like how it looks!) Buuuuut I haven't been able find out when exactly these were added to AH-64Ds and thus if it would fit in a 2002 AH-64D (SME's comment: "...we were flying a mix of ORTs and TEDACS in 2008") (Documentation from 2002 has plenty of info about the TEDAC so I'm pretty confident that ED could do it) But I'll be just fine with the older ORT if ED can make it immersive and not-clunky to use, realistic (no pop up window) and overall a good experience for people using VR sets or regular monitors. I'm sure I made some mistakes and forgot to mention important features/limitations so please correct me if I got something wrong. -Joelsi