Possibility of player controlled AA

Ground forces in a flight simulator have three possible interactions (besides the operational level cf. dynamic campaign):

1. Air assets are fighting ground assets

2. Ground assets are fighting each other

3. Ground assets are fighting air assets

Obviously, #1 is great in DCS. #2 is there - not great, but I hope it will improve. #3 - very limited, even though a nice collection of AA assets are there.

What can be done? Think ED has stated that they are not interested in a high-fidelity SAM simulator - the claim is that it couldn't return its development cost.

One option could be to bring more player controllable, simple sort of direct fire AA assets, from various AA guns to igla trucks, strelas etc. Also if players could move and deploy more serious SAM units.

Then we have existing / ongoing engine improvements like the new radar system that's been created for the Hornet. What if that could be given to ground based early warning and other radars? We could get a key element of the Soviet era ground based interception systems that were used to vector in interceptors at least still for the Mig-29A.

Beyond that, they could even package it into a module like FC3 if the development is very intensive. Players could control the ADN (Air Defense Network) which would make the game a whole lot more rewarding since there would be a new higher challenge for the experienced air players. (Or, you could help out other newbs in a coop mission.)